Wisconsin's First Lady Visits The Tree House
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Spring 2014
Wisconsin’s First Lady Visits The Tree House
First Lady Tonette Walker toured the Tree House on October 25 to learn more about the approach that
WCAC and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin takes in addressing victims of child abuse and neglect.
Mrs. Walker was greeted by DA Dan Necci, Dep. DA Josh Grube, WCAC Board members Margaret
Downing, Bridget Six and Nancy Neshek, and Children’s Hospital’s Paula Hocking and Mark Lyday.
Also in attendance were Linda and John Anderson of Lake Geneva.
“The Tree House is a wonderful model for the
state. It takes a lot of backing, but Walworth
County (Alliance for Children) has a wonderful
public/private partnership, so it can be done,”
Walker said. “I will certainly bring more
awareness to this facility and what goes
on here...”
Pictured in photo:
Front row: Linda Anderson, First Lady Tonette Walker, John Anderson
Back row: Brittany Necci, Walworth DA Dan Necci, WCAC’s Margaret
Downing, Dep. DA Josh Grube, Paula Hocking of Children’s Hospital,
WCAC’s Bridget Six and Nancy Neshek, and Mark Lyday of Children’s
Hospital
A Note From Paula •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
As we closed out the 2013 year it amazed me how many children and families have been served at
the Tree House this past year. In the 10 months the Tree House has been open, we have received
864 referrals and 213 children have been served at the center. Each day that a child visits the CAC,
we appreciate our expanded space and programming. The space helped us provide a coordinated
array of investigative and supportive services. In January we opened the medical program with
Dr. Lynn Sheets and Dr. Angie Rabbitt. They both bring an extensive knowledge and expertise in
child abuse. The therapy program with Melissa Gutierrez allows children and families to receive
immediate treatment.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and we at the Walworth County Child Advocacy Center would
like to take a moment to thank our team members who work tirelessly in their efforts to keep the
children in our community safe. The work of Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, District
Attorneys, the Cooperation Counsel, Victim Advocates, Mental Health Professionals, Medical Personnel
and Child Advocacy Center staff is challenging on a good day. It is also rewarding on a bad day. Please
be reminded that you really do make a difference.
Also this April, we would like to acknowledge the children who have experienced abuse or who are
currently experiencing abuse. You are not alone. There is help. There is hope. Reach out to us at 262-
741-1441, we are here to help.
Paula Hocking, Manager of the CAC
W4063 Hwy. NN • Elkhorn, WI 53121 • 262-741-1449 • Email: wcacwisconsin@gmail.com
FILLING IN THE CRACKS By Tina Winger Vice President WCAC
Walworth County Child Protective Services (CPS) receive hundreds of calls/reports per week, alleging
child abuse, neglect, or maltreatment. CPS has policies in place that help them determine when a report
will be screened in, or screened out. When a report is screened in, often times a joint investigation
is initiated and the allegations are investigated by both CPS and law enforcement. When a report is
screened out however, it is up to the law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction to follow up as they see
fit. The report is also sent to the Walworth County Child Advocacy Center (The Tree House).
This protocol was not initially well received by law enforcement because it involved sometimes several
reports per day being sent to the agency. It also usually meant a phone call from the Tree House offering
services for a forensic interview, or medical exam. It was difficult to understand why law enforcement
would need to follow-up on a possible child abuse/neglect report that CPS had already screened out.
What we know now, is that this system works, and we’re catching children that might have otherwise
fallen through the cracks.
The most recent example of this comes from the agency that I work for which is the City of Whitewater
Police Department. Our agency has responded to literally hundreds of “welfare checks” which were initially
screened out by CPS. Many of these welfare checks turn out to be unsubstantiated, or unfounded, but
sometimes we identify a child that is in desperate
need of help. In January of this year our agency
received a CPS report that was screened out
by their agency, but followed up by Whitewater
Police Detective Daniel Meyer with a welfare
check. The welfare check uncovered a child
that was a victim of neglect, and maltreatment.
The quick response of Detective Meyer likely
saved this child’s life. The information that law
enforcement obtained was re-introduced to
CPS, and a full joint investigation began with the
agencies which involved a full forensic interview
and medical exam at the Tree House.
This story re-enforces that when law enforcement,
CPS and the Tree House all work together, it is
the children who benefit. I am proud to work in
a County and to be part of an organization that
puts the welfare of children first. It is the goal
of the WCAC to continue this mission so that no
child ever falls through the cracks.
www.wcac4kids.org
The WCAC General Board brought food to their meeting to Thank Thanks to all who donated 40 hams and
Jim Drescher and Support the WC Resource Center and Food turkeys which local law enforcement
Pantry. Please see below where you can drop off food or mail a delivered to Families in need over the
donation to help the Families of Walworth County: Holidays. Pictured above is Chief
Hurley from Town of Geneva Police
WC Resource Center and Food Pantry
N3252 County Hwy H
PO Box 72
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
262-348-0600
Open Wed. 1-5pm & Sat. 10am - 2pm
Donations can be mailed to our PO Box.
Lakeland School - UNICEF Carnival Results
Lakeland School students have hosted a UNICEF carnival
for over 30 years to raise money for Children in Need. What started as a small popcorn and kool aid sale netting
$50 has now grown into a full scale carnival that is planned, prepared and executed by students and staff of
Lakeland School with the assistance of many friends and former staff joining in the fun. This year’s UNICEF
Carnival raised $1,612 which will be donated to programs locally and internationally that assist Children in Need.
These programs include UNICEF – the United Nations International Children’s Fund helps children throughout
the world. UNICEF buys medicine, food, books, and school supplies for locations suffering from poverty and
disasters. Locally, a donation will go to The Tree House – Walworth County Alliance for Children and Family
Center. The goal of WCAC is to aid children and families in providing a path to healthy and safe environments
for children.
This year our carnival included students from Williams Bay Elementary School, grades K, 1, 2; and the Buddy
Program connected with the 5th grade from Wileman Elementary School of Delavan.
Thank you for your continued support!
Watch for Updates on our Facebook Page
In April 2013 a very special building opened its doors
in Walworth County, called The Tree House. This unique
building is beautiful on the outside, friendly and warm in
the inside. The Tree House was designed to help children
and their families who have been victims of abuse or
neglect, and where children have a voice. This apple
charm is a symbol of how the Tree House continues to
grow and blooms into new things for the children and this
community. We have partnered with Fontana Jewelers in
Fontana to have an Apple Charm designed for the WCAC
which is the organization that built The Tree House.
The apple charms are available for purchase at Fontana
Jewelers, Silver Apples and chain are $90 and Gold Apples
and chains start at $305 without a diamond worm hole
Fontana Jewelers
and $360 with a diamond worm hole. These charms make
553 Valley View Drive, Fontana
excellent Christmas, birthday and anniversary gifts as well
262- 275-6363
as a lovely way to show you care about abused children in
our county.
Congratulations to
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Tree House
the recipient of Executive Board
Margaret Downing
President Emeritus
Sandy Wagie-Troemel
President
Tina Winger
Vice-President
Paula Hocking
Treausrer
Evie Schulz
Secretary
Josh Grube
Thank you to
the Wine Heidi Lloyd
Festival Dan Nelson
for your Nancy Neshek
Generous Bridget Six
Donation to
the WCAC. Theresa Stalzer
Michelle Zaccard
Volunteer of the Year Award given to the
truly deserving, Gene Decker
The Tree House would not be a success without the
help from all of the special people that volunteer every
day. These are the people who somehow find the time
and energy to give to the WCAC because they truly
care about children. These are the people that the
Walworth County Alliance for Children are blessed to
have. This year Gene Decker received the Volunteer of
the Year Award for 2013.
Gene received the award as a result of his dedication,
and for the countless hours he puts in at the Tree
House. He continues to volunteer from his heart Terri Weiland, president of the APFV Board of
because he cares about children. Gene’s hard work Directors, accepts a generous $1,000 check
from Margaret Downing, president emeritus of
has made the Tree House a special place for children
the Walworth County Alliance for Children.
and families of Walworth County. Beyond the handy
work provided to the WCAC, Decker also donates The WCAC shared a portion of its profits from
sizeable financial contributions to the advocacy the December Mother/Daughter Tea.
center.
“It was undeserved,” he said. “I’ve put in
a lot of work this year with the WCAC’s WCAC 2014
landscaping issues, putting in 100-hour
weeks, but I’m just basically the guy who
mows the lawn. The people who thought of
the facility – which was almost 20 years ago JUNE 19 • EVERGREEN GOLF CLUB • ELKHORN
– and raised the funds to make it go, those
SAVE THE DATE!
are the people who deserve the credit. I’m a
long way down on the totem pole for people
who deserve the award.”
Decker, an active member of the Town of To all our Loyal Golfers, Hole Sponsors and Friends
Geneva board, became involved with the who donated Silent Auction Items, we want to
make sure you save the date of the
WCAC via a previous relationship with WCAC Chip in Fore Kids Golf Outing to be held on
Margaret Downing. Downing serves as the Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Co-President with the WCAC. at Evergreen Golf Course.
Details
19 will
follow
14
Supported by the
Walworth County Alliance for Children
Gene Decker with his lovely wife Judy as he a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
received his Volunteer of the Year Award.
Tree House Wish List Items
March 2014
• Blank DVDs (DVD-R 16x /14.7GB)
Lynn Sheets, MD • Cases of Water
Receives Prestigious • Cereal Breakfast Bars, i.e. Cheerios,
Ray E. Helfer, MD Award • Special K (without nuts – allergies)
• Coffee
• Copier Paper
The late Ray Helfer, MD is considered the • Dental Floss
“father” of children’s trust and prevention
• Gas Cards
funds, due to his conceptualization of special
• Grocery Store Gift Cards ($20 or less)
funds that could be used to ensure that our
• Juice Boxes
nation’s children grow up nurtured, safe
• Playing Cards
and free from harm. Dr. Helfer’s lifelong
dedication to children serves as a model for • School Supplies
all citizens. • Snack Items for Children (individual
bags, fruit snacks)
This award, sponsored by the National • Teen/ Family Action Adventure Movies
Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention • Toy Blocks
Funds and the American Academy of • Weather-Proof Storage Container (in
Pediatrics’ Section on Child Abuse, was Which to Keep Outside Toys)
established in his honor and is presented • Wii Motion Plus Remote Controller
each year at the Alliance’s Annual Conference • Writing Journals
to a distinguished pediatrician for his or her
contribution to the prevention of child abuse
and neglect. The 2013 recipient of this award
is Dr. Lynn Sheets.
Dr. Sheets’ dedicated collaboration with the
Wisconsin Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) in
advancing a prevention agenda in Wisconsin,
unwavering commitment, outstanding
expertise, contribution to prevention
research on sentinel injuries, and more than
twenty years of experience in evaluating Bridget’s Niece,
abused children have earned her this well Lillie dropped off
deserved award. Her most recently published Halloween Goodie
research on sentinel injuries has profound Bags for the Tree
implications for preventing child physical House kids!
abuse including abusive head trauma.
Dr. Sheets is a board-certified child abuse
pediatrician who has committed her STATISTICS:
professional career to advancing child
In 2013, the Tree House received referrals for 1,231
maltreatment prevention efforts in Kansas
cases, and 276 children received forensic interviews.
and Wisconsin.
In 2012, there were 1,328 referrals, and 311 children
were interviewed.
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