Child Advocacy Center Director Beth Cook said Logan Regional Medical Center is assisting with the credentialing of nurses who will work with victims in abuse cases.

"Logan Regional is working to send their doctors for extra training," Cook said. "The OB-GYNs work for he company (Lifepoint). Currently one medical employee is writing the Emergency Room protocols. "

The Child Advocacy Center will receive billing from the hospital, not the sex abuse patients. LRMC will do Forensic Pathology testing as well.

"That is often where you find the most useful evidence in child abuse cases," Cook noted. "The Hospital Board has to credential the nurses that are working on that. Logan Regional will be the go to folk for kids from the center as well as disable victims. It will be a victim-friendly process."

In other CAC news:

• The CAC advisory board members discussed the West Virginia Sex Offender registry. In recent months offenders have been arrested locally who were listed in other counties on the registry.

• Cook discussed fundraising for the center. Cook said some money was sent to the state from the federal government as part of the recent economic stimulus package including a Victims of Crime grant package and a Justice Assistance Grant package which the CAC was encouraged to apply for. The grants are a one-time only deal, Cook noted.

"The governor has put a Child Advocacy Grant in his budget," she added, noting that budget cuts in Charleston could become a challenge. "Some other grants are still out there," she said. "We are thinking of approaching some foundations."

Since inception the Logan CAC has assisted 40 children all but 10 percent of which were victims. Some of the 10 percent were witnesses to crimes.

• Cook said the board accepted the resignation of Erica O'Briant who will be leaving her position as family advocate which is part time to take a full time position with the Hatfield-McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"The board accepted her resignation with regret," Cook admitted, noting O'Briant had done an excellent job. Cook said there are enough victims that the CAC works with regularly to justify the position being a full time one, funding permitting.

"I am thankful for my time with the center, I learned a lot," O'Briant said.

The next meeting of the CAC advisory board will be April 28 at the First Christian Church.