South Bay center could help meet dire need for services for abused children

Construction is set to begin on a new center in Morgan Hill for abused and neglected children and their families next month.

The new Children’s Advocacy Center, slated to open next year, would offer services in a region with some of the highest rates of child abuse in Santa Clara County, filling a need that has been unfilled for years.

“Today is a long time coming for us. Our community has been struggling with sexual assault. Our children have been struggling with sexual assault,” said County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas at an event celebrating the construction. “What this Children’s Advocacy Center does is provide them an opportunity to heal.”

Since 2021, the county has operated a Children’s Advocacy Center in San Jose. There, children who were victims of abuse and neglect and their families can get help at no cost, including trauma-focused therapy, medical examinations and forensic interviews for legal investigations. While the center has served over 4200 children and youth, only 3% came from South Santa Clara County.

That isn’t for lack of need, say county officials. County statistics show that South County – made up of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy – has the second highest rate of child abuse in the county, behind only San Jose. In fiscal year 2024, 320 cases of child physical and sexual abuse were reported in South County, but only 54 sought treatment in the advocacy center in San Jose.

Most who work on these cases cite distance as a key factor: a family in Gilroy would have to travel 40 minutes one way with a child who has suffered abuse to get to San Jose.

That lack of access and treatment means “the majority of our children are left with trauma, are left maybe in a path of unhealing,” said Arenas, who points to research showing that those with untreated sexual abuse are more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system or in abusive relationships later in life.

To help alleviate that, the Santa Clara County approved funding in December 2023 to develop and staff a new center based in South County. Last week, the county celebrated the beginning of construction on a new center located in Valley Health Center in Morgan Hill. The new center, like the San Jose location, will offer a slate of medical, mental health and forensic services under a single roof, but at a far more convenient location for families struggling with abuse in South County.

“For too long, children in South County have been given the run around. They’ve had to go from place to place to get services, to connect with law enforcement, receive medical care and seek the support they need,” said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen at the event. “Our goal is to expand the proven, compassionate model so families no longer have to travel miles for justice and for care.”

Construction and renovations for the center are expected to take around nine months, with the center opening in early 2027.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, you can call the county abuse and neglect hotline to report a case at 1-833-SCC-KIDS (1-833-722-5437).