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ZANESVILLE, Ohio—Heroes Landing™ Children’s Justice Center has secured a physical office at 1041 Beverly Avenue in Zanesville and will operate out of the facility beginning this spring. The building will allow the organization’s multi-disciplinary team (MDT)—including medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement and victims’ advocates—to provide forensic interviews, medical exams and support services for child abuse survivors. Heroes Landing™ is the first children’s justice center to serve the Muskingum County area.  

Renovations are underway to transition the building from a single-family home to a fully functional office that facilitates the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse. Initial plans include an interview room where a child will tell their story once to a trained forensic interviewer, an observation area for the MDT to listen to interviews, and a medical room where survivors can receive a physical exam. The building will also have a waiting area for families, as well as a conference room for the MDT to meet monthly and review cases. 

“We’re thrilled to have a physical facility to serve survivors in the area,” said Evonne Saunders, executive director of Heroes Landing™. “The property’s location is easily accessible for caregivers and law enforcement, and with planned updates, it will be a welcoming space for survivors to come forward and share their experiences.”  

Heroes Landing™ is utilizing multiple grants to cover the cost of renovations, including funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and United Way of Muskingum County, Perry, and Morgan Counties. Interior design services are being donated by Malouf Companies™—the parent company of the Malouf Foundation™—and project details are being led by their head interior designer Kim Christiansen.  

Heroes Landing™ is a developing member of the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers and is working toward national accreditation. For more information, visit heroeslandingcjc.org or email info@heroeslandingcjc.org. You can follow Heroes Landing™ on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, you can get help now by contacting one of the following resources: