Norton Children's, in partnership with the Home of the Innocents and the University of Louisville, opened the Center for Safe and Healthy Kids on Wednesday. The center is located on the campus of the Home of the Innocents in Butchertown. It will offer both physical and mental health from doctors, nurses and social workers who are trained to treat patients who have been abused.Dr. Melissa Currie, a pediatrician who specializes in child maltreatment, will lead the team."We will be providing more access to mental and behavioral health for not just our child victims, but for their caregivers and families. Family therapy, parenting classes, and other resources to help support families," said Currie."Children can be referred here, who we have consulted for in the hospital. They can also be referred here by Child Protective Services, law enforcement or community medical providers," said Currie. "This is a very specific service for children who are suspected victims of maltreatment for their assessment or once the diagnosis is made for their follow-up."The center will also be home to doctors in training who hope to specialize in child maltreatment. Currie believes that will help the center make a lasting impact for years to come."Any time we help a child begin the process of healing in a very authentic way from the traumas they have experienced, we are interrupting that intergenerational perpetuation of violence. That in and of itself is prevention, even though it's happening after the fact. Education in the community of any professional who works with us sees children as part of their jobs, whether it's daycare providers, teachers, doctors, nurses or judges. That education will help folks understand the dynamics so that their interventions can be effective and also to identify the early warning signs so that we can intervene before it has caused a serious or potentially fatal injury," said Currie.The center was made possible by funding from the Norton Children's Foundation, and through advocacy from Kentucky Sen. Julie Raque Adams. She helped Norton secure $6M in funding from the general assembly to bring the center to life.Raque Adams said that child abuse is a cause she is passionate about because of how high the number of cases is in Kentucky; 12 of every 1,000 kids. "We are no longer the first in the nation in child abuse and neglect, we are moving the needle. And the reason we're moving that needle is because of this partnership that has been created," said Adams.The center will be open two days per week, Mondays and Thursdays.If you suspect a child is being abused, report it by calling (877)KYSAFE1/(877) 597-2331.