From the Deputy Director's Desk:
Hello, my name is Rosa Gonzalez, and as of February 2025, I am the Amani Center’s System of Care Bilingual Program Coordinator for District One (Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook Counties).
I have worked with families in this community since 2015, when I started working for Head Start. I was an Assistant Teacher, then I moved into the Family Advocate role where I was until 2018 before transitioning into the Family Support Specialist with Healthy Families. In 2021, I was hired at the St. Helens School District as the Family Resource Liaison. During this time, I also trained to become a Parent Educator, which I love! I am also trained in a few curriculums, to name a few: Families In Action, Nurturing Parents, and Growing Great Kids.
Coming to Amani has been great as I am excited to be part of the work this agency does in my community. The Amani Center is working towards building relationships with our Spanish speaking community and one way they are doing so is by hiring bilingual staff. The Center has also started to provide Parent Cafés (Café con Padres) to build relationships not only with the agency but within the community as well, and this is a project that I lead.
Parent Cafés are physically and emotionally safe spaces where people talk and listen to each other on topics that matter to them, such as the challenges and victories of raising a family, navigating landscapes of inequality, enhancing well-being, or being involved in the recovery process of someone they love. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to strengthen their families. Participants leave Parent Cafés feeling inspired, energized, and excited to put into practice what they’ve learned. Parent Cafés are highly sustainable with training reinforcement, institutional support, and a commitment to an approach that engages and affirms parents as leaders. I am inspired by this work with families, and it fills my bucket!
– Rosa Gonzalez, CHW
D1 System of Care Bilingual Program Coordinator
What's New?
The annual National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference was held in Washington D.C. this past June, with several Amani Center team members in virtual attendance. This year’s conference explored many topics that Children’s Advocacy Centers across the nation see first-hand with the children they serve. Our staff shared what they learned about some key issues covered at this year’s conference:
Generative Artificial Intelligence Used to Create Child Sexual Abuse Materials – Our team members learned about the ways that Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is being misused by offenders to create child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). GAI allows users to create new images, videos, audio and text based off of requests or prompts, and while this new technology offers many positive opportunities, it also brings new dangers to children’s online safety. GAI can be misused to create altered images of real children in sexual situations. In some cases, offenders use images that teens post on their social media and alter these images to depict them in sexual circumstances in order to extort money (sextortion). Not only is GAI used by perpetrators for sextortion and distribution of CSAM, it has also been reportedly used by children and teens to create images of their peers in instances of online bullying/harassment. Any GAI CSAM should be reported to law enforcement and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. You can learn more about this topic and find internet safety resources for kids by visiting The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.
Increase in Unsafe Internet Behaviors of Teens – Another presentation focused on trends that teachers are seeing in schools, primarily with middle school and high school students. They observed an increase in unsafe behaviors that teens are engaging in due to unlimited access to the internet, such as messaging with strangers who are posing as teens on social media platforms. This has led to a drastic increase in the potential for children to become victims of sextortion or other crimes. To address this problem, presenters shared videos from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s “NetSmartz” online safety education program. These educational resources are made to help teens identify sextortion and what it looks like, how it begins, and how to get help. They also aim to lessen the embarrassment or shame teens may feel about sextortion, to show them what to do even if they’re afraid of “getting in trouble”, and to help them understand that they are actually the victim of a crime. Use this link to view NetSmartz videos made specifically for teens and share them with the teens and parents in your life.
Our team members found this year’s conference incredibly informative, and with the ease of attending virtually, appreciated the ability to participate in the conference from across the country. You can view a short recap video of the 2025 NCA Leadership Conference here on YouTube.
August Spotlight:
Our annual Hullabaloo fundraiser is almost here, so we’re shining a light on one of the Hullabaloo’s steadfast supporters, Poppy Elshaug! Poppy has helped behind the scenes for several years, working hard on the night of the event to record live auction results. We asked Poppy to share a few details about her connection to the Amani Center, and her work with the Hullabaloo:
“I have been a volunteer for the Amani Center’s Hullabaloo for 3 years. Board Member Tami McDonald recommended that I volunteer, and Deputy Director Beth Pulito and I also had a connection from another group.
Part of why I started volunteering was because of my experience with the auction software. I have helped at the Hullabaloo during the actual event, working with the auction software, check-in, check-out, setting up the dessert table, live auction tracking, silent auction set-up, and other auction details on the night of.
I enjoy volunteering for Amani Center because I believe in their vision and mission and want to support them how I’m able. I plan to continue to support the Amani Center at the Hullabaloo this year as I have in the past; it’s already on my calendar for the fall!”
We are so grateful for Poppy’s years of dedicated volunteer work for the Amani Center, helping to make the Hullabaloo auction run smoothly and successfully. We send a big “thank you” to her, and also to each and every one of our Hullabaloo volunteers. The Amani Center would not be what it is today without caring community members who give generously of their time and resources to support our mission. Thank you for your commitment to give child abuse victims a voice!
25 Years of Amani:
We have a new photo to share as we look back on “25 Years of Amani” all throughout 2025, celebrating our 25th anniversary.
Check out this 1980’s blast from the past from our photo album! This is a pic from the 80’s themed “Mock Ball” fundraiser from 2012, featuring Amani Center staff and supporters decked out in totally rad outfits! Do you have any clothes like these in your closet? 😊
If you’d like to celebrate our “silver jubilee” anniversary with us, consider donating via our 25th Anniversary donation page. All donations will support the building fund, making a permanent home a reality for the Amani Center. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more scrapbook photos from the past!
Upcoming Events:
August 18th, 6:00 p.m., Bunco at the Ol’ Pastime Tavern
Invite your friends to a fun night out at our next Bunco fundraiser game night on Monday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the Ol’ Pastime Tavern in Rainier. The cost is $15.00, so roll the dice with a chance to win prizes, all while supporting a great cause! The Ol’ Pastime Tavern offers delicious classic diner fare, specials and lots of beverage options. This event is sponsored by RE/MAX Power Pros Agent Dennis O’Brien.
September 13th – Hullabaloo Car Show, Dinner & Live Auction
Get ready to kick up your heels and join us for the Amani Center’s annual Hullabaloo Dinner & Live Auction on Saturday, September 13th, 2025! This year is extra special as we celebrate a HUGE milestone – our 25th anniversary of making a difference in the lives of children! But that’s not all – we’re also bursting with excitement to celebrate the grand opening of our brand-new Mental Health Program! Come be a part of this incredible night filled with fantastic food, thrilling auction items, and the infectious energy of a community coming together to benefit the Amani Center and help Columbia County’s child victims of abuse and neglect find hope, healing, and recovery.
Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the free Hullaballoo Car Show at the Columbia County Fairgrounds for a day of family fun! Come see a variety of old and new vehicles on display. The grange will be offering their famous pancake breakfast before the Car Show that morning, and a hot dog lunch option, as well.
Tables are available now to buy with a variety of sponsorship options; connect with Monica Rush at 971-899-1268 or mrush@amanicenter.org to secure your spot, or to donate items for the live and silent auctions. And last but not least, we send a big “thank you” to the Presenting Sponsor of the Hullabaloo, InRoads Credit Union!