Centered on Children

by Kent Von Der Vellen

If you are a family member of a child who is suspected of being abused, then most likely, you have walked through the doors of the Children’s Center of Medina County in search of support and answers.

Otherwise, you might wonder what exactly the center is and the function it serves.

The center is a non-profit organization that works with the public and numerous different governmental and law enforcement throughout Medina County helping children and families impacted by abuse, neglect and exploitation.

With no funding from the state, the center depends entirely on donations and grants.

The Children’s Center has three areas of focus: child advocacy, family visitation and anti-human trafficking. (The Medina Human Trafficking Coalition was the subject of a “Gems” column in July 2022, https://bit.ly/3KXxM5r).

During the past year, 850 students at seven different county schools were taught about threats they may face in person and through the internet. Course instructors were trained by the Children’s Center.

Family visitations are coordinated between the center and Medina County Jobs and Family Services to facilitate family and child visits with children in foster care. Last year, the center hosted 627 visitations.

In the child advocacy role, the center helps families and assists law enforcement and governmental agencies when a child is suspected of suffering from abuse.

During the past year, 94 forensic interviews were conducted, and nine children received medical exams, with 140 families served through referrals and victim support.

Children Center employees are trained and specialize in helping children who suffer from trauma and abuse.

During Rhonda Wurgler’s term as executive director of the center, she oversaw the move to a bigger building to enable the center to better provide services to the community.

After Wurgler left in June 2021, Ashley Krause became executive director that July.

Krause oversaw the completion of the Pathway to Healing Campaign, where bricks were purchased by members of the community to show their support. The funds raised were used to pay off the mortgage on the new building.

Paying off the mortgage allowed for funds to then be fully directed into the services the center offers and to expand those services.

One of those expansions came in the form of Cully, a Labrador retriever who is a trained therapy dog. She interacts with center visitors with the goal of helping families cope with stress.

In observance of April being Child Abuse Awareness Month, the Children’s Center planted Pinwheel Gardens throughout Medina County as a public awareness campaign.

For a $100 sponsorship, donors were given a dozen pinwheels and a yard sign to create their own displays. The gardens sold out in 2022.

Pinwheel Gardens were planted at the Children’s Center, at several partner locations in Medina County, as well as 60 more gardens planted by sponsors.

On April 16, there was a community walk that started on Medina Public Square and ended at the Medina County District Library main branch, at the corner of Washington and Broadway. Once at the library, 595 pinwheels were stuck into the ground, with each representing an individual case of child abuse in Medina County from the previous year.

One of the main annual fundraisers the center benefits from is The Children’s Cup, which will be held May 6, and is held in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby.

The Children’s Cup includes betting on the horses, raffles and a Derby Hat Parade.

For more information about the event or the center, go to https://bit.ly/3mY1bVg or https://bit.ly/3ordmdu

Kent Von Der Vellen has lived in Medina for more than 20 years and is cofounder of the Jakob F. Von Der Vellen Memorial Foundation. Learn more about Von Der Vellen at https://bit.ly/3Fg6PqQ Email him at Gems@ BlakeHousePublishing.com or call 330-421-0863. Learn about other area nonprofits at Giving Hearts

Children’s Center of Medina County

724 E. Smith Road, Medina, Oh. 44256 Phone: 330-764-8891

Date of formation: 7/4/2007

Organization type: 501c3

Description of Organization’s Purpose: Organization’s purpose is to nurture neglected and abused children through advocacy, collaboration, treatment, and prevention. We are a child advocacy center that helps children who have experienced sexual abuse.

Is the organization’s registration status current? Yes

The financial information below is from the organization’s most recent filing within the on-line system. If the items below are blank, the organization has not yet filed information on-line or they may be exempt from filing an annual report.

Reporting Year: 2021

Reporting Start Date: 7/1/2020

Reporting End Date: 6/30/2021

Total Revenue: $471,738.00

Total Expenses: $425,623.00

Total Program Expenses: $232,350.00

Percent of Total Expenses: 55 percent

Total Assets: $983,271.00

Director or Board Member List: Ed Kinney, Amanda Hansen, Elena Ghent, Joan Pritchett, Ron Stollar, Kimberly Marshall, Kristine Quallich, Michelle Reese, Diane Meckes, Joseph Chubb, Allison Allen, Lisa Keltz, Rhonda Wurgler, Jill Michalski, Elizabeth Bux, Terry Grice