S TA F F BETH OLSON Executive Director MICHELLE KURTZ Finance Manager LORI YOUNG Training & Communications Coordinator LAURA GAPSKE Forensic Program Coordinator & Interviewer INA NEWTON Family Advocacy Program Coordinator RACHEL JOHNSON Multidisciplinary & Outreach Coordinator MIRANDA LILLO Family Advocate
B OA R D OF DI R E C TOR S JASON TANSKI, President CHRIS THEIS, Vice President CRAIG CHILCOTE, Treasurer CATHY NEVANEN, Secretary TERRY TROGDON LIZ JOHNSON ROB KARWATH TINA LICARI MERLE PETERSON STEVE LAFONTAINE CINDY FINCH REBEKKA STUMME LINDZI CAMPBELL ELIZABETH POLLING
Spring 2015 Annual Report for 2014 cover photo by Jennifer Hauck
Happy Spring! Thank you so much for being a friend to First Witness and for supporting children in our community! We have a lot to share and I hope you will take a few minutes to read about our progress in the last year. From redesigning our interview room to better meet the needs of all children to training advocates across the country about how to support kids and families, we have evolved to meet the diverse needs of our community. This past year I had the opportunity to speak at several national and statewide conferences and provide training for advocates from around the United States. From this experience I have taken to heart a couple of ideas that will continuously impact and reinforce the way First Witness works with kids and families: 1. Child advocacy centers must establish and sustain both comprehensive forensic interview programs and advocacy programs within their centers to meet the complex needs of families and kids after the disclosure of child abuse. First Witness simultaneously maintains the neutrality and defensibility of forensic interviews used to investigate child abuse while providing advocacy for families through separate, but collaborative programs. By recognizing the value and necessity of these dual services, First Witness is ahead of the curve, challenging the old belief that these two things cannot be done at the same time. Our team is once again shaping how child advocacy centers work and positively impact children everywhere. #duluthdoesitagain 2. The long term impacts of child abuse should not be underestimated and First Witness needs to be available to all families for however long it takes, whether a disclosure is made during the time of the interview or not. Healing and justice do not come in a prescribed package; they are unique to each child and family. Recognizing and responding to individual needs is what works to reduce and eliminate those long term impacts, meaning a big investment up front: a vested, sincere interest in the well-being of our families ensures a big return later. I think a parent said it best: “Think about the resources you would want available to one of your loved ones if they were victims of child abuse. If you would want them to be heard, supported, protected, given a voice, and advocated for, then you would want them to have a place like First Witness� – anonymous parent. First Witness is community built and community supported. We have relied on you and you have been there. Please continue to support the kids in our community by making a donation to First Witness today! Thank you again!
Beth Olson Executive Director
First Witness Introduces our Newest Board Members
REBEKKA STUMME - Board Member Rebekka Stumme graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1996 and Hamline University School of Law in 1999. Rebekka then clerked for the Honorable Mark A. Munger, did a short stint at a civil firm before joining the 6th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office in 2001. In February of 2011, Rebekka joined the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office as an assistant prosecutor focusing on felony level crimes and domestic violence.
CRAIG CHILCOTE - Board Member Craig grew up on the Iron Range and graduated from Hibbing high school. Craig moved to Duluth and graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota. Craig has been married for 19 years to his wife Kerri and they have a 7 year old daughter named Gwen. In May of 2013, Craig got the opportunity to transition into the ownership and Managing Partner role with the firm Anderson, Kuiti & Asuma CPA’s.
ELIZABETH POLLING- Board Member Elizabeth is a Duluth native and assistant public defender in Carlton County. She spent most of her adult life out-of-state, in the South and in California, and was happy to return to the Duluth area several years ago. She is a member of the Legal Aid Board, serves on a scholarship committee at Denfeld High School, and is active in the local bar association.
LINDZI CAMPBELL - Board Member Lindzi has been working for the City of Superior for 17 years as a full time Firefighter. She is privileged to work alongside some of the most amazing, selfless people she knows on a daily basis. Her drive for public service and for helping those in need will blend well with First Witness’s mission. As a mother herself, she looks forward to being a part of an organization that helps take care of our children and young people.
First Witness Welcomes New Staff Members RACHEL JOHNSON - Multidisciplinary and Outreach Coordinator Rachel earned degrees in Public Service, Spanish and Sociology from Hamline University in St. Paul. While living in St. Paul, she worked extensively to better systems response to sexual violence by leading support groups and developing a protocol while serving on the Sexual Violence Taskforce at Hamline. Most recently, Rachel worked at North Shore Horizons in Two Harbors, MN serving as the facilitator of the Coordinated Community Response Team while also providing advocacy and crisis intervention services to sexual and domestic assault victims. INA NEWTON - Family Advocacy Coordinator Ina received her BA degree in Psychology from Argosy University with a focus on youth development. Ina was a youth mentor for families in crises and was a facilitator for youth forums and focus groups that engaged youth in being an active member of their community. As a program director for the Boys & Girls Club and then most recently the Assistant Director of Duluth YMCA Camping Services, it has been her passion to advocate for the positive well-being of youth and help engage them in positive endeavors. MIRANDA LILLO - Family Advocate Miranda has volunteered for many non-profit organizations in the Duluth community and has worked with domestic abuse survivors through Dabinoo ‘Igan, transitional housing and the reentry program through Men As Peacemakers. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Communications at UWS. She is also a dedicated wife and mother of two amazing children.
Life after Internship | Jade Seelye It’s been around four years since Jade Seelye was an intern with First Witness. She is now a busy working mother living in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan married to a wonderful and supportive husband, Frank. She works as a Children’s Case Manager at Hiawatha Behavioral Health and though it can be difficult leaving her baby home when she goes to work, she rests assured that she is making her community a better place for her daughter to grow up in. Reflecting on her time at First Witness, she says that it taught her to be a team player. She soon discovered that cases are not hopeless, children are resilient and there is always hope. It also taught her to look at the bigger picture of the system and how to make the system work for individual families. As one would imagine, it isn’t easy doing system work but it can be very rewarding. Unfortunately in her current position, she doesn’t get to do much of it. To make up for it, she teaches a social welfare systems class at Lake Superior State University. The messages she passes onto her students include some of the same things she learned while at First Witness such as seeing the strength of a family before anything else. She explains how important this is because many families may feel ashamed, as if they have a deficiency, when they ask for help. Seelye says the most vital thing in this kind of work is being a voice for the people when they can’t. She says it’s like being a voice for yourself because it betters the community as a whole. The experiences that other people are going through aren’t completely unique to that family but often a reflection of society. With a little bit of support, families can flourish and it’s amazing to see it happen.
Mark Wilhelmson set to retire from Initial Intervention Unit After 35 years, compassionate leader set to retire from Initial Intervention Unit I met with Mark Wilhelmson for a midmorning coffee break at the downtown Starbucks. I’m excited to have a one on one conversation because I’ve heard so many great things about him. With 35 years of service in our community, how could I not be?! Mark is the Supervisor of the St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services Initial Intervention Unit Duluth office. His passion and knowledge around the child protection system impresses me almost as much as his second life as an endurance athlete. We start the interview off with some personal facts, his inspiring mother, a daughter moving back to Duluth and a loving and supportive wife. The thing that becomes clear is that he isn’t interested in what makes his life great. He wants to talk about how we can make our community, maybe even the world, better for children. I’m hooked. Wilhelmson describes his leadership as being a colleague, a mentor that wants to learn more. He has learned and worked with many great mentors and they have one thing in common – that the number one priority is to keep kids safe. Sounds easy enough but the reality is that keeping kids’ safe isn’t learned by taking a class or by creating an all-inclusive family policy. It is done case by case with the ability to listen to families and put the safety of the child first. There will be failure once in a while but that is not a time to quit, make excuses or develop more regulations - it’s a time to look at how we improve. I soon realize that I’m sitting with an advocate at heart and he admits, advocacy is one of the most important components of keeping kids safe. Throughout his extensive knowledge of child protection, Wilhelmson reflects on turning points in the work. The opening of Bethany Crisis Shelter, the inclusion in understanding the co-occurrence of domestic violence in child abuse cases and yes the opening of First Witness 21 years ago. He mentions the late Ellen Pence and her influence on seeing through the perspective of domestic violence. At the time, people thought we should adopt it completely while others said to ignore it entirely. His idea is that domestic violence most definitely needs to be considered. We do ourselves a disservice to not consider this possibility or look at patterns in a family or an individual. The problems that exist cannot be solved with more checks and balances. We need more collaboration with agencies, more people on the ground. We cannot help people by swooping in and telling them how to parent. We need to establish relationships but it is made difficult by disconnected people implementing a series of checklists that cause workloads to lengthen with paperwork. It’s not that policy makers/politicians/ managers have bad intentions for making these policies, it’s that they just don’t know what it’s like to work with a family. He gives an example of a family with tardy/absent school kids. Do we reprimand them, wait for them to fail again and then take their kids away for maltreatment – or do we help them find out why it’s difficult to get their kids to school? What the family learns from getting their kids taken away is that we are a system to fear and not a system that helps. Eventually their kids may return, but if all they learned was that the kids must go to school on time, whatever the circumstances around them not going in the first place – will manifest in another way. Meeting people where they are at is one of the most significant things we can do to understand and prevent child abuse. As you can see, his perspective is bold and far reaching. I wish Mark the best, as does our entire multidisciplinary team for his future. We are saying farewell to a legacy. His mentorship will have lasting influence with the team that remains in Initial Intervention Unit.
I Stand with Kids is Presented by:
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Every year local businesses, organizations and individuals team up with First Witness Child Advocacy Center to Stand with Kids! The entire month of April is the “I Stand with Kids� campaign promoting education on how to prevent child abuse and building support for abuse victims and First Witness. Curtis Oil/Super America stores sell mini blue kids for the entire month of April. Employees and stores compete to sell the most to promote the campaign. All proceeds support services for child abuse victims and their families. The really great thing behind this is that the employees get to know what First Witness is and pass that information onto their customers.
May 7th, 2015 Open house: First Witness decided to move our
campaign from the Lakewalk to our backyard. This way, people get a much warmer and interactive experience as to what it really means to Stand with Kids. With a lunch hour ribbon cutting and proclamation, tours will be provided of the center as well as Lunch. There will also be an evening celebration from 4:30-6:30 at First Witness with tours, activities for children snacks and refreshments.
Virtual open house all year long: See the videos and get to know the community that Stands with Kids by visiting our website or any of our social media sites. This year videos are of Mary Bue, the Duluth Chamber, Chris Monroe, Anna Tanski, Curtis Oil/Super America, Northwoods, Camp Miller Gitche Gumee, Dan Hanger, Walt Dizzo, Minnesota Ballet & Twin Ports Boxing Club. I Stand with Kids campaign sponsors: Presenting Sponsors Republic Bank, Curtis Oil Super America and Duluth Professional Fire Fighters Local 101. Supporting Sponsors Payroll Processing, Human Development Center and The Gorp Group, LLC.
I Stand with Kids is Supported by:
Revenue & Expenses Just in case anyone thought that their donations does not matter for an organization like First Witness - it is just not the case. A significant amount of our programming is funded by individual contributions. Additionally, when we need improvements with our building or anything else, we seek out community partners for these specific requests. Additionally, we earn revenue by providing professional training across the country on child forensic interviewing, multi-disciplinary team development and advocacy. We are proud of our accomplishments but could not sustain the level of programming, that gives us our expertise, without support from individuals like you. Thank you Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth for providing First Witness with much needed funds to update our interview room. Our new room is designed to better meet the needs of all children. • Energy efficient lighting with dimmer for children with environmental sensitivities. • New furniture and easel accessible and comfortable for children. • Sound panels to reduce echo and improve video/ sound capture quality and one on one clarity. • Softer color to create warm and comforting environment Lastly, thanks to the Junior League of Duluth, we recently purchased more racially diverse anatomical dolls. We were able to purchase anatomical dolls representative of Native American children and adults, Caucasian children and adults, African American children and adults, and, male and female grandparents.
so many ways to stay connected to First Witness
Family Services (Advocacy) - Prevention / Safe and Strong Child Š In 2014, we provided some type of follow up advocacy for 83% of the kiddos who came through our doors regardless of disclosure. This means not just a phone call attempt with no call back but an actual contact made with a care giver who has contact with the child. Providing advocacy for our families is a privilege and something that First Witness is committed to providing. Advocates are able to provide a unique and individualized support for families who have experienced abuse by meeting families where they are at in their journey of healing. In 2013, we identified that some of the kids coming through our center came without a non-offending caregiver or were being placed at a shelter or into the foster care system. Through a grant from the Office of Justice Programs we have been providing support and outreach to foster care case managers, foster parents and the children who are placed in their care. In 2014 nineteen of our kids were placed in foster care with either a grandparent or foster care provider and we were able to provide advocacy to 54% of those families. We were also able to partner with St. Louis County Foster Care Services and provide training for their families. In partnership with the Duluth, Hermantown and Lake County Public Schools, First Witness continues to share the important message of body safety with youth kindergarten-6th grade. Every year we teach our kids about fire safety, have lock downs and tornado drills; but there is still little to no awareness on sexual abuse which effects 1 in 10 youth under the age of 18. Kids often blame themselves for the abuse happening and carry fear, shame or even misunderstanding as to whether the abuse is normal. Through our prevention efforts, children, caregivers and professionals hear the message that sexual abuse is never a child’s fault and the blame lies solely on the perpetrator. While these incidents are of sensitive and private nature there shouldn’t be any shame or blame to those affected. Our message to kids is simple and clear, no one should touch your private parts, unless they are keeping you clean, safe or healthy.
Forensics and MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) This year’s updates include increased outreach for forensic interview training in rural areas, improvements to our interview room, and anatomical tools utilized to assist children with communicating during a forensic interview. As a training center, our staff recognizes the difficulties facing rural social service and law enforcement agencies, so we offer forensic interview training in their community. These trainings are made even more accessible with assistance of Department of Human Services (DHS) grants making scholarships available to an agency to receive off-site training in their community. Training in a rural community has its challenges. Often a social worker or law enforcement worker will have worked the night shift before a training or they are oncall. I’ve heard these barriers make it difficult but trainees voice their appreciation for the skills and updated research knowledge they learn that enhance their forensic interviews. Often, an off-site training agency will open training registration to other local jurisdictions to collectively share resources. Rural agencies attending increase in collaborations with the surrounding community participants through dialogue facilitated at the training. The ongoing success and credibility of our important forensic program speaks to the increase in courtesy interviews conducted at First Witness in the last year. As a part of our commitment to our training participants, we offer ongoing technical assistance for forensic interviewers at any point they need it. We have had surrounding communities with particularly difficult case dynamics reached out to our staff forensic interviewers to conduct the interview as a courtesy. We feel privileged to be continually utilized as a resource for our trainees and be a safe place for kids and the community.
Thank Fo You Supp
2014 donors to First Witness | A.G. O’Brien Plumbing and Heating Co. AA Roll-Off Sarah Abernathey ACME Tools Jeffrey and Mary Adams AFSCME Council 5 aimClear Akron Children’s Hospital Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe Amy Schulz CAC, Inc. Bruce and Shelvie Anderson Dan and Jan Anderson Karen Anderson Jon and Corinne Anderson Carrie Anderson Anderson Kuiti & Asuma PLLC Charles and Karen Andresen Angela’s Bella Flora, Inc. Peter and Lisa Angelos Animal Allies Anytime Fitness Apartment Advisors Apter Family Fund Sherri Armstrong Kara and Chris Armstrong Arrowhead Juvenile Center Jimmy Arroyo Roppo Art in the Alley Art of Hair At Sara’s Table, Chester Creek Cafe, LLC Auto Care Collision Center A’viands Charles and Judyth Babst Bank of America Elena Bantle Jackie Bard Graham Barnes Terry and Sharlane Barnes Barnes & Noble Bookstore Tamara Batson Carla Bayerl Bayfield County Sheriff ’s Dept. Beacon Bank Ben and Jeanne Overman Charitable Trust Kori Bennett Bent Paddle Brian and Sheri Bergeron Kathryn and Scott Bergum Kathy Berndt Janice Biga Blackwater Blackwoods Steve Blanck and Shelly Stoffel-Blanck Dr. David and Cindy Blomberg Ben and Mary Boo Bowerbird Mongo Patrick and Jennifer Boyle Laura Brandt and Jeff Stark Doug and Michelle Breiland Kenneth Browall Mark and Carrie Brown Dean Bruss Lori Bryant Dr. and Mrs. Frank Budd Bullyan RV Bill and Pat Burns Jerry and Barbara Butchart Kaitlyn Cadigan Cake Occasions Susan S. Campbell
If there are any discrepancies, e-mail lyoung@firstwitness.org and we will
Garrett and Ashley Campbell Daniel Campbell M.D. Margaret Campe Canal Park Lodge Al and Yvonne Carl Debbi Carlon Richard and Barbara Carlson Craig and Debra Carlson Liz Carlson Walter Carter Cartier Agency Cass County Cayuga Counseling Services Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse, Inc. Tracie Cherro Sherri Chessen Craig and Kerri Chilcote Children’s Home Society City of Duluth Police Dept. Ann Clancey CMT Farms College of St. Scholastica College of St. Scholastica Alumni Relations Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Como Oil & Propane Compudyne, Inc. Cornucopia Business Association County of Carlton County of Douglas Bill and Kathy Croke David and Lorie Croke Crookston Police Dept. Cub Foods Jackie Culvert Robert and Jody Curtis Curtis Convenience Stores Dennis Dalbec Mark Danielson and Theresa Smith Steve Davis and Therese Tomanek Katie and Timothy Dawson Richard and Millie DeBolt DECC Dee Independent Cleaners Ron and Dr. Lori DeFrance Dr. Christopher and Carmel Demaioribus Brenda Denton Bernice Devich Chase Dewhirst Bill and Connie Dinan F. Richard Dolezal and Ann Mahoney Mary Dontje Dougherty Veterinary Clinic Dubh Linn Irish Pub Duluth Federation of Teachers Duluth Fire Department Duluth Grill Duluth News Tribune Duluth Pack Store Duluth Playhouse Duluth Police Department Duluth Police Department SCAN Unit Duluth Superior Community Area Community Foundation Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Duluth YMCA Judy Dwyer Eagles Nest Massage Therapy Dr. Mark and Mary Eckman Edelweiss Landscaping & Nursery, Inc.
DuRaine Egan Jack and Nancy Eilefson Kyle Eisel Electrical Workers Local #242 Thomas and Barbara Elliott Jerome and Elaine Elness Encompass Epicurean Kelly Erickson Bjorn Erickson ErosionZ Digital Art Editions Essentia Health Joe Everett Evergreen Lawn Service Expanding Horizons Steve and Katie Eyer Family & Children’s Center FDL Development Feel Good Massage Nicole Feralin Cindy Finch Chrissy Findley First Properties First United Methodist Church Richard and Barbara Fischer Fitgers Brewhouse Fitgers Wine Cellar Barbara Forrest Jessica Fralich Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8 Chuck and Julie Frederick Mary Fruehauf Gamma Sigma Sigma Laura Gapske Lisa Gasner Dave Geary and Deanne Roquet George’s Liquor Gerlach, Beaumier & Trogdon Nancy Gessner Glen Avon Presbyterian Church Glen Avon Womens Association Glensheen Beverly Goldfine Patricia Goodman K. Rose Gordy Mary Jean Goulet GPM Inc. Grandma’s Marathon Great Lakes Candy Kitchen Greysolon Ballroom Grizzly’s Bob and Dawn Grytdahl Adam Guggemos Gundersen Lutherean Rene Gutmann Irina Haller Robin Halverson Greg and Rebecca Hansen Angela Hanson Michael Harbin Harbor City Roller Dames Teresa Harries Candy Harshner Roger Hartley and Sandra Lumen Elizabeth Hartman Jennifer Hauck Jane Haurich-Casperson Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning Ed Heisler Kathy Heltzer Dan and Beth Hestetune Jackie Heytens Theresa Hilinski
Robert and Eleanor Hoffman Frank and Diane Holappa Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bruce and Rhonda Holmen Home Depot Horizon Nonprofit Solutions Bobbi Hoyt Brian Hren Carl Huber and Catherine Carter Huber Dianna Hunter Adam Hunter Lisa Hutchinson IKONICS Corporation Independent School District 708 Initial Intervention Unit ISD 703 Dennis and Susan Isernhagen Izzy McKay Salon Barb Jacobson Nancy Jacobson Leslie Janson Shannon Jarecki Frank Jewell Dale Johnson Ted and Ruth Johnson Dale and Charleen Johnson Liz Johnson Rachel Johnson Peggy Johnson Johnson, Killen & Seiler Johnson’s Bakery Art Johnston Shane Jopke James Joynes and Shanie Hahn Jeanne Kantonen Robert Karwath Kathleen Kelly Dr. Gale and Jeri Kerns Keyport Liquor Robert Kile Elaine Killen June Klosowsky Emily Kniskern Laurel Kniskern Richard and Dorothy Knudsen John and Sheila Koewler Candace Kokotovich Heather Korpela John Koski Trish Kroening Pamela Krulas Michelle Kurtz Ed and Amy Labernik Lady Ocalat’s Emporium Steve and Sharon Lafontaine Bob and Bonnie Lafontaine Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar Lake City Towing Lake Superior Brewing Lake Superior Helicopters Lake Superior Magazine Lake Superior Medical Society Alliance Chris and Pam Lammi Elizabeth Lane Larson Masonry Const. Lindsey and Samuel Lasky Dr. Don and Sandra Leake Patty Lee Mary Leggate Emma Levitt Morris and Louise Levy Levy Tree Care
k You or ur port be sure to update our records and make a correction for our next mailing. Mary Lewis Judy Lewis Anita Licari Anita Licari Life House LightSpeed Running Liscomb Hood Mason Co. Denise Lisdahl Darryl and Anita Lisowski Ross Litman and Jan Zigich Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation Becky Loop LPL Financial Charitable Foundation Dale and Lynne Lund Diane Lundberg Maypakou Ly Scott and Sue Lyons Heather Macgregor Nathan Madill Mary Madill Paul Madsen Mall of America Manions Wholesale Building Supplies Sharon Marcovich and Toby Marcovich Mardag Foundation Bob and Ann Mars Marshall Hardware John and Anne Marxhausen Elisabeth C. Mason Myrna Matheson maurices Gregg McCall Robin McCauley Coral McDonnell Gail McGrath Scott McKay Dr. David and Marie-Laure McKee Riki McManus Molly McNelis-Guse Tim McShane Deborah Medlin Melhus Management Company Mending the Sacred Hoop Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Patti Menz Merrill Lynch Panichi Licari Group Lisa Mickus Midi Restaurant Scott Miller Steven Miller Marcia Milliken Minnesota Ballet Minnesota Children’s Alliance Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault Minnesota Power Minnesota Public Radio Don and Lorri Mitchell Betty Moe Don and Nancy Moline Chris Monroe Mark Monte Kristi Ann Morse Mount Royal Bottle Shoppe Mount Royal Dental Bob and Pam Mudek Carolyn Mueller Anthony and Bridget Mueller Daisy Mundt Sharon Murphy Dereck Murphy-Williams
National Bank of Commerce Gwen Nelson Kelly Nelson Megan Nelson Don and Mary Ness Nevada Bob’s David and Cathy Nevanen Matthew Nevanen and Anne Lasky New Page Lynn Newberg Jerry and Bonnie Niemi Daniel Nolan Elizabeth Nordell Nordic Waste Services North Shore Bank of Commerce North Shore Scenic Railroad Northeast Regional Corrections Center Northern Waters Smokehaus Northland’s News Center Northshore Dental Northwest Outlet Robert Nygaard and Kimberly Keil Beth Olson and Lori Young Claire Olson Marie and Dean Olson Angela and Adam Olson Kathryn O’Neill Martha Oswald Owl’s Club Auxiliary Shawn Padden James and Andrea Palumbo Jess Panichi Laurie Paolicelli Paper Hog Mary Paquette Party America Dayle and Gregg Patterson Richard and Judith Pauling PAVSA Payroll Processing Plus Bertha Pearson Ray and Jeanne Pearson Sandra Pederson Jerome Pederson Michelle Pederson Amy Pendergast and Travis Tyson Dennis and Terri Perich Lisa Perich Personal Best Pilates PetCare of Duluth Janice Peterson Merle Peterson Peterson Anderson Flowers Peterson Wood Treating Pizza Luce Dr. Alexis Pogorelskin Polk County Sunny Polling Elizabeth Polling Peter and Cathy Privett Professional Risk Management Gordon and Tracy Ramsay Dale Rapp Valerie Rappana Ali Rassa Tom and Wendy Rectenwald Julie and Colin Reichhoff Jennifer Rein Deserie Rendulich Steve and Char Reno Republic Bank
Restaurant 300 Ridgeview Country Club Road Trip Limo Catherine and Joe Roby Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Earl and Judy Rogers Jensina Rosen Rotary Club 25 of Duluth Mark and Nancy Rubin Jay and Sharon Rud Wendy Ruhnke Safe Haven Saffron and Grey Salon Capelli Sam’s Club David Sauer Chris Schenk and Deb Amberg Colleen Schmidt Dr. John Schrock and Mary Berube Dr. Steve and Rev. Karen Schuder Brenda and Tyler Schwerdt Security Jewelers Jack and Cindy Seiler Bill and Mary Seitz Robert and Margaret Seitz Polly Seymour Shack Liquor Store Angie Shambour Milli Shatto Sheraton Hotel Patrick and Glenda Sherman Thomas and Janice Shuey Steven and Jolene Shult Timothy Sieh Kristina Simonson Mark and Kathy Skelton Dr. Dan and Rosey Skorich Skyline Lanes Samantha Smingler Nancy Smith Mark and Janet Snyder Debra Sobczyk Peter Spooner and Jean Larson St. Louis Co. Attorney’s Office Starbucks Coffee Co. Ernie and Jeanette Stauffenecker Sternberg Studios Photography Brenda Stokke Helen Strahan Tim and Julie Strom Annette Strom Rebekka Stumme David Sullivan Robert and Cynthia Sundby Carolyn Sundquist Marcia Suoja Superior Images North Kris Swanson Kristen Swanson Lizette Swanson Adam Swanson Marilyn Szymczak Jason and Anna Tanski Joan Tanski Target Stores Ryan Temple Ira Teng Gina Tennison Suzanne Thatcher Thatcher’s Tire Pros & Auto Center The College of St. Scholastica The Exchange
The Frame Corner, Inc. The Village Inn Chris and Lindsay Theis Thibodeau, Johnson & Feriancek Jonathan Thornton Ruth and Dale Thorpe Amanda Thralow and Danielle Thralow Kenneth Timm Peter Tornquist Sharon Torrison Barbara Tourville Karen Tribby Terry Trogdon Jeffrey Tucker Twin Ports Paper UMD Athletic Department United States District Court Unity Point Health Valentini’s Vicino Lago Mary Van Evera Neal and Iola Vanstrom Bob and Joanie Vavrosky Chad Vernon Visit Duluth Briana von Elbe Milorad and Janice Vucenich Rick and Dana Wahlberg Peter and Joan Wainer Daniel and Michele Wallerstein Teresa Walter Dr. Patrick Ward Warehouse Liquor Jessica Welch Violet Welck West Duluth American Legion West Virginia Child Advocacy Network Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center Whole Foods Co-op Tim and Michelle Wiklund Mark and Elizabeth Wilhelmson Williams Industrial Supply Mark and Brenda Winberg Dr. Paul and Mary Windberg WIPFLI Geoffrey and Gudrun Witrak Lorentz and Ruth Wittmers Erin Wojciechowski Matt Wojciechowski Douglas Wojciechowski Craig and Eileen Wojciechowski Ben and Barry Wolfe Wolfsong Wear Jennifer Wutz Yarn Harbor Elaine Yeates Helen Yetter Yoga North Tom and Mary Young Young & Associates Agency, Inc. Dane and Lynn Youngblom Joel Youngblom Laura Zahn Zahn Investment Group John and Suzanne Zallar Tianna Zembo Zenith Branch No. 114, Merged Nat’l Assoc. of Letter Carriers Zstudio Cynthia Zuk
4 West 5th Street Duluth MN 55806 (: 218.727.8353 ;: www.firstwitness.org
Proudly Presented By
www.firstwitness.org/standagainstchildabuse | $120 includes breakfast and lunch both days Leaders are coming together to learn more about the best practices & latest research on child abuse investigation & advocacy. Professionals working in or related to the child abuse field must travel throughout the country for continuing education or collaboration opportunities. Not only is this a hardship on agency budgets but also on their resources. Many agencies in Minnesota and surrounding areas operate in a small to rural population and simply cannot authorize extended travel. The decision to host a child abuse conference in Northern Minnesota is in response to the growing demand for professional development and networking not only within the field of child abuse but in agencies, schools, churches and after school programming that are also at the forefront of child abuse prevention, intervention and healing. On top of it, this is the only child abuse conference nationwide to offer a child advocacy track. Who is this conference for: Forensic Interviewers, Child Protection Workers, Law Enforcement, Tribal Members and Service Providers, Child Advocates, Medical and Mental Health, Professionals, Educators, Social Workers, Investigators, Clergy, DV/SA Advocates Continuing Education Credits: Are being applied for in multiple areas including: CLE’s, CEU’s, POST, CME’s & Nursing.
Keynote: Joy Friedman Breaking Free
Keynote: Victor Vieth Gunderson National Child Protection Training Center
This conference is proudly sponsored by: