For Information Contact:

Brian Adey
 798-5800

County Executive Joseph A. Griffo and Oneida County District Attorney Michael Arcuri were on hand April 29^th to officially open the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center
in Utica .

The Child Advocacy Center works in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to assist in searching for missing children locally and nationally. The Child Advocacy Center also works with the assistance of local law enforcement to insure that crimes committed against children are investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  

The Child Advocacy Center is located on the campus of the former Utica Psychiatric Center .  

“Keeping our children safe in these times is of the greatest importance to us all. Unfortunately there is a need for these types of centers and task forces, but fortunately this community, local law enforcement, and the District Attorney ’s office are working together to help keep our kids safe and find those children that go missing.” Griffo said.  

“Oneida County knows first hand how tragic abductions, such as the Sara Ann Wood case of a decade ago, test the mettle of our spirit, but that we come together on a day such as this and praise the hard work already put into this center, and the hard work that is ahead of us. I would like to thank Kevin Revere for his work in making this center a reality.”  

New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer was also on hand at the event as a special guest.

Oneida County Social Services Commissioner Ted Mohr received a special award for this work in assisting the Child Advocacy Center since its inception in 1988. The Oneida County Department of Social Services works in close partnership with the agencies involved in the center.