Category: Staff

Thank you to our School Staff

By Dr. Sue Skinner, Interim Medical Director for The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

Times are stressful. Right here, right now. . . life is so much more complex and difficult than anything I would have ever imagined. . . even 3 months ago. But. I am one of the lucky ones; all my children have grown and I am not homeschooling them. When Oregon schools closed on March 12, all minor children came home. Even for the best of families, this was stressful. How to balance work, meals, education, sharing computers. . . all while worrying about what is going on in the world, and hoping no one gets sick and everyone keeps their job. In Jackson County, just like in other counties across the US, many families were struggling even before we knew about COVID-19. There were worries about finances or if the groceries would actually last all week, if the car was going to start the next time, if child support money would actually arrive, if they could keep making minimum payments on credit card debt, or how they would find suitable child care in order to attend their 12-step meeting and maintain sobriety, or their counseling appointment, addressing their own childhood trauma. Families who had many struggles were barely getting by. . . and then came the corona virus, and their kids came home.

With children out of school, parents are now responsible for keeping their kids on a schedule, making sure they “connect” with the online learning, addressing behaviors and discipline that siblings may be exhibiting more now that everyone is “cooped up” in a small space for an extended period of time. Caregivers find themselves infinitely more stressed than they were just a few months ago. And these children are more at risk for abuse. In her article, The Coronavirus Could Cause a Child Abuse Epidemic, Dr. Nina Agrawal reminds us that where there is household dysfunction, the risk of child abuse goes up. She states that suicide hotline calls are already up around the country, and New York is seeing an uptick in domestic violence. There are reports of a surge in suspected child abuse cases in Texas. She states that “many parents who are struggling. . . will no longer have any reprieve from the hard work of keeping children fed, entertained and educated.”

Now that schools are closed, I reflect on the irreplaceable foundation these institutions have become in our lives and I am reminded not only of the teachers who dedicate their long days to our kids but also the counselors, school nurses, resource officers, custodians, cafeteria staff, principals, and administrative body who work tirelessly behind the scenes. All of us can remember, without much difficulty, someone in our school years who made a big impression: I remember my 1^st grade teacher, Mrs. Near, as being warm and accepting, during a year that was particularly difficult for me. My high school math teacher, Ms. Borchardt, was the single person who instilled my love of mathematics, encouraging me to choose it for my college major. School staff teach, of course. But they also support, guide, mentor, caretake. . . and protect our youth. This is, perhaps, one of their most valuable roles. School staff see children daily, for 9 months out of the year. Nationally, and in Jackson County, schools account for about 20% of the calls to the Child Abuse Hotline for exactly these reasons. They see children on a regular basis, they are often one of the first people children and adolescents feel safe talking to. Their role in child protection cannot be understated. They are a true safety net for all our children, one we have been without since March 12.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed, given the worldwide pandemic surrounding us. I like to remind myself of the saying “Just because you can’t do everything, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something.” This helps to keep things in perspective. What can we do? It is better to do one small thing, rather than feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed into inaction. The second thing is that we stop and remember. . . we were all kids once! Every single one of us! Let’s challenge ourselves to be patient and tolerant of children, as we would have liked adults to have been with us when we were younger. Third—try this: Do something nice for a child who is in your life (maybe your own child, or a family member, or close neighbor). Then, try and do something nice for a child who is NOT in your life. Think—how can I ease stress for this child and this family during these difficult times? Help out at/donate at a food bank? Smile at a child you see on the walking path? Listen, more than talk? Donate supplies to your local school? Pick up the telephone and call the Child Abuse Hotline (in Oregon 1-855-503-7233) if you are concerned a child is being abused or neglected. Try and be the helper, the positive influence for children and families, the safety net that is so needed right now. Lastly, end your day with gratitude, for the teachers and all the school staff who teach and mentor our children. Each and every day, they are creating a better tomorrow.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” ~Mr. Rogers

Dr. Sue Skinner
Center Open, but limited to Emergency & Crisis Situations

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County will remain open but limited to emergency and crisis related situations. Our therapy department will be moving to providing services by phone or a HIPPA complaint web based platform. This week most appointments were cancelled in order to work out a process to move in a way to be able to continue to provide interventions in a safe way.

We will continue to schedule, on an emergency basis, forensic interviews. As always these will be scheduled through law enforcement or child protection and we will work those entities to do so in as timely and in accordance to CDC recommendations. We will be evaluating this daily based on the latest recommendations and what we learn about the spread of COVID 19. “Emergency Basis” is being defined by law enforcement and child protection protocols and the ability to secure safety of the child needing the interview.

We are increasing our cleaning of our building wiping down surfaces throughout the day.

We are going to a smaller staff being on site at any given time. If the phones ring longer or go to voicemail more frequently please be patient.

We know that child abuse does not stop for any reason and we are working on being as responsive as we can and still help stop the spread of COVID 19.

We will be limiting the number of people in our work spaces. What that translates to is we are trying very hard not to have more than one family in our building at one time. NO ONE will be allowed in the building who is currently ill, running a fever or has had flu like symptoms in the last five days.

We are not accepting donations of any used or gently used items at this time. We are accepting snacks that are prepackaged by the manufacturer (i.e. goldfish, animal crackers, etc.) While we are not serving the usual number of children, we will be very soon have an increase once the CDC recommendations are lifted.

We are also accepting donations of cleaning supplies such as Clorox, Lysol, or cleaning wipes. These are in high demand. We have some supplies right now but like you are uncertain how long this may be a need. We are not assembling a stockpile of any supplies which means at the rate we are going we will run out.

Additionally we are accepting gift cards in ten dollar increments to grocery stores in order to help out the families we serve who may not be receiving an income right now or may be facing reduced income or will need help with food even after the immediate concern is lifted.

At this time all Protect Our Children trainings are cancelled or postponed. After April 15^th we will reevaluate based on the most current recommendations from the Governor and CDC at that time.

Thank you

Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
“Jayden” benefits from the Caring for Kids Campaign

By Theresa Hart, Development Director for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

In March, we created three stories of children who have received services in our Medical Department for our Caring for Kids Campaign. These stories were based on real life experiences of children who had received services in our Medical Department. The details of their experiences were altered to protect their identities.

“Jayden’s” story touched me very deeply.

“Jayden” suffered sexual abuse by her mother’s boyfriend. She and her mother were brought to the Children’s Advocacy Center after her mother found her 13-year-old daughter inconsolable upon her return home.

After disclosing the abuse at the Center, Jayden was brought to our Medical Department where she received a head to toe evaluation. Additionally, our in-house pediatrician administered a test for sexually transmitted infections and a pregnancy test. When she left the Center that day, Jayden carried with her a quilt and the assurance that she was healthy and that her body would be okay. Jayden is receiving therapy at the Center and her mother is in treatment for substance abuse.

Jayden was fortunate to have come to the Children’s Advocacy Center where she could receive our specialized medical services, tell the story of her abuse and receive therapy in one child-focused center.

There are many children who have experienced abuse and neglect in the Rogue Valley. The CAC is the only place of its kind In Jackson County. Last year, Jayden was the recipient of one of the more than 200 medical services performed by our Medical Department.

Jayden suffered the kind of abuse we don’t like to talk about.

But here’s the thing, child abuse is a community problem, and it requires a community response. CAC’s partners were involved throughout her story, from law enforcement, DHS, community members, businesses, and other local organizations. The quilt Jayden took home was made by a local church group.

Community members and businesses can partner with us during the Caring for Kids Campaign to support our Medical Department services. These donations go to pay medical staff salaries, equipment, and supplies.

We are recruiting a nurse practitioner to perform additional medical evaluations and services to extend our Medical Department hours to 40 per week. Now more than ever we need community partnerships and support to help us continue our work with abused children.

There’s still time to partner with us during the Caring for Kids campaign. The deadline to make a donation is June 30. To make a difference in a life of other child victims, send your donation to 816 W. 10th Street, Medford, OR 97501.

Thank you.

Theresa Hart
Change for Children: Our 3 Agency Collaborative Brainchild
By Jennifer Mylenek, Executive Director of CASA of Jackson and Josephine Counties

The month of April represents Child Abuse Awareness, which helps shine a spotlight on the tragic circumstances of hundreds of thousands of abused and/or neglected children in the U.S. It is also a month in which I’m honored to be a part of a rich collaborative of child-serving agencies that have joined together to raise awareness and funds to support our strong linkage of services provided to abused children in Jackson County.

The Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA of Jackson County, and The Family Nurturing Center are three cornerstone non-profit agencies that support the needs of marginalized, abused, and/or neglected children in various ways with the common goal of ensuring every child can be safe from harm, thrive in a stable/loving home, have equal educational opportunities, and heal from abuse.

The three agencies are led by strong and experienced Executive Directors who realized that together, we can do much more for our children.

Working across agencies has always been our practice when we have shared child clients, but April brought us together in a bigger way. The subject of child abuse awareness is challenging to promote. Most people would rather turn away than accept that it is going on in our county in an epidemic-like fashion.

We knew we could raise more awareness with the larger footprint of our three agencies shining a coordinated light.

Change for Children was our brainchild and began last April in a small way. Today we have seen a significant surge in community support and with our combined staff pitching in to raise the flag on child abuse, much is getting done. Not to mention we found we all work really well together!

I think you’ll agree that recognizing there’s a problem is the first step toward solving the problem, but stepping in to be part of the solution will lift your spirits to new heights, I guarantee it.
- You can help by simply eating out at the establishments supporting us below
- You can volunteer at one or more of our three agencies: CAC, CASA, Family Nurturing Center
- You can sign up for the PROTECT OUR CHILDREN training to learn how to prevent child abuse
- You can look into becoming a foster parent
- You can thank our thoughtful sponsors by supporting their businesses
- You can text C4C to 71777 to make a donation which will be shared by our three agencies
If you’re already helping a child or children in some way, thank you.

There is no greater gift than to see a smile on a child’s face or to know you made a positive difference in their life.
It’s 32 Degrees and this Child is Wearing Flip Flops

By Ginny Sagal, Communication & Outreach Coordinator, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

When I was working at the schools teaching science, I saw a lot: Watching when the seasons changed who was wearing flip flops when the temperature was 32 degrees. Which child would come to school without a jacket and wearing shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt? I was watching for the ones who had no snack at recess time.   Who was the one child who was always losing his or her homework because he or she did not have a backpack?

It was very clear to me that I had a job as a teacher, advocate and protector of the children.

I had kids sometimes come up to me and ask me who was going to pick them up that day — I was also the bus lady – or at whose house were they going to stay for the weekend. Yes, they were given a breakfast and lunch at school provided by the school administration, but were they going to get dinner and where were they going to sleep at night?

The acting out in class sometimes would be the fear of the unknown or some dark secret they were keeping. I was their protector watching and observing them. I was able to give my supervisor the information they needed so that a child could get the help and services they needed and deserved.

At the CAC, I am a protector of the children by reaching out to others to get engaged in our efforts to prevent child abuse.

This month is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Let’s all be protectors of the children. Let’s all remember that:

·        ALL CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED

·        ALL CHILDREN NEED FOOD AND SHELTER

·        ALL CHILDREN NEED KIND AND UNDERSTANDING ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES

For more about April’s Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and local activities, visit: http://cacjc.org/child-abuse-prevention-month/
Tammi Pitzen: The 26th anniversary of living my passion

By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

In 1989, I started this quest into the field of child abuse as an intern on the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office child abuse team. It was made up of two women detectives. I graduated in 1990 from Northeast Louisiana University. (They changed their name sometime in the later 90’s, but I refuse to play along. My degree says NLU, and so that is who they will always be to me!).

On December 26, 1990, I began working for the Office of Community Services in Vernon Parish and briefly closed my eyes. When I opened them again, it was 26 later and here I am in Oregon.

This work was meant to be a temporary passage — not a lifetime passion. December 26th I will embark on my 27th year of working on my behalf of abused children.

As I sit down to write this, and reflect on the last 26 years, I recognize that many things have changed for me. I started out making less than $12.50 an hour. I just did the math and that is shocking to me. If I am honest, I can’t remember how much I made, but at the end of ten years, I was making less than $12.50 an hour.

I started out in this field at the age of 21, single, childless, and ready to take on the world. I had no responsibilities to anyone else and so I worked. A lot. I worked weekends. I worked late. I took work home with me. I will say, that part does not seem to have changed that much.

26 years ago, there were no cell phones. I would go out for the day to locate families, signing out on a white board, and just assumed that if I didn’t come back, someone would eventually come to look for me. Not that they would have found me as, most of the time, I just signed out “in the field”. Depending on the day, it could have literally been a field, but most of the time, it just meant “out of the office working”.

26 years ago, there was no GPS system, so I would navigate with the latest parish map. 26 years ago, I planned my life around a “pager” schedule. I would literally sit around and wait for the pager to go off on my “on-call” weeks.

26 years ago, most of the training was on the job training and the initial training I received, before going out and investigating life and death crimes, was on constructing genograms. (The social workers reading this will know what that is, and smile, and recognize that it would not help me in deciphering timelines or pattern bruising).

Within six months of this first job, everything about me changed. I was no longer who I thought I was. This work changes you.

No. Actually, the children do that to you.

To this day, there are eight children from two families that flash into my mind every night before I go to sleep. They made me into a better case worker. Their parents made me more compassionate and empathetic. Those kids never got to go home or at least, not until their 18th birthday.

In my first year, I worked near fatal child abuse cases and, within my first year and a half, I had worked fatal cases.

The smell of a hospital still evokes images and a panicked feeling surrounding my first fatal child abuse case. Surprisingly, I didn’t interact much with law enforcement while investigating that case. I do remember having to repeatedly call and basically camp out at the police station to get a report and to get a copy of the coroner’s findings.

I do remember my shaking hands as I tried to draw the injuries I could see on the child’s body. Another skill that none of my initial training taught me. And I remember crying myself to sleep as I imagined what had happened that caused her to take her last breath.

It was a pivotal moment. At this point, caseworkers either move on to some other work or decide what adjustments they will need to make in order to stay in.

Upon reflection, I have learned so much. Here are 26 things I have learned in 26 years:

1.     At some point in life, you have to decide if making a lot of money is your driving force or if it is finding your purpose. Sometimes you are super lucky and your purpose will allow you to make a lot of money.

2.     Sometimes your passion chooses you. And usually when you are not paying attention.

3.     If you are going to make a difference, you have to take care of yourself. I always thought it was crazy that the stewardess on the plane tells you that, if you are sitting next to a child and the air masks drop, put yours on first. Now, I totally get it. You will do no one any good if you are sick and unable to function.

4.     For the most part, people do the best they can with what they are given—this includes parents of abused children.

5.     Sometimes milk and cookies is the answer — no matter what the question.

6.     Spilled milk is not a crisis or the end of the world. Neither is spilled red Kool-Aid.

7.     If we listen closely, children will tell us what they need. And part two of that is that sometimes they tell us through methods other than words.

8.     Adults are always in control and in charge in any interaction with children. It does not matter if it is an abuse scenario or just regular life.

9.     Very few mistakes made are mistakes that can’t be corrected.

10. Sometimes you get “do overs” in life. Always take them.

11. Wolves really do come in sheep’s clothing. Every single time I am surprised by it when it happens.

12. Life is good when you expect the best all the time, even when people disappoint you. Being surprised by the wolf in sheep’s clothing does not make you naïve or ignorant.

13. Everyone has something to give and no matter what it is they are giving, it has value. It is important to let them give.

14. Children who are abused did not ask for that abuse nor did they do anything to cause the abuse to happen. The brokenness that is left after a child is abused can be repaired.

15. Sometimes everything IS awesome. Enjoy those times!

16. Sex offenders look like everyone else.

17. An abused child deserves the same things that any other child has.

18. The world-wide web is not the enemy. The key is supervising our children and monitoring their actions on the internet.

19. Kids will teach you what you need to know to love them.

20. Judgements get in the way of doing our best work with families.

21. Don’t get caught up in leaving a legacy or a mark on the world. Focus on doing what is “right” and “kind” in the moment and your mark will be left.

22. Providing structure provides safety.

23. Abuse in your childhood does not define who you are. It usually has nothing to do with who you are and more to do with who the abuser is.

24. Listen to everything your child tells you, as if it is the most important thing in the world, so they will tell you the important things when they come up. Otherwise they may get filtered out.

25. Never underestimate the impact of being kind to someone.

26. Terrible awful things happen to the best people. It really isn’t about what is fair or what is right. It is about what you do next. Do you choose to stay exactly where the terrible awful thing left you. Choose to rise above and beyond.

And I want to add one more that has saved me many times: Never, ever take yourself too seriously. When you can recognize your weaknesses and your mistakes and forgive yourself those missteps, it allows others to do the same for themselves

While many things have changed in the last 26 years, the one thing that remains constant is this: Abused children need each of us.

We — as in all of us — are the ones that can change the trajectory of the life of an abused child. Don’t let anyone tell you it is not your business. It is your business.

It has been a long rewarding 26 years. I am hoping I have more years to give. As I enter in my 27th year, I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to do this work in this community.

I am extremely proud of the staff, Board, Advisory Council, volunteers, donors and Multi-disciplinary team at the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Together we can make our world a better, safer place for children in Jackson County. We depend on each of you to be able to provide abused children with interviews, therapy, medical care and support services.

Tammi Pitzen and her co-workers at the beginning of her career
I am thankful for the generosity of this community

By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

Thanksgiving

It is one of my favorite times of the year. I love fall. I love all that it represents. I think about fall being the time to go into our cocoon and come out in spring transformed. For me, it is also a time to be reflective of the blessings I have in my life.

I have just celebrated my three year anniversary at the CAC. Together we have done so much in those three years.

In this work, the average “life span” of an Executive Director in a CAC is about three years. At that point, people either move on to other work or they decide they will stay. I think that is because in the first year, you are learning the territory. You are learning your community. You are learning the nuances of the way the CAC operates in this community, with this team. While I have done this work for a really long time, it is never the same in any two communities.

In year two, you know what impact you want to make but are still trying to figure out a way to assimilate what you would like to do into a functioning team of professionals.

In year three you begin to execute your vision. Or you become so overwhelmed by the mountains of work required to keep all the cogs moving that you decide to move on instead of moving mountains.

I want to move mountains!

When I turned 21 and began this work, I had no idea that it would become my passion. When I say passion, I mean PASSION! It is hard to explain. Many people think about the children who are abused in our community and think…that is horrible. I, and those I work with, think about those same abused children and our reaction is to work to change their world.

I am not alone in my passion. I see it every Wednesday afternoon when I attend our Multi-disciplinary team meeting.

I look at the faces of the professionals assembled in that room and know that I am with “my people”. I spend very little, if any time with these people outside of the small room upstairs in the Children’s Advocacy Center. I know most by name.

But here today, in this moment, during this time of thankfulness I count that team as one of the top ten things I am most thankful for.

In the spirit of naming my blessings here are the things I am most thankful for this year:

1)     I am so thankful for my family. The one I was born into, the one I married into and the one I have created along the way since my childhood. My husband is so supportive and has joined me in my concern for children who are abused, unwanted, or otherwise uncared for. We are teaching our son to take care of those more vulnerable.

2)     I am thankful for the mentors who have guided and helped me learn the skills I need to work in this wonderful movement (the CAC movement) and in the field of child abuse. There have been many along the way. Some are no longer living. Most are separated from me by miles.

3)     I am thankful for the search committee who saw something in me that led them to believe that I could be the leader of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County.

4)     I am thankful for the multi-disciplinary team members that I get to work with every day. These people are fantastic. Literally, every day, quietly they are saving lives and changing the world. I am so lucky to be able to see these things happening. Most people take it for granted.

5)     I am thankful for the staff and contract professionals that I have the honor of working with every day. They are absolutely some of the best people in this field and I cannot imagine taking this journey without them on my team.   They are brilliant and compassionate. They make me look good every day! Who wouldn’t want that in their life?

6)     I am thankful for the most impressive Board of Directors that I have ever had the privilege of working with and for. This community is so lucky to have them.

7)     I am thankful for the generosity of this community and the support they have always given the Children’s Advocacy Center.

8)     I am thankful for the network of Executive Directors that I get to work with and learn from. This would be so hard without all of you!!! It is so fun to be able to share with you, collaborate with you, and make Jackson County an incredible place to live.

9)     I am thankful for the opportunity to witness strength, courage, and bravery that the young victims we serve at the CAC show every single day. It is an amazing thing.

10) I am thankful for a couple of women who many years ago allowed me to work outside of the box and empowered me to step into a leadership position in a CAC. They taught me a lot about grants, a lot about running programs, a lot about facilitating a team, working with Boards, and a bunch of other nonprofit “stuff”. My first Executive Director, Janet Buss and my second Executive Director, Teresa Huizar, taught me everything I know about CAC’s and nonprofit management. I am uncertain what you both saw in me that made you want to invest in me but I am so thankful you did.

I challenge each of you to come up with your own list of thankfulness!

My wish for each of you is that you will know your value, know your strengths, and find peace and serenity that will carry you through.

Tammi Pitzen
Transformation: Why CAC Matters

By Leah Howell, Jackson County Training Coordinator, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN Child Abuse Prevention Training

My son just started preschool this year. Two days per week, he gathers with 10 other 3 year-olds and follows a routine of play, circle time, and snack.

Right now he and his classmates are learning about the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly, and subsequently, they were able to capture two caterpillars. Inside an aquarium, and with assistance from a branch tilted at just the right angle, those caterpillars each made a chrysalis. What an amazing process this insect goes through – changing from one thing, to something so different!

I wonder if there is something innate in the caterpillar that realizes someday he will not be confined to such a small area of the world, eating every minute of the day, trapped in a slow moving, defenseless body. Do they know, somehow, that there is more in store for them? Or if, when he sees other monarch butterflies, does he innately “know” that is what he will become?

Children come into this world totally dependent and defenseless too.

I do not know if each child is born with an innate knowledge of their potential, but I do know that the beliefs about their own worth can be easily influenced by negative messages: “You’re a bad kid,” “You’re too emotional,” “You are an inconvenience,” and “You are nothing special.”

These messages early and often have the power to keep a kid on the ground, metaphorically speaking, dragging wings that seem like nothing more than a nuisance.

I love being part of the Children’s Advocacy Center – an organization that prioritizes protection, support and care of kids,…a place where the employees and volunteers speak worth and potential into kid’s lives all day, every day… a place that teaches kids how to start to use the amazing wings they’ve got, and then, through amazing transformations, kids learn to fly!

Come be a part of these transformations!

If you have time, kind words, energy, and love to give – call Ginny Sagal our Volunteer Coordinator: 541-282-5474 Ext. 113.
Our New Development Director: Why the CAC?

By Julia Saemi, Development Director at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

So how does someone with an economics and budgeting background end up as a Development Director of a small non-profit?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten that question in the two months that I’ve been working at the Children’s Advocacy Center. It’s a good question. I worked for the Department of Treasury, I consulted for the Navy, and I worked on the budget team at Dartmouth College – why the CAC?

My answer is timing and the inspiring staff at the Center.

I’ve lived in Medford for just over a year and have a two-year-old son. I was looking for part-time work that was fulfilling and challenging. I had thought about working for a non-profit. I’ve done a lot of volunteering in the past, and always found that work grounding and incredibly meaningful. But nothing seemed to be working out, so I got in touch with a family friend – Dr. Miller. Her enthusiasm for the CAC is infectious. She gave me a tour, introduced me to Tammi, the Executive Director, and I was hooked. I signed up to volunteer that day.

Anyone who has interacted with the center can tell you that it takes no more than 5 minutes with anyone on staff to realize their passion for helping children and families.

It is truly amazing and inspiring. I’ve never felt so strongly about an organization in such a short period of time. The Children’s Advocacy Center proves that a small staff can have a significant and positive impact on hundreds of kids a year. It is this dedication that encouraged me to apply for the open Development Director position as I couldn’t think of a better way to dedicate the time away from my son.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two months on the job and all the challenges that come with starting in a completely new field of work. There are days that I feel like the path leading to the Children’s Advocacy Center was meant to be.

It brings me back to my days of working on my Master’s Degree in Public Administration and making the decision to dedicate myself to public service. I go back to how I felt cooking and welcoming guests at David’s House in Hanover, New Hampshire – a small Ronald McDonald-type house for families to stay while their children are in the hospital. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of the amazing team at the Children’s Advocacy Center.

I will do everything I can to be successful in supporting the Center in helping children recover from child abuse and find safety.
Farewell to our Development Director, Michelle Wilson

By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

As I sit behind my computer staring at a blank screen I am very humbled and possibly somewhat overwhelmed.

Today I am writing about changes at the Children’s Advocacy Center. Changes that bring on both feelings of happiness and deep sadness. We are saying farewell to our Development Director, Michelle Wilson. She is moving on to new adventures that, unfortunately for us, include a new job.

Michelle has been part of the CAC team for seven years. Staying put for seven years in the same nonprofit is not something that happens very frequently. I like to say the players are always the same, just where they sit at the table is different.

Many people recognize Michelle as one of the faces of the CAC. Many people recognize Michelle as the person who raises revenue and rallies supporters for our agency. Today I want to invite you to look deeper at Michelle’s contribution to this community.

Without Michelle’s tireless efforts the CAC would not have been able to grow our capacity to serve the children and families we serve. Let that sink in a moment. Being the Development Director is so much more than just raising funds and awareness.

Michelle has helped behind the scenes insure our staff have what they need in order to help abused children journey to healing.

Literally thousands of children in Jackson County have been impacted by the work Michelle has done behind the scenes. Thousands of abused children have been able to get forensic interviews, therapy, mentoring opportunities, advocacy, and medical exams and begin to a journey of healing. Thousands of children understand that they have value. Thousands of children have the gift of knowing that their abuse does not have to define who they are.

Let’s change our lens and look at Michelle’s contribution from a different angle. There are many professionals in Jackson County who work tirelessly to protect the children of Jackson County who have received specialized training as a result of Michelle’s work. There are many professionals who were able to receive professional mentoring as a result of the funding secured through Michelle’s work. This training and mentorship multiplies those thousands of children impacted by her work, probably at least tenfold.

There are countless Board members that Michelle mentored. There are countless Board members that Michelle has helped recognize in themselves new skills and new strengths that they never knew they had. Michelle has done the same for many staff members.

From a more personal place, I would like to thank Michelle for making my transition into the Director’s position two years ago so much easier than it could have been.

It is always difficult to move to a new community. It is always difficult to take on a new leadership role. It is always difficult to come in and have new ideas and try to execute them in a place where there is an established culture. Michelle certainly helped to keep me on a pace that would help in my success in all those areas.

Tomorrow is Michelle’s last day with our Center as our Development Director. In a blog or newsletter in the near future I will be introducing the person who will be taking on the role of Development Director.

But for today in this moment, I am appreciating and recognizing Michelle’s contribution to our community. Today in this moment, I am recognizing that I am going to miss the daily check ins, the million emails, and the daily reminders to take care of myself. Today in this moment I will watch Michelle spread her wings just as a newly transformed butterfly does after emerging from their cocoon ready to tackle new challenges.

Transition is part of the life cycle of any nonprofit. We are definitely in another transition phase as committed staff members leave our agency to claim new adventures and new passions. I take heart that with every goodbye, we are saying hello to someone with new energy and new ideas that will take us to the next phase of our life cycle.