PLAINFIELD — After just three years, Susie’s Place has outgrown its first home and is moving into a new space in Avon.

Susie’s Place is the child advocacy center in Hendricks County. It is staffed with trained forensic interviewers that assist law enforcement and Child Protective Services by providing a child-friendly place to interview children who have experienced some sort of abuse or trauma.

The board of directors decided late in 2011 that the Avon location was no longer large enough to fulfill the organization’s mission. Members spread the word that they were searching for a new location.

“Dr. Larry Caskey contacted me directly and said he though he had a good property that would be a good fit for us,” said Emily Perry, executive director of Susie’s Place.

Caskey is one partner of five that own Avon Medical Buildings in the Beechwood Center in Avon.

Perry said the space available looked great and encouraged the board to enter into negotiations.

“It exceeds our expectations,” Perry said. “And they have been extremely generous with us when it comes to our space requirements and need for confidentiality. The space is perfect for us.”

Susie’s Place first opened in Avon in 2009 in a 1,500 square foot facility. The new space is just shy of 4,200 square feet.

“We will have more space for our teams and families,” Perry said. “Kids won’t have to wait a day or two to get in and our scheduling won’t be so backlogged.”

She said the added space will also help families be more comfortable during the interview process. And, she said, the added square footage will offer more private waiting areas.

“It depends on the circumstance, but some families need to be here through several interviews,” Perry said. “Sometimes there are several siblings we need to talk with and they can be here from six to eight hours.”

She said it’s more common that a family only needs to be at the center for two to three hours.

“But it all varies, depending on age and development of the child,” she said.

The center will be moving from its current space in August. There will also be opportunities for people to help move and prepare the new office. Volunteers are needed to help paint and clean, along with moving equipment into the new facility.

The move has also created a need for a variety of items for the center. Perry and the staff at Susie’s Place has developed a wish list of items they are seeking from the community.

The new center will need everything from furniture to more office supplies.

The “wish list” has been posted on the Susie’s Place Facebook page and on its website at www.susiesplace.org. The center has already received donations of televisions, crayons, coloring books, copy paper, and desks.

Susie’s Place is a non-profit organization and raises the majority of its operating budget through donations and fundraising events. The next two fundraising events are the third annual Charity Motorcycle Ride for Susie’s Place 8:30 a.m. July 21 at Emmy’s Pancake House and the Masquerade Mayhem Gala at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Avon-Washington Park Pavillion.

brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com

Susie’s Place wish list

Major facility items

• Alarm system

• Paint

• Carpet/flooring

• Landscaping

Furniture

• Wooden children’s table with chairs

• Three neutral colored bean bag chairs

• Five Carson five-shelf bookshelves in chestnut (Target, $109.99 each)

• Home Carson adjustable shelf horizontal bookcase (Target, $179.99)

• Four home Carson five-shelf narrow bookcases in chestnut (Target, $149.99)

• Verona two-shelf storage with six baskets (Target, $129.99)

• Two matching upholstered overstuffed arm chairs in neutral color (new or very gently used)

• End table with drawer

• Pottery Barn Carolina Craft Table in chestnut with two chairs in antique green (Pottery Barn kids’ table, $239, and chairs, $139 each)

• Two refrigerators

• Shelving unit for storage room

• Six floor lamps (not halogen)

• Small meeting table with four chairs (kitchen table)

Children’s items

• Large doll house with accessories

• Magnet board with magnets

• Legos (large and small with storage container)

• Handheld games for children and teens such as BopIt, Rubiks Cube, Angry Birds, Trivia Games (sports, entertainment, Disney), or Simon

• Board games (for children and teens)

• DVD movies (Rated G or PG)

• Wooden blocks

• Toddler toys

• Wooden puzzles (not puzzles with 250 to 1,000 pieces)

• Play tea set

• Pre-packaged and individually packaged children’s snacks

• Children’s drinks (preferably white/clear liquids)

Office supplies

• File folders

• Keurig coffee K-Cups

• Disposable coffee cups

• Two sturdy presentation easels (Office Depot, $179 each)

• Vacuum cleaner with attachments

• Hardwood floor vacuum

• Two toilet bowl cleaners

• Two toilet plungers

• Febreeze Plug Ins

• Sharpie DVD markers

• DVD sleeves

• Maxell DVD-R discs

Kitchen items

• Paper towel holder

• Plates, cups/glasses, coffee mugs

• Silverware (two sets)

• Two gallon pitchers

• Serving platters

Miscellaneous items

• Clorox wipes

• Febreeze spray

• Hand sanitizer

• Kleenex

• Paper towels

• Toilet paper

• Hand soap

• Sturdy baskets and bins for storage

• Welcome door mats