From the Executive Director’s Desk
The National Children’s Alliance held its 30th annual Leadership Conference at the end of June, welcoming professionals from Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country to gather at our nation’s capital.
This was an opportunity for CAC Chapter peers to come together, connect, and learn. Also included in the scheduled events was “Hill Day”, an event where CAC representatives were invited to interact with members of Congress to share where federal resources are most needed for their communities.
Our MDT Coordinator, Chasteen, and I were honored to attend this year’s conference in Washington D.C., which was a trip made possible by grant funding awarded to the Center. There were over 70 workshops offered this year, ranging in topics from helping children heal after trauma, to the unique challenges of serving rural areas, to enhancing the trauma-informed response of MDTs (Multidisciplinary Teams).
It was inspiring to see so many CACs represented at this year’s conference, from large metropolitan cities to smaller rural populations like ours, joining together with the shared goal of serving vulnerable children and creating an abuse-free world. I was also encouraged to see the efforts being made to bring CACs to the forefront for our federal partners during Hill Day, highlighting funding opportunities available to help meet the critical needs of our community’s children.
We left the conference feeling inspired and equipped to impart the knowledge we gained to the rest of our Amani team, and to keep striving to implement optimal methods and evidence-based practices that we can to serve the children who need us. The training we received will influence our practices and partnerships moving forward as we aim to continue learning, understanding, and compassionately responding to child abuse.
Thank you for supporting our mission to give child abuse victims a voice and for helping to ensure every child has access to safety, healing, and justice.
With gratitude,
Amelia Kercher, Executive Director
What’s New?
We are thrilled to announce our brand-new Family Growth & Resource Center is opening soon to serve Columbia County!
In partnership with Columbia Health Services, our agencies have joined together under the oversight of Amani Center staff member and Community Health Worker Rosa Gonzalez to expand resources for the community through our Family Growth & Resource Center located on McNulty Way in St. Helens.
We are grateful to have both Rosa Gonzalez (pictured) and Jennifer Bartocci on staff at Amani Center, as they were the team behind the previous school-based Family Resource Center. Jennifer is now a Program Manager with the Amani Center and is thrilled to see Rosa breathing new life into this much-needed project!
After receiving feedback from families and community partners about the gap in services that was left after other local family resources were reduced, we saw how essential this was for our community. With Rosa’s prior experience managing the school’s resource center, she was the perfect person to lead this exciting collaboration that will help “fill the gap” and assist families not covered by the school district.
The Family Growth & Resource Center will be a source of support for children and families, helping them navigate systems and access to resources they need to help them thrive. With Rosa’s professional guidance, we’re making sure we’ve checked every box on our to-do list before we open the doors:
☑️ Multilingual
☑️ Experienced Support Staff
☑️ Warm and welcoming atmosphere
☑️ Food, toiletries, school supplies & washer/dryer access
☑️ Meeting place for parent groups/community education
☑️ Family support expert Rosa Gonzalez leading the way!
But we still need you! You can help families in our county by donating consumable resources such as shelf-stable foods, diapers, school supplies, laundry products and more. Visit our Amazon Wish List to purchase needed items and help us to stock our shelves for local families.
The Family Growth & Resource Center will host an Open House for staff and community partners on Friday, August 14th. After the Open House, the hours of operation for the Center will be:
Monday: By appointment
Tuesday: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location:
Family Growth & Resource Center
58640 McNulty Way St. Helens, OR 97051
For further details or to learn about volunteer opportunities at the Family Growth & Resource Center, please contact Rosa Gonzalez, 503-396-1892.
July Spotlight:
Our Teddy Bear Picnic is back again for the third year in a row at the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo! Come out during free kids’ day at the fair and make some fun summer memories together at this special event for children ages 3-10.
Join us on Thursday, July 16th for a free picnic lunch, craft and activity. Families are invited to register at 10:00 a.m. at the Gazebo for the picnic taking place at 11:30 a.m. on the Pavilion Stage. Participation is limited so be sure to register ahead of time to secure your spot. Kids are also welcome to stick around after the picnic has ended for a story time on the Pavilion Stage with authors Natalia Lee and Sandi Mueller.
Thank you to the generous sponsor of this event, Wauna Credit Union!
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, July 2nd – Pints for Nonprofits
Invite your friends and join us at Crooked Creek Brewery for the “Pints for Nonprofits” fundraiser! On Thursday, July 2nd, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Crooked Creek will donate $2.00 to the Amani Center for every beer sold all day, including pints, to-go crowlers and “buy a friend a beer” cards. Bring the whole family to this kid-friendly (until 9:00 p.m.), dog-friendly event for a great cause and enjoy some delicious food, refreshing beers, and non-alcoholic offerings. Funds raised will directly support families and children in Columbia County impacted by abuse, neglect and victimization.
Thursday, July 16th – FREE Teddy Bear Picnic
Our 3rd annual Teddy Bear Picnic is back again this summer! Kids ages 3-10 are invited to join us for a picnic during the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo. Register for the picnic on Thursday, July 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Gazebo for a free lunch, craft, and activity taking place later that day at the Pavilion Stage at 11:30 a.m. Families are invited to stay after the conclusion of the picnic for children’s story time. Thank you to our generous sponsor of the Teddy Bear Picnic, Wauna Credit Union!
Tuesday, August 11th – June Carter & Johnny Cash Tribute Show
Mark your calendar for a special night of music, community, and giving in support of the Amani Center at the June Carter & Johnny Cash Tribute Show! Enjoy a night out on the town on Tuesday, August 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Plymouth Pub in St. Helens, with live music performed by Hayley Lynn and Blake Johnston. Guests are welcome to enjoy dinner during the show, with food and beverages available for purchase from Plymouth Pub. There will only be 100 tickets available for this private event, so purchase yours here today before they’re gone!
This event will benefit the Amani Center’s Capital Campaign for the construction of the new Amani Center facility. This event is generously sponsored by Northwest Plumbing Services and Sass at Home.
Saturday, September 19th – Hullabaloo Car Show, Dinner & Live Auction
Grab your boots and join us for the 5th annual Hullabaloo! We are back at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 19th for the Hullabaloo Car Show, Dinner & Live Auction.
Join us for the first event of the day, the Hullabaloo Car Show at the fairgrounds! This free, family-friendly event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come check out an incredible lineup of beautiful rides, swap stories with fellow car enthusiasts, and enjoy the vibrant community atmosphere.
Next up is the Hullabaloo Dinner & Live Auction, starting at 5:00 p.m. at the fairgrounds Pavilion. This evening of food, fun, and entertainment by the Sweetwater Band will be a memorable night celebrating the resilience of the children we serve. From the lively and competitive “dessert dash” to the energetic live auction, you won’t want to miss the luxury getaways and big-ticket items on offer this year. Purchase your Hullabaloo Dinner & Live Auction tickets here today before they sell out!
For further sponsorship information, contact Fundraising & Event Coordinator Monica Rush. Thank you to the presenting sponsor of the Hullabaloo, InRoads Credit Union.