Mission StatementWestern Slope Center for Children provides collaborative services to child sexual abuse victims and their families in a supportive

environment that reduces trauma and promotes dignity, justice, and healing. VALUES: COMPASSION INTEGRITY MUTUAL RESPECT

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAID Grand Jct., CO

Permit #82

259 Grand Ave.PO Box 3978

Grand Junction, CO81502-3978

970.245.3788 970.245.7550 • fax

office@wscchildren.org

www.wscchildren.org

Winter 2014 Newsletter

Wish ListChildren:

New stuffed animalsNew Toys - ages 2-18Quilts & blanketsJournals/pensBoard gamesArt supplies

Drinks & SnacksIndividual snacksBottled WaterJuice boxes or bottlesCanned soda

Office:Blank DVD-R discsBlank CD-R discsDVD/CD sleevesCopy Paper 8.5x11Rolls of Stamps

EssentialsClorox wipesPaper towelsToilet paperTrash bagsTissues

JOAN’S CORNER, LPC

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

“NO MORE” to child sexual abuse. The national “NO MORE”campaign challenges us to stop domestic violence, sexual assaultand end victim blaming. We can start by promising to do the rightthing. We promise to tell the truth, to teach our children to tell thetruth. The truth includes no longer ignoring the fact that child sexualabuse exists. We say the words out loud. We correct others, and our-

selves, when we hear the victim being blamed. We pay attention; welisten and learn about prevention. We talk to peers, parents, principals

and pastors. We talk to our daughters and sons not only about safety but aboutconsent and what that means. We ask questions and learn from children by play-ing more with them, talking with them, teaching them about truth and trust.Children are never too young to talk about these issues. We trust our instincts,those funny feelings in our stomach, and act on them to protect children. We don’tneed proof, we need courage to do the right thing and speak up. To end sexualabuse we must stop looking the other way. As Elie Wiesel (Holocaust survivor)said, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the vic-tim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Can we be asbrave as our children? A 9 year old victim told me with passion, “I was alwaysafraid to tell. Then I looked at my little sister sitting on his lap, giggling as he played

with her pigtails. Then I was afraid NOT to tell and I said, ‘NO MORE!’”

Announcing Our New Logo!After much thought and consideration we

have a new logo. This graphic was donatedand designed as a reflectionof the Center by Ryan Lewis

of the Lewis Agency

“Everychild is a

different kindof flower and all togetherthey make

this world a beautiful

garden.” Author Unknown

A Voicefor the Child

On Saturday, April 18th, 2015, the Center will be hosting anall-day event at the Avalon Theater in downtown GrandJunction. The Center is partnering with Creative Avenues who

will perform a matinee and evening perfor-mance of the Wizard of Oz. We also have somefun, educational, and informational segmentsplanned throughout the day. We will be lookingfor sponsors and donors for this event as wellas sell tickets for the plays. Stay tuned for a

more detailed schedule coming out soon!

Braving the wind, cold, and rain in the morning, our dedicated Thingunawat 5K Trail runners came out to support theWestern Slope Center for Children and the Powderhorn Racing

Club for the 3rd annual Color Sunday Adventure Challenge onSeptember 28th, 2014. By the afternoon, the sun was shiningand our 3K team adventurers were running, climbing, and crawling through fun obstacles. We also had some adventurousyoung children participate in the Kids Obstacle Fun Run. Wewould like to thank all of the generous sponsors and donors thatsupported the Western Slope Center for Children and thePowderhorn Racing Club with their generous giving. We wouldalso like to thank staff, Board Members, volunteers, participants,and the Powderhorn Mountain Resort for all of their effort in making this event possible.

On October 11th, 2014, the Western Slope Center forChildren partnered with Girls on the Run to host the 1stannual UV Splash run. This event was held at CanyonView Park and was a fun run in the dark. We had over 400people walk/run through a mix of vibrant colors. Therewere hulu hoop contests, dance contests, and a mischie-vous Where’s Waldo! We had heart pounding tunes, colorbursts, black lights and smiles abound. There was somuch energy from the crowd, it was infectious! A big thankyou to the UV Splash crew who helped make this eventone to remember! Also a big thank you to our partner, Girlson the Run, as well as all of the volunteers, donors, andparticipants who came out and celebrated! Make sure tojoin us next year when we host our 2nd annual UV Splashrun on October 10th, 2015, at Canyon View Park.

UV Splash RunSupport the Western Slope Center for Children

when you shop! When you shop through AmazonSmile and

select the Western Slope Center for Children asyour designated charitable organization,

Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to the Center.

Start shopping now!

2014 Fall Fundraisers - A Fun Time for All!

April at the Avalon 2nd Annual UV Race

EXCITING

EVENTS

TO COME

The Western Slope Center for Children has two fabulous fundraising events planned for2015 that you will want to be a part of. Keep checking in with us or on our website,

www.wscchildren.org, for more information as these events get closer.

On Saturday, October 11th, 2015, the Center is againpartnering with Girls on the Run for the 2nd Annual UVSplash run!

Come join us at Canyon View Park for a night of blacklights, powdered neon colors, games and activities and alot of fun energy!! Keep checking our website andFacebook for when you can register.

Let the color move you!!

WSCCBoard of Directors

Tammy Eret, Hoskin, Farina & KampfPresident

Barry Weitzel, Wells Fargo BankVice-President

Liza Boetticher, Land Title Guarantee Co.

Secretary

Dan VogelTreasurer

Claudia HazelhurstCity of Grand Junction

Bill HiltyEmergency Physician

Laurie JeskeMesa County School District 51

Jim HeapsColorado Mesa University

Dennis KirtlandCommunity Member

Jennifer MarshMesa County School District 51

Matt SmithGrand Junction Police Department

WSCC StaffMelissa Lytle

Executive Director

Tami HuntExecutive Assistant

Joan MulleadyTherapist

Jeff SchusterFamily Support Advocate

Amber ClaytonFamily Support Advocate

SANE NursesDeb Bailey

Aileen BowmanSue Goebel

Heather JagelskiCheri Roy

Danielle Yahn

Our Generous Donors Gifts received from 5/31/14 thru 10/31/14

IndividualsAbshear, AngieAdelgren, A.K.Alverez, JoseAlvillar, SusanAncell, StanAnderson, ErickaAnderson, JackAnonymousArkin, HarryAtchley, ShirleyAtkinson, CalBailey, DaveBaker, ArleneBarnes, AngelaBeaush, StacyBeauter, KathyBechtel, BettyBedell, JoniBenge, BruceBenton, CharleneBickley, LisaBishop, TilmanBishop, Wyndell Blackburn, DyannBlanchard, LaurniBoetticher, LizaBouley, WynBridge, Morgan Brinegar, Pat & DeeBrophy-Nelson, AmyBrown, ChristineBrown, BernaBryant, BrendaBurns, HeatherBurtis, JaniceButherus, JulieBuzo, MichaelCallahan, MaryCarpenter, HarrietCasselberry, SandraCasteel, CindyChappell-Reid, JacquieCircle, PriscillaClayton, NancyClifton, KimberlyCook, TerryCoons, TeresaCording Laird, DeniceCostopoulos, CarolCox, JoanCrabtree, LisaCreasy, PaulaCreasy, JimCrockett, CarolCrosby, KristyneCurtin-Selldon, MistyDavis, JeffreyDeaner, KimberleyDiaz, SusanDoss, PatriciaEisemann, DebEllinwood, SteveErb, LindseyEret, TammyFarina, BeverlyFedirko, SheanaFenton Free, Lisa Ferris, Mike

Flores, KatrinaFlynn, KimberlyFoley, ShawnFoster, SonyaFrankhouser, PennyFraser, LynnGaymon, DwayneGenova, NicholasGerson, GayleGinter, ErinGnirk, GailGolub, LesleyGonyeau, LeahGonzales, MarGreen, KristineGrinolds, MelindaGunther, RickHarmeling, MaryHarris, CaitlynHarris, DeAnnaHazelhurst, ClaudiaHazlewood JoannHedrick, PattyHeil, RobinHickman, StevenHinkson, JulieHobart, BeckyHolton, JulianaHorwitz, DebraHoy, MichelleHurd, MarleneHybl, William JJacobson, CarlJeske, LaurieJohnson, AnitaJohnson, ElaineJones, MarylynJones, CameronKazler, LindaKelley, MariaKent, SandyKneebone, JudyKohles, MJKolegas, Beaush StacyKoronko-Adelgran, K.R.Krouse, TomKuhnert, W. CarsonLampert, KennethLeopoldus, AndreaLiddle, SusanLiddle, JeffreyLouise Grink, GailLuedtke, Mary BethMackendrick, DonMahoney, ThomasMarah, BertieMarsh, JenniferMarshall, JohnMaruca, JosephMcCain, AmandaMcIntyre, ChipMendelson, MikeMiles, Cameron Miller, DonnaMilner, JanisMoore, KarenMoore, CharlesMurphy, CarolNelson, Dorothy

Nelson, KathleenNorcross, DougNorris, PhyllisOlson, PaulPacheco, FaithPack, MichaelPatrick, Joseph R.Peck, JeaniePennal, EricPennay, DebbiePfister, KathrynPiland, LaciePolan, SuePorras, KatherinePotente, TheresaPrescott, EdPrinster, KathrynPutnam, WandaRaggio, SharonRank, SheriRedden, BrendaReimer, LisaReynolds, CathyRhodes, CynthiaRhodes, HelenRobbins, ConnieRoggensack, IlleneRohrbache, BryanRubinstein, StephanieRusse, RobertSalamanca, JoseSamuelson, SueSanchez, LorieSchroeder, DoloresSchweissing, RoseShaffer, ClaraSheader, WesShear, ShariShenkel, RitaShepherd-Fowler, AmySiddons, SharonSiegfried, Heather M.Sightler, WilliamSimons, JameeSmith, DonnaSmith, GeneSmith, MichealleSmith, GordonSmith, RachelSpencer, LindaStack, AngelaStarbuck, TishStogsdill, JulieStout, AnnaSusemihl, JulieTaggart, JanaTalley, AmandaTerrien, MarcThomas, JanaThompson, GayleneToolin, JohnTrujillo, ShawnTuin, StephanieTwinski, VinceUrban, LauraVanderleest, JudyWade, DarrinWebb, HollyWeitzel, Barry

For The RecordWhile statistics never can reflect the whole story of child sexual abuse,

they can offer a broad picture of the children interviewed at the Center.

Jan. 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014The Center

provided services for:

295 children, 191 girls and 104 boys331 secondary victims were served(22 multiple interviews were held)

33 sexual assault exams were conducted

There were 260 cases of sexual abuse11 cases of physical abuse

24 cases of witness to violence0 cases of death of a child

96 children were ages 0-6109 children were ages 7-1274 children were ages 13-18

16 adults over age 18

Children served239 Caucasian, 2 African American,

46 Hispanic 8 Native American, 0 Asian

62 children were abused by a parent or stepparent

12 children were abused by a parent’s boy/girlfriend

97 children were abused by a relative

93 children were abused by another known person

3 child was abused by a stranger19 children were abused by

an unknown person

239 male and 34 female perpetrators were identified

35 perpetrators were under the age of 1361 perpetrators were ages 13-17

163 perpetrators were age 18 or over26 perpetrators were an unknown age

Our heartfelt thanks to the many generous donors who make our mission possible. We regret any errors. If your name was omitted please contact us at 245-3788.

New Board Member A New Face at WSCC

Like us on Facebook! Like the Center’s Facebook page atWestern Slope Center for Children.

wscchildren.org

Jim Heaps is currentlythe Assistant Athletic Directorfor Student Success atColorado Mesa University. Hehas worked there for 22 years,17 of them as the Head Men’sBasketball Coach. Jim is aDelta, Colorado native andreceived his Bachelors Degreefrom what was then MesaCollege in 1983. He was agraduate assistant coach at

Southern Illinois University and began his headcoaching career at Canterbury School in FortMyers, FL in 1987. Jim returned to GrandJunction in 1991 and has worked at CMU eversince. Jim and his wife Naoma just celebratedtheir 35th wedding anniversary and have twodaughters and one grandson.

Jim was introduced to WSCC in 2011through community service with his basketballteam and greatly admired the mission of the center and the people involved. He is honored tobe joining the board and looks forward to beinga part of such an important community entity.

Joan and Jeff attended the 26th Annual COVA(Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance) con-ference in Keystone in October, thanks to VALE.Victim advocates from various professions such aslaw enforcement, prosecutors, health and mentalhealth service providers attended along with victimsof traumatic crimes. The theme of Moving Forwardwith Strength and Grace offered opportunities toenhance their knowledge and empower them intheir work with victims and their families.

***Tami & Amber attended the 2014

CASCI (Colorado Association of SexCrimes Investigators) conference inSnowmass Colorado. “Establishing aspirit of cooperation among sexualassault investigators and members of related disciplines” is part of the CASCI mission statement.This conference always has great speakers withuseful and up-to-date information.

***We were pleasantly surprised when an

employee of PetSmart brought in several bags ofnew stuffed animals to give to the children. Thank you to Sheri Rank ofPetSmart and all that donated.

IItt’’ss aa GGiirrll TThhiinngg 22001144WSCC wishes to thank

Donna Aubert and theBookcliff Country Club forhosting "It's a Girl Thing" onNovember 8th. 120 wonderfulGrand Junction women joinedtogether for lunch, a fashionshow (thanks to CyndiEdmunds, owner of Zephyrson Main Street), wine tasting(Fisher’s Liquor Barn), a littleshopping with local vendorsand a lot of fun! Thank you Libby Pelletier, from TheVault, for emceeing this yearly event. This was allfor the Western Slope Center for Children. Thankyou for your support and your passion for healingchildren in Mesa County.

Jim Heaps

We are pleased to wel-come Amber Clayton as thenew Family Support Advocatehere at the Center.

Amber is a Coloradonative and has two youngboys and a puppy namedJustice.

Amber has a Bachelor ofArts Degree in Sociology withan emphasis in Criminology,and a minor in psychology,

from Colorado Mesa University. Amber hasworked in the human services field for the past11 years. She began as a behavior specialistwith the Family Tree day treatment program,where she facilitated group and individual therapy with at risk high school students whowere unable to be maintained in a public schoolsetting. Amber then went on to Mesa CountyDepartment of Human Services in child protection intake. She has worked closely withWSCC throughout her career as a trained forensic interviewer. Amber joined the WSCC inSeptember 2014.

Williams, BrianWilson, Christina J.Wing, Jane KayeWiseman, SusanWollin, BonnieZen, JohnZetmeir, LeAnneZgaynor, Barb

OrganizationsBeta Sigma Phi SororityColorado Children's AllianceColorado Mesa UniversityCOLORDASHCommunity HospitalEckert Presbyterian WomenFirst United Methodist ChurchGJ Area Board of RealtorsKiwanis FoundationMesa County Dept. Human ServicesMesa County TreasurerMuseum of Western ColoradoThe Giving ClubTiara Rado Golf CourseUnitarian Universalist Congregation

of Gand ValleyUnited WayVALE--21st Judicial DistrictVictim Compensation FundVOCA

FoundationsAV Hunter Trust, Inc.El Pomar FoundationNathan B. & Florence R. BurtFoundationSt. Mary's Mission FundBusinessesAlbertsonsAlpine BankArmstrong Consultants, IncBananasBenge's Shoe StoreBig O TiresBookcliff Country ClubColorado Document SecurityFairway Independent Mortgage Corp.Fidelity MortgageJ.G. Management Systems, Inc.Jerry's Pest ControlLand Title One Source Inc.Pets MartRocky Mountain SanitationSam's ClubSplish Splash Car WashThin AirThird Sector InnovationsTLC Woodworking & Property ServicesUnifirst MortgageZoup

Honorary DonationsIn Honor of Anonymous

by Debbie Pennay

Memorial DonationsIn Memory of Geraldine Franklin

by Shirley Atchley

WSCC News Briefs

A huge thank you to theGrand Junction Giving Clubfor choosing the WesternSlope Center for Children astheir donation designee. TheGrand Junction Giving Club isa women’s networking andphilanthropic gathering.Every quarter, the Giving Clubnominates local nonprofitorganizations, randomly

draws three names, and votes on one organization to donate to charitably. Eachmember of the Giving Club pledges $100 perquarter and those funds go to the chosen organization. The Center was surprised andhonored to be the first designee of the GivingClub in August 2014 and we have received over$7000 to date from this fabulous group ofwomen. We cannot thank you enough for thisgift and for the fabulous changes you are making in our community!

Colorado Gives Day 2014 will take place during a 24-hour period on Tuesday, December9, 2014. Help the Western Slope Center forChildren by visitingColoradoGives.org This is ayear-round online giving website featuring nearly 1,500Colorado nonprofit organiza-tions. Made possible byCommunity First Foundationsince 2007, ColoradoGives.orgencourages charitable giving by providingcomprehensive, objective and up-to-dateinformation about Colorado nonprofits and aneasy way to support them online. If you'd liketo support the work of the Western Slope

Center for Children on this special day, please"give where you live" by making an online donation @ColoradoGives.org. It's easy, safe

and secure! Proceeds will benefitthe Western Slope Center forChildren. You can also pre schedulea donation to take place at any timeby visiting ColoradoGives.org, creating an account, and selectingthe day you would like the donationto take place.

If you would like more information aboutthe Center please visit us online at wscchil-dren.org, visit us on Facebook, or feel free tocall us at 970-245-3788. We would be happy toanswer questions and share information.

Amber ClaytonHappy Anniversary to Tami Hunt who has been

with WSCC for 15 years! Thank you, Tami, for thecommitment and compassionyou have graciously given tochildren and families in ourcommunity through your timeat WSCC. A quote from MayaAngelou reflects your gift,“I’ve learned that people willforget what you said, peoplewill forget what you did, butpeople will never forget howyou made them feel.”

Colorado Gives Day 2014

Stewards of Children TrainingStewards of Children is a prevention training program

that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

The next training will be held:Dec. 16 5:30-7:30 p.m.

259 Grand Ave. • Grand Junction, CO

For more information please contact Jeff Schuster atJeff@wscchildren.org

(970) 245-3788 or register at www.wscchildren.org

The Giving Club

Tami Hunt

Joan Mulleady &Donna Aubert

Danielle Yahn, has joined WSCC as the SANE(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) ClinicalCoordinator. This position assures successful delivery and coordination of the SANE program.

***