Despite a light drizzle on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, there were smiles all around, inside 503 N. Madison Street, Morrison, IL. This is the Children’s Advocacy Center–April House and office of Forensic Psychologist Johanna Hager. Tiny but comfortable, the building has been a short-term haven for child victims of abuse or violence. Here, in security and complete privacy, they give testimony to Dr. Hager. This act of trust sometimes means the child will not have to tell their story in a courtroom.
United Way of Whiteside County awarded April House “a venture grant in the amount of $12,500,” read Mary Black of Morrison. She is a United Way Board member and will be the 2013 Campaign Co-Chair for Morrison.
“Since April House is the only agency in Whiteside County to provide specialized services exclusively to children who have been abused or neglected, the United Way of Whiteside County Board of Directors voted to award April House this grant.”
At the 1:30 p.m. check presentation, left-to-right, were Morrison Chief of Police Brian Melton; Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi; Black; Former Whiteside County Sheriff Roger Schipper; Whiteside County States Attorney Trish Joyce; Director of Whiteside County Court Services Kevin Johnson. United Way Executive Director Russell Siefken, Administrative Assistant Marsha Dimond, and staffer Nathan Fellows also attended. Steve Siefken took the photograph.
Schipper stated, “Over the years, this has been a good thing.” About 15 years ago, he was one of the organizers of April House. “We have one chance for the victim; this is a homey atmosphere. Hundreds of kids and victims” have entered April House for interviews.
Sheriff Wilhelmi added, “It’s about the victims.” Private interviews–one victim at a time–may lead to court evidence. “That gives the child a sense of security. We get a new sex case once every two weeks,” he estimated. “We want [victims] to feel at home.”
- Overhead and maintenance expenses are funded by the Sheriff’s budget.
- Taxpayers paid for the new sidewalk and front stoop.
- Loescher Heating & Air Conditioning, 907 E. 17th Street, Rock Falls, IL, installed air conditioning at no cost.
- The Sheriff said there will be a golf outing “to pay for Johanna” and noted, “the garage needs a new roof.”
Black concluded, “The United Way of Whiteside County has 19 partner agencies they help to fund on a yearly basis. These agencies provided services to over 40,000 of our friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers last year. Our partner agencies provide services to the communities of Morrison, Sterling, Rock Falls, Prophetstown, Lyndon, Tampico, and Deer Grove, IL.”