Catching the Bad Guys for Ten Years
Math may not be 9-year-old Bita Habashi’s favorite subject. But ask her how much it costs to catch a bad guy and she’ll give you the exact amount, $730.
That’s the cost of a forensic sexual assault examination and evidence collection for a child brought to Northridge Hospital’s Center for Assault Treatment Services Center *(CATS) — the only 24-hour, 7-day-a-week program for victims of all ages who have experienced physical and sexual abuse in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.
It’s also the amount Bita aimed to raise in 2005 when she first learned about CATS. She surpassed that goal by collecting $752 from friends, family and teachers, and has continued her fundraising efforts.
As CATS celebrates its 10-year anniversary, private, corporate and individual donations, like those from Bita, enable its team of forensic nurses to continue providing post-abuse/assault medical treatment, forensic interviews and evidence collection for more than 700 victims each year. I
n collaboration with law enforcement, child protective services and the District Attorney’s Office, CATS serves as a safe port for children, women, and occasionally men during the traumatic hours after an assault. That’s when forensic evidence and victim testimony must be recorded.
“The entire CATS process, including the sexual assault exam, recorded interview and written documentation is essential in ensuring a successful prosecution,” says Mike Moore, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief.
The CATS team also aims to prevent abuse by visiting public and private elementary schools, nursing schools, police stations, and local colleges where they teach future social workers and teachers to recognize signs of abuse. With continued support from community partners and residents like Bita, CATS will continue its mission for many years to come.
*We recently changed the name from Children's Assault Treatment Services to better reflect the services we provide.
