That's the scene Keith A. Fister, chief county detective, described in contrast to the calming surroundings of the new Children's Alliance Center of Berks County, which opened Tuesday at 222 N. 12th St., across from St. Joseph Medical Center.

The facility provides a medical examination room adorned with a mural of a forest and waterfalls and a warmly painted forensics room linked to a closed-circuit television.

A trained detective will interview young victims of sexual abuse in the forensics room. Interviews will be videotaped, sparing children from repeated questioning by police, medical personnel, social workers and possibly prosecutors.

“Putting the child through all the interviews again and again is abuse by the system,” Fister said. “This is a lot more child-friendly than the criminal-justice system is now.”

The Children's Alliance Center, a program offered by Reading's Opportunity House, is modeled after a national effort called the Children's Advocacy Center, based in Huntsville, Ala.

Modesto D. Fiume, executive director of Opportunity House, said the goal is to help victimized children heal emotionally and physically.

“We want to keep the trauma from the sexual abuse as minimal as possible,” he said. “So the child can concentrate on healing while ensuring the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The center will coordinate services for the sexually abused by linking law enforcement with medical and social service providers.

In addition to having the exam and interrogation room, the center contains a play zone, reception area, offices and a conference room.

Walls are painted with warm, soothing colors and covered with paintings and murals by Antietam High School art students.

St. Joseph Medical Center provided the space at a nominal cost, said Ann E. Gaulin, director of the children's center.

The center will have its own pediatrician, whose annual salary will be paid by Reading Hospital, Gaulin said, explaining that several pediatricians will be on call until the job is filled.

The center's operating budget is about $90,000, which was raised through private and corporate donations, including $20,000 contributions from Berks County and the Wyomissing Foundation.

Groups such as the Junior League of Reading and the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club provided dozens of volunteer hours to get the facility ready to open.

Contact reporter Yvonne M. Wenger at 610-371-5015 or ywenger@readingeagle.com.

Call for help

If you suspect a child has been sexually abused, contact the new Children's Alliance Center of Berks County at 610-898-KIDS.

To donate time or money to the center, contact 610-374-4696 ext. 226.