Child advocacy center takes on child abuse

Newly christened Tree House a key part of healing process

By Tyler Lamb

Editor

It’s the latest chapter in the continuing mission of helping abused children in Walworth County.

The Walworth County Alliance for Children recently held a grand opening for its Tree House, located at W4063 County Highway NN, across the street from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department.

State legislators, judges, county supervisors, prosecutors, philanthropists, supporters, as well as the individuals who donated time or services to the WCAC attended the event.

The grand opening, however, was also a celebration for those not in attendance – children who are or will become victims of physical or sexual abuse.

According to Paula Hocking, a forensic interviewer with the WCAC, the Tree House is a place for victims to safely discuss traumatic events with law enforcement and therapists.

The 4,200-square-foot Tree House, which is owned by the WCAC, allows a multidisciplinary team to provide supportive services and education, as well as a coordinated community response, to children and families affected by physical, sexual and domestic abuse. Ultimately, according to Hocking, it is a place where victims can begin healing from physical and emotional scars.

“The building itself is called the ‘Tree House,’” Hocking said. “The idea of the Tree House was actually a citizen’s idea.

“They said we should help kids get ‘a leg up at the Tree House,’” she continued.

According to county records, WCAC received 1,328 referrals in 2012. This consisted of 488 cases involving sexual abuse, 376 for physical abuse and 328 due to neglect. Those numbers were up from 2011, which registered 945 referrals and 243 forensic interviews.

For her part, Hocking said she interviewed more than 300 children last year.

“We average 30 to 35 forensic interviews per month,” Hocking noted.

Then

In preceding years, children of Walworth County who had been mistreated had to restate details about their abuse several times in a variety of venues, including local law enforcement buildings. They may also have had to make another trip to a hospital for an exam.

“What we used to have is a child would tell their story about what happened seven to 10 times,” Hocking said. “They would tell somebody at school. That person would tell the principal. The principal would call a social worker and the social worker would talk with the child. The social worker would then call the police. The police would talk with the child, and then they might have to talk with the parent. It just kept adding up.”

Now

The Tree House, which began offering services April 15, is a one-stop destination that creates a tranquil, secure environment for victims of a traumatic event.

“We needed a place where the child could come and where everyone could come to the child. A place where the child could say their information just one time,” Hocking said. “When a child has to keep repeating what happened they just become re-victimized.”

At the Tree House, Hocking will interview a child in one of two rooms. Both rooms have cameras, and capabilities that allow law enforcement to watch the interviews in a separate observation room.

This also allows Hocking the ability to leave the interview room and privately speak with law enforcement to see if there are any additional questions she needs to ask.

Furthermore, medical exams are provided at the Tree House, but the examination room doesn’t resemble a typical hospital room.

There is a large television in the exam room, known as the “Healing Room,” which Hocking said the victim can watch during the exam. She also said there is a shower in the restroom, which is attached to the examination room.

The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is also renting several rooms at the Tree House. These rooms are used for physicians and therapists.

A playground is situated in the Tree House’s backyard. And if a child’s family can’t pay for therapy, they won’t be turned away.

History

The Walworth County Board of Supervisors agreed in January 2012 to a quitclaim deed arrangement, giving ownership of the five-acre parcel to WCAC, which then assumed all building and financing responsibilities for the property and new complex.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, which eventually will offer medical and therapy components onsite, made a commitment to become a partner in this venture in fall 2008.

The Tree House itself was built without tax dollars and is funded entirely through donations, according to Hocking.

“The Lakeland Builders Association agreed to take this building on as a community project,” she said. “We sat down and told them what our mission was, what our goal was and they said they’d like to help us.

“They assembled all of their builders to look at the project. It came together as a package, and it all happened in five months,” Hocking continued. “What took over 20 years to plan only took a few months to bring together.”

WCAC also hopes to bring the Association for the Prevention of Family Violence into the Tree House, Hocking added.

Donations

The nonprofit organization receives most of its funding through grants and donations. It is funded solely by contributions from the community and special events. As a 501(c) (3) non-profit entity it does not receive any federal, state or local tax dollars.

At present, the community can help support the WCAC via its “Buy a Brick” campaign, which supports the center’s building project. Or through its “Buy a Leaf” campaign in which engraved leaves are added to the center’s donor tree.

For more information about the WCAC, or how to contribute, visit www.wcac4kids.org.