NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jill E. McCormick, Director, Marketing & Planning
St. Edward Mercy Health System
Phone: 479-314-6037
Email: jill.mccormick@mercy.net

St. Edward Mercy Welcomes Hamilton House

Fort Smith, Ark. – August 7, 2009- Hamilton House Child and Family Safety Center, a facility which provides a safe, child-friendly environment where comprehensive community services can be provided to child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members, will host an open house and check presentation at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13 at Hamilton House.

The purpose of Hamilton House is to provide sexual-assault exams, therapy, forensic interviews, and child & family advocacy services to lessen the trauma associated with child abuse. This is the only facility of its kind in the region. Prior to the establishment of Hamilton House, abused children had to travel to Springdale or Little Rock for sexual assault exams and forensic interviewing.

St. Edward Mercy applied for a Mercy Caritas grant on behalf of Hamilton House with a resulting grant award of $50,000 to be used toward medical equipment and supplies. St. Edward Mercy is also donating space in Mercy Medical Tower on behalf of Hamilton House.

"We average about 70 priority-one child abuse cases each month in Sebastian and Crawford Counties,” said Jackie Hamilton, executive director for Hamilton House. “St. Edward has made it possible for these children to receive all services here in their community and in a child-friendly place"

Hamilton House is located on the first floor of Mercy Medical Tower (2713 South 74th Street).

A community open house will follow at a later date. For more information about Hamilton House, please contact Jackie Hamilton at 479-783-1002.

In addition to the Hamilton House check presentation, St. Edward Mercy through Mercy Caritas will present checks to the Good Samaritan Clinic in the amount of $28,000 and the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House in the amount of $30,000 on August 13.

Each year, Mercy awards Mercy Caritas grants for community-based programs that improve community health and well-being, with particular concern for people who are economically poor. Mercy Caritas considers innovative programs that are consistent with Mercy’s mission and vision.