ANNUAL - Children's Advocacy Project
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MAKE YOUR OWN
adventure
2020A NNUA L
REPOR T
Our MISSION
The Children’s Advocacy Project is a team of committed
agencies and individuals who work together to provide
coordinated forensic and comprehensive services for
alleged victims of child abuse and neglect in order to
minimize trauma to children, break the cycle of abuse,
and foster a more effective and efficient community
response to child maltreatment.
To live will
be an
awfully big
adventure
-Peter Pan
A letter from our EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends, Whew! 2020 has come to an end. 2020 was most definitely a year full of adventure! The pandemic created new challenges and forced us to adapt to new and different routines and wow, did we have to be flexible! We have all known many who have stated they would like to just erase 2020. This is likely how most child victims feel about the trauma they experienced. Isn’t it better though, to take the lead of these children? They are the epitome of resilience. Their willingness to address challenges head on and begin the new adventure of healing is something we can all admire and strive for. CAP is proud to have continued to provide uninterrupted services throughout the pandemic, serving 314 children who ventured through our doors as they began to travel down their road of healing. We all hope 2021 comes with many new and great adventures in a MUCH better form than 2020! We look forward to continuing our mission in 2021 as we continue serve our community’s children. Thank you for supporting the Children’s Advocacy Project! Your support is invaluable! Stacy M. Nelson, Executive Director
CAP by the NUMBERS
4,598
Children ha
ve bravely
completed
Forensic In
a
ter view
314
Forensic Interviews
Conducted in 2020
since CAP
opened
554
Individual
Counseling
S essions
National NUMBERS
ren
9 0%
1 in 7 child o f sexu
abuse v al
ed
experienc lect ictim
know the s
neg
abuse and year perpetra ir
tor
in the last
FORENSIC INTERVIEWS
by County
Sheridan
Big Horn 19
Park
2 10 Campbell
Johnson
7
Washakie
Hot Springs
4 5
2
Natrona Converse
Niobrara
11
180
Fremont
7
16
Platte
Carbon 9
23
Laramie
1
Other Courtesy Interviews:
Colorado: 1, Indiana: 2, Oklahoma: 1, Oregon: 1, South
Dakota: 2, Texas: 3, Wisconsin: 2, FBI: 5
CHILD ABUSE
and COVID-19
In 2020, home became the intended safe space to shelter from coronavirus,
but the sad fact for many children is that the majority of child abuse happens
at home and happens within the family. With schools closed, teachers and
other school staff who make up the largest portion of child abuse reports
were no longer regularly seeing children to be able to spot the signs of abuse.
Added stress on families, financial stress, disrupted routines, and lack of
access to community support due to COVID-19 are all contributors to an
uptick in child maltreatment. This period of isolation, while necessary to
keep children and families safe from the pandemic, is a perfect storm for
child abuse to rise and for cases to go unreported.
Everyone can play a role in maintaining the health and well-being of families,
and communities:
• Stay connected to family and friends, and checking in on neighbors and
other community members (while taking the proper safety measures).
• Share positive news and acts of kindness with your community.
• Connect families with virtual programming for children—many public
institutions and community centers are providing free virtual experiences,
including educational resources, games and activities, tours of popular
museums and attractions, and physical activities.
• Continue to help support programs and services that strengthen families
in our community.
• Learn to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect.
Sources: National Children's Alliance (https://learn.nationalchildrensalliance.org/covid)
U.S. Administration for Children & Families (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/child-maltreatment-2018)
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
of Abuse
Behavioral Clues:
or
• infants excessive crying Symptom Clues:
developmental delay
• headaches
• fear, anxiety, clinging • abdominal pain
• phobias • worsening medical problems
• nightmares, bed wetting • frequent, unexplained sore
throat
• social withdrawal
• abnormal weight gain or loss
• hyperactivity
• reluctance to use an extremity
ractibility
• poor concentration/dist • difficulty walking or sitting
ism
• chronic school absentee • genital discomfort or painful
urination or defecation
• speech disorders
age • unexplained symptoms
• regressive behavior for
• vomiting, irritability or abnorm
al
• seems afraid of parent respiration
• eating issues
• depression, passivity
or
• increased verbal abuse
lly ag gre ssi ve be havior
physica
with others Physical Clues
:
ts or pets
• destroys or injures objec • poor hygiene
• substance abuse • dressed inapro
priately for
g weather
• self-harm such as cuttin
• lack of ca
re of medical
• sexualized behavior (wound care, needs
medication)
• symptoms of PTSD • fractures,
dislocation, b
ruising
• bites, bur
• avoidance of undressing ns, laceration
• traumatic
• withdrawal to touch hair loss
• facial inju
ries without g
explanation ood
As soon as a saw
you I knew a gran
d
adventure was
about to start.
-Pooh
Gender of VICTIM
Female 209
Male 105
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Age of VICTIM
18+ 1
Years of Age
13-17 100
Years of Age
7-12 130
Years of Age
0-6 83
Years of Age
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%Types of ABUSE
Sexual 193
Physical 45
Neglect 7
Witness 48
Drug
Endangered 21
Experiencing More
than 1 Type of Abuse 34
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Relation of SUSPECT
Parent 125
Step-Parent 20
Other Relative 60
Parent’s Boy/Girl
Friend 30
Other Known
Person 61
Unknown 18
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Age of SUSPECT
Unknown 13
50+ 27
Years of Age
19-49 200
Years of Age
13-18
Years of Age 39
0-12 6
Years of Age
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%YEAR IN review
February starvation” while under the care of Na-
Natrona County man, Talon Johnson, 21, trona County woman, Dominique Clark.
was arrested after his infant son was found Clark was charged with two counts of child
dead on the couch after being left on his abuse and a single count of child endan-
stomach. A physical examination also re- germent. The child was not Clark’s but
vealed bruises on his brain, a Vitamin D her boyfriend’s. Clark was responsible for
deficiency, and signs that he had been left the child’s care while he was at work. The
in a dirty diaper for an extended period of investigation began when the child was
time. The house reeked of animal urine and taken to her two-month checkup. The baby
feces and a highchair that was plastered in should have weighed 9.81 pounds but in-
rotten baby food. Johnson is charged with stead weighed 6.57, less than she did when
manslaughter, two counts of child endan- she was born roughly two months earlier.
germent with meth present and two more The baby also had bruises on her face and
counts of child endangerment. neck including her left eye, ear, temple and
cheek, as well as a significant rash on her
torso. The baby had a large bald spot on
March the back of her head, consistent with being
Mills man, Tyrell Wimer entered a plea to forced to lay down for long periods of time.
a single count of aggravated child abuse, Child abuse is a felony punishable by up
which alleges he injured a 6-month-old boy to 10 years behind pars while child endan-
who he is not related to. The child was di- germent is a misdemeanor punishable by a
agnosed with six broken bones – including year in jail.
a skull fracture and a traumatic brain inju-
ry. In an interview with a police detective,
Wimer said that he did not abuse the child, June
but the documents state he said he could Rowdy Irish Patterson of Casper faces felo-
have accidentally stepped on the boy while ny child endangerment and abuse charges
moving boxes. The child abuse pediatrician after allegedly feeding methamphetamine
who treated the baby told the detective that to a 5-year-old. The mother returned
the skull fracture could only be the result of from work to find the child victim “acting
intentional abuse, according to the docu- strangely” with dilatated pupils and “didn’t
ments. seem to have control.” This prompted the
mother to take the child to Wyoming
Medical Center. The child made references
May to eating something that looked like “snow”
Two-month-old infant was “in a state of on his dinosaur-shaped chicken nugget.June she played outside of a Casper home, spark-
Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were ing a law enforcement man hunt that lasted
notified of a possible victim of human traf- 18 hours. Police caught up with him when
ficking. The initial clues were observed by his truck rolled through a stop signs. He ad-
a Colorado Port of Entry officer while in- mitted to kidnapping the girl and exposing
specting a commercial vehicle. The officer himself to her. Hicks has abused children
had recently completed in-depth training before and had previously been suspected of
provided by Truckers Against Trafficking. a sexual crime.
The driver of the truck had an outstanding
warrant from Oklahoma for child sexual October
abuse and was arrested without incident. Steven Lockard, 25, of Natrona County was
sentenced to three to five years in prison af-
August ter pleading guilty to taking indecent lib-
Former Casper middle school teacher, Jason erties with a child. The 14-year-old victim
Waugaman, pleads guilty to sexual abuse of was found by police lying naked in bed with
a 14-year-old student whose seventh grade Lockard hiding beneath the sheets. The vic-
class he taught for about a month. Wau- tim defended Lockard, but a girl of her age
gaman worked for Natrona County School is legally unable to provide consent to a man
District for more than a decade, is now of Lockard’s age.
charged with three felony counts of sexual
abuse: two in the second-degree and anoth- November
er in the third. Mills couple Ryan and Sarah Hilyard are
being charged after causing injuries to a
August 12-year-old that left the child needing to be
Lisa Canady of Mills who admitted to duct intubated and required him to have part of
taping her children and giving them mar- his skull removed. Sarah brought the boy –
ijuana was sentenced to probation of three her stepson – into the hospital after calling
years. If she breaks the conditions of the staff and reporting that he was unrespon-
plea agreement, she could serve a sentence sive. The child was suffering from respira-
of 8-15 years in prison. The juvenile victim tory failure, retinal hemorrhage, and severe
told school officials that they had been duct traumatic brain injury. Sarah told investi-
taped, leading to Canady’s arrest. The child gators that the child fell down the stairs a
also told police that they and their siblings day or two before the hospital visit. One of
were given marijuana to “take a nap” and the siblings in the case told police Ryan was
were duct taped because they “would not making the 12-year-old run up and down
take a nap.” the stairs, punching him, dragging the vic-
tim up and down the stairs, and eventually
pushed the victim down the stairs. The vic-
August tim was knocked out and the couple report-
Judge sentences Joshua Hicks to 55 years in edly yelled, punched and kicked him while
prison and supervision for 85 years for the on the ground.
abduction and molestation of a 4-year-old
girl. Hicks had taken the child from whereYou're off
to great pla
Today is yo ces,
ur day!
Your mount
ain is waitin
So. . . get o g,
n your way
-Dr. Seuss
!Annual BUDGET
FUNDING SOURCES
VOCA Federal Funding $148,937.00
Natrona County and City of Casper $62,667.00
Other City & County Funds $29,410.00
Program Income $61,000.00
Fundraising $8,000.00
Wyoming Community Foundation $40,000.00
McMurry Foundation $30,000.00
United Way $20,250.00
Donations $10,000.00
National Children’s Alliance $10,000.00
Other Grant/Donation Income $48,000.00
$508,864.00
EXPENSES
Salaries & Benefits 72%
Contract Services 8%
Advertising, Website, Education 5%
Training & Travel 3%
Accounting 3%
Building (Utilities, Phone, Internet, Insurance, Housekeeping) 3%
Equipment & Supplies 3%
Meetings, Memberships, Dues 1%
Legal Services 1%
Printing & Postage 1%
100%Thank You! cy Project would like
to
The Children’s Advoca viduals,
te nd ou r de ep es t ap preciation for the indi
ex suppor t
ners who continue to
businesses, and part filled with
e w or k w e do ye ar after year. In a year
th ns, no
d with COVID restrictio
hardship for many an would
in 2020. However, we
fundraisers were held in past
e who have donated
like to thank all of thos f that
e to invest in the belie
years and who continu to heal
out services needed
no child should be with e
suppor t we will continu
from abuse. With your tter
eate a world that be
to work together to cr
ents child abuse.
responds to and prev
1890 Craft Apparel Big O Tires Medical Aesthetics
307 Healing Waters Bloedorn Lumber Cheyenne Frontier Days
307 Orthodontics Brad & Natalia Follensbee Chris & Tiffany Elhart
All Creatures Veterinary Brattis Meat Market Chris Hadlock
Hospital Brenna & Nimo Gatimu Cloud Peak Energy
Allure Beauty Brittany Tarvares Coleen Edwards
Anchor Designs Butterfly Pavilion Colorado Symphony
Andrea Gomez/Advocare C85 Restaurants Communication Technologies
Arbonne Casidy Mittelstadt Computer Logic
Artisan Alley Casper Animal Medical ComTech
Ashby Construction Casper Events Center Dan's Meat Processing
Ashley Lundblade Casper Fire Fighters Denver Museum
Aspen Creek Massage Casper Police Department of Nature & Science
Avalanche Harley Davidson Central Wyoming Denver Zoo
Backwards Distillery Counseling Center Digital Blues Print Shop
Big Horn Polo Club Central Wyoming Donnell TateDouglas Golf Club Kids Works Snow King Resort
Dr. Roussalis Killmer & Associates Southern Flare Lash
Dsasumo Kimberly Mittelstadt Spruce Nail Bar
Durbin Street Golf Kristin Songe / LuLaRoe Stacy & Bob Nelson
Dustin & Baleigh Hite La Cocina Stacy Hill
Ed & Linda Toohey Lagoon Stamp It Up
El Marko Lanes Leah & Chad Schieck Stirling Skin Care
Firerock Leslie Gilliland SunSations Tanning Salon
Floral Rhino Lifetime Health T Bee S Pollination
FOP Lodge #6 & Fitness Center Tara Ashcraft / Salon Savvy
Fox Field Services Meador Environmental The Flour Bin
Frosted Tops Consulting The Spence Law Firm
Gaslight Social Mike & Meegan Steinberg The Wort Hotel
Gear Up & Get Out There Modern Electric Thrive Therapeutic Massage,
Girl In Air Mouthful LLC
Global Specialized Outback Steakhouse Tom Lukas Artwork
Services LLC Paradise Valley Country Club Toy Town
Global Sporting Safaris Paragon Painting Triggers Gun Shop
Good As Sold Inc. Paul & Leslie Fritzler & Mercantile LLC
Great Harvest Bread Peak Asset Managers Uncorked Wine & Spirits
Company Powder River Armory US Bank
Greater Wyoming FCU Qdoba Wagner's
Gudahl Williams Quality Auto Walmart
Investigative Security Quinn & Kayleigh Clark White's Mountain Motors
Hair of the Dog Ramkota Hotel Center Wholehealth Group
Hampton Inn & Suites Riverton Rib & Chop House (Sheridan) Wild Well Control
Hilltop National Bank RJ's Carpet Cleaning Wildlife Art Museum (Jackson)
Holiday Inn Sheridan Rocky Mountain Discount Sports Williams Porter Day and Neville
Honalo Farms Rootz Salon Wind City Books
Indian Ice Rose Fry Wind City Dental
IPA Machining S&S Outfitters Wind River Casino
Jackson Hole Golf Salon 307 Wyoming Behavioral Insitute
Jackson Hole Outfitters Salon Savvy Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Jackson Restaurant Group Sams Club Wyoming Mountain Song Soaps
Janet Zambai Saratoga Resort & Spa Wyoming Otolaryngology
Jen Wilson / Rodan + Fields Science Zone Wyoming Symphony Orchestra
Jennifer Schieck Service First Insurance WyOMing Yoga and Massage
John's Crazy Socks Shannon Green Photography WyoMovies
Johnson Restaurant Group Sherry's Place YMCA
Kalico Kat Quilt Shop Sierra West Zimmerman Family Foundation
Katie Boulter SM Energy
Keefe's Flowers Smile Doctors Braces by BracesIf you would like to make a do nation or if you have
s, please contact us:
any questions about our service 601
rth Ash • Casper, W Y 82
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