Making Change

For children recovering from abuse, SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax County is there to help. The organization provides centralized services to help children heal, while assisting investigators in bringing abusers to justice.

“We’re helping children process those complex emotions and regain that sense of safety and trust,” explained SafeSpot CEO Heather O’Malley. “Our goals are to minimize trauma, promote healing, ensure child safety, strengthen families and hold perpetrators accountable.”

SafeSpot is the only children’s advocacy center of its kind in Fairfax County, Virginia. They work with over 600 children a year, providing coordinated forensic interviews, therapy, and support at no cost to families.

The center helps children of many different ages and backgrounds. They have specially trained staff to help neurodivergent children with conditions like autism, and several staff members are bilingual in English and Spanish.

“We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone who walks through our doors feels safe and supported,” said Kelsey Mulhall, Manager of Marketing and Special Events. The walls are covered in children’s artwork and there are always snacks available, which Kelsey says are a big hit.

It costs an average of $3,000 for every child that comes through the center. With only 47% of their budget coming from public funding, donations are essential. 

Inspired by SafeSpot’s critical work, a team of MainStreet Bank employees pooled their Making Change donation funds, contributing a total of $5,500 to support the organization. 

“This donation was so meaningful to us,” said one employee. “They do so much to help defenseless children.”