Empowering Change: Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center Kicks Off 2025 Fundraising Season

A small house in Mountain Home is asking residents to step up and help it continue to be a beacon of hope for abused children across northern Arkansas. Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center is officially kicking off its 2025 fundraising season, aiming to raise the funds needed to continue to provide help and healing to abused children throughout several counties in Arkansas.

Key Takeaways

Grandma’s House provides essential services for child abuse victims, including forensic interviews and therapy.
The center has scheduled six fundraising events throughout 2025.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels to support the center’s mission.

A Brief History

The organization traces its roots to 2009, when Dr. Merlin Leach founded it as an offshoot of the Merlin Foundation. The foundation, established in 1993, initially served as a family support center for domestic violence victims and breast cancer patients.

Today, Grandma’s House provides forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy, and advocacy services for child abuse victims. Kaleigh Soma, the community development coordinator, emphasizes the importance of meeting families and children where they are emotionally, whether they are terrified or angry.

Services Offered

The Mountain Home facility, which opened in 2020, emerged through a collaboration between local leaders. The center employs 18 people, including:

5 sexual assault nurse examiners
3 therapists
7 advocates who also serve as forensic interviewers

In the past year, the Mountain Home location handled about 20% of total cases, serving approximately 100 children from Baxter and Marion counties. Many children who entered its doors were repeat visitors, highlighting the ongoing need for support.

Fundraising Events for 2025

For 2025, Grandma’s House has scheduled six fundraising events:

Duncan Family Ragball Tournament in Boone County (Feb. 22)
Safe at Grandma’s House Ragball Tournament in Baxter County (Mar. 15)
Merlin Foundation Ragball Tournament in Carroll County (May 3)
Ice Cream Social Fun Run & 5K in Carroll County (June 14)
Grand Slam for Grandma’s House Ragball Tournament in Carroll County (June 28)
Grandma’s House Color Fun Run & 5K in Boone County (Aug. 2)

Sponsorship Opportunities

The center offers five sponsorship tiers to support its mission:

Platinum ($3,000): Includes extensive promotional benefits and logo placements.
Diamond ($1,500): Features event-specific media promotion and business spotlight posts.
Gold ($750): Includes business spotlight posts and logo display.
Silver ($500): Offers medium logo placement and newsletter features.
Bronze ($300): Provides small logo placement and event banner display.

The Process of Healing

A child’s first visit at Grandma’s House typically lasts about 90 minutes, starting with advocacy support and moving through forensic interviews and medical exams as needed. Follow-up therapy sessions run for an hour, with no set timeline for completion. Soma explains that the duration of therapy varies based on the individual needs of each child.

During forensic interviews, advocates use specialized techniques to help children feel safe. The interviews are recorded and observed by law enforcement in a separate room to ensure a supportive environment.

Medical exams are performed by sexual assault nurse examiners with specialized pediatric training, covering various aspects of trauma and injury.

Commitment to Family Reunification

The center maintains its focus on family reunification when possible. The goal is always to keep families together, believing in the potential for change and growth. Soma shares that they have witnessed caregivers make significant turnarounds, leading to healthier family dynamics.

As Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center embarks on its 2025 fundraising season, the community is encouraged to support this vital organization that plays a crucial role in the lives of abused children in northern Arkansas.