Huntington has “A Heritage of Caring”

Heritage Days 2025, June 11 through June 15, will celebrate the people of Huntington and how they care for one another with the theme, “A Heritage of Caring.” Over the years many individuals, businesses and organizations have united the community in caring for one another. Each week the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce will highlight one of these entities in this column.

McKenzie’s Hope cares about the children of Huntington County by providing a safe and comforting place to get help for and to talk about child abuse that might be present in their lives. Located at 1175 Etna Avenue, Suite E, it is a not-for-profit center that provides a stable location for a comprehensive team approach to the investigations of child abuse and neglect.

The problem of child abuse in Huntington County became apparent with the deaths of MicKenzie Brown in 2000 and Justin McKinzie in 2001. Caring individuals began talking about ways to better address child abuse in the community. A center to help victims of child abuse was planned in 2004 as a result of a commitment breakfast where law enforcement, prosecution, child protection and medical and mental health services came together. The center, McKenzie’s Hope, opened for clients in January 2006 in memory of MicKenzie and Justin.

The center was incorporated in 2004 as an independent, not-for-profit, 501©3 agency with the name of Huntington County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. Katie Schilling is the current executive director, and Malia Metelues is a family advocate. A board also serves along with the staff to reduce trauma, seek justice and bring hope for children ages three to 18 in Huntington County that are suffering from some form of child abuse. McKenzie’s Hope is dedicated to providing a child focused center that investigates child abuse, and coordinates a unified response to child abuse reports so that every child is treated with equal importance and care.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Huntington and Huntington County, and blue pinwheels can be seen throughout the area bringing attention to the need for prevention. Educational information for the community is a focus of McKenzie’s Hope. The intent of this outreach is to prevent and raise awareness about child abuse, and educate the public about the appropriate response. It is also the goal of the center to help children and families through this difficult time in their lives in a way that will help them find justice and healing. Click, tap or copy the link to read the City-County Proclamation and find a Child Abuse Prevention Month toolkit: bit.ly/4kX1adk.

At McKenzie’s Hope a multi-disciplinary team of agency professionals is dedicated to caring about and protecting the children of Huntington County. The team includes members from the Huntington City Police Department, Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Child Services, Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office, Bowen Health, child-victim advocate and McKenzie’s Hope staff.

McKenzie’s Hope also offers advocacy services for adult survivors of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault. Survivors can be referred from community organizations or are welcome to make direct contact with the center’s advocate. The safety and privacy of adult survivors is a top priority. Call or text the advocate at (260) 355-9082 or email them at familyadvocate.mckenzieshope@gmail.com.

Other subjects coordinated at McKenzie’s Hope include trauma informed crisis response, safety planning, connecting with needed community resources, referrals for mental health services, personalized advocacy and accompaniment, coordination of services and systems, navigating the legal system, accompaniment to medical and court appointments and teen dating violence.

Community partners work together to support and care for the work of McKenzie’s Hope. Corporate sponsors, A Night of Hope – the annual dinner, pizza sales and contributions also help raise the necessary funds. Volunteers are welcome to be a part of the center.

McKenzie’s Hope would like to see a future in Huntington County where each child has the promise of a life free from abuse. If you suspect child abuse or have concerns about a child’s well-being, call the Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at (800) 800-5556.

For more information about McKenzie’s Hope call (260) 356-5730, email at mckenzieshope@yahoo.com, visit the website at mckenzieshope.org or visit their Facebook page.