Whiteside County’s April House, a Child Advocacy Center, at 501 N. Madison Street, Morrison, IL, was hosted to a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting, at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, June 11, 2018. April House is “a safe, child-focused environment” where victims of abuse or neglect tell “their story once to a trained Forensic Interviewer, who knows the right questions to ask, in a way that does not retraumatize the child.”
Executive Director Carrie Melton described the process by which victims are helped. “When Law Enforcement gets involved, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) calls April House. A forensic interview is set up, to access the child’s testimony of sexual or abusive [acts.] There are no leading questions; they are open-ended. Interviews are recorded and live-streamed to DCFS and Law Enforcement personnel in the next room.” This feature allows the latter to give the interviewer a question for the child, as information becomes known.
Then, “a team–that includes Police, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals–discuss[es] how to help the child and the non-offending caregiver.” In addition, “Brinkley, the comfort dog from Sterling Police Department, comes to interact with the children,” stated Director Melton.
Sometimes, she noted, clients are “adults with limited intellectual abilities. There are other things [to do to help] than going to court.”
Melton said, “Everybody, children and caregivers, are directed to counseling.”
Program Manager Deb Walter reported “the YWCA has always been an agency that can work…to provide counseling. April House refers people to the YWCA for individual counseling and/or for their significant others.” She noted serving “about 100 clients a year.” Another YWCA service is conducting Body Safety programs throughout Whiteside County public schools, Walter added, from preschool to Sauk Valley College.
True to the ethic of teamwork in advocacy, the occasion brought 24 people together–a wide spectrum of support for the Center and its new Chamber membership.
Shown left-to-right, on the porch/steps are Albany, IL, Sergeant Terry Kernan; Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton; Chamber members Kathy Schmidt and Angie VanderVinne; Chamber Board President Kevin Schlisler; Alderman Mick Welding; community member Jen Altfillisch.
Left-to-right in front are Chamber Board member Pam Pfister; YWCA Program Manager Deb Walter; Chamber Board member Dana Verdick; April House Executive Director Carrie Melton; April House Advocate Diane Heath; holding scissors, Abby Ryan; Mayor Everett Pannier; April House Forensic Interviewer Lisa Zacharski; April House Board member Melissa Ryan-Bergstrom; Albany Police Chief Wyatt Heyvaert; YWCA Legal Advocate Kia McCrudden; Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kris Schmidt; YWCA Latina Case Worker Melissa Vlakancic; Chamber member Stephanie Vavra.
United Way of Whiteside County CEO Diana Verhulst and Chamber Board member Principal Joe Robbins arrived after the photograph was taken by Chamber Coordinator Meridith Layne.
