On this episode of Our Communiversity Today, host Dr. Ramon Stuart welcomes Dr. Deaneé Johnson of Just for Kids and Hillary Parcell, Chair of the WVU School of Nursing program at WVU Tech in Beckley. Together, they discuss the important work being done to protect and support children throughout Southern West Virginia, as well as the growing partnership between Just for Kids and WVU Tech’s nursing program.
Dr. Johnson explains how Just for Kids serves as a child advocacy center, providing a safe, child-friendly environment for forensic interviews, trauma-focused therapy, advocacy, and collaboration with law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors, schools, and other community partners. The conversation also highlights a major challenge facing families in the region: the shortage of specially trained pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners, which can force children and their families to travel significant distances for time-sensitive forensic medical examinations.
Hillary Parcell shares how WVU Tech’s School of Nursing is stepping forward to help meet that need. Nursing faculty members are pursuing specialized certification, and plans are also underway for a forensic nursing elective to introduce future nurses to this critical area of care. Dr. Stuart closes the conversation by emphasizing the power of community partnerships and asking two questions at the heart of Our Communiversity Today: “Why not us?” and “Why not now?”
