SafeSpace is a children’s advocacy center in Hood River that serves five counties in the Columbia River Gorge. It offers an array of services, including forensic interviews, medical exams and psychological counseling, to suspected victims of child abuse, maltreatment or neglect, as well as their family members. The organization also accepts referrals of suspected child abuse cases from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police Department. 

As reported previously by Columbia Gorge News, SafeSpace is holding an open house for community members this Wednesday at its new facility in Hood River, which it moved into in January. Executive Director Beatriz Lynch says the new space will allow the center to double its caseload and reduce wait times for children and their families. It will also include a new pediatric mental health care clinic for which funds are being raised to open this summer. Lynch joins us to talk about SafeSpace’s expansion plans amid a growing need for its services.