Each County Served by Safe Harbor Represented in Annual Awards

Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center’s mission is to provide a Lifeline to victims of child abuse and neglect, and each year, we have the privilege of granting three Child Advocate of the Year Awards – one within each county we serve.

The Child Advocate of the Year Award honors Trooper Ray Hoffman, who provided a daily example of how to advocate for child victims. He encouraged others to strive for excellence in this work. Child abuse cases require careful and thorough investigations and prosecutions and take a toll on those of us who work in this field.

In Allegan County, Safe Harbor works with several dedicated law enforcement dedicated to child abuse investigations.  “One detective stood out to us this past year as the Child Advocate: Detective Rob Flokstra,” said Executive Director Lori Antkoviak.

Beyond his advocacy and leadership, Detective Flokstra is known for his approachable nature and positive spirit. He fosters trust, builds meaningful relationships, and brings a sense of warmth that makes collaboration both effective and enjoyable. 

“We are deeply grateful for his continued support of Safe Harbor’s mission and for the difference he makes,” Antkoviak said. “His dedication, integrity, and heart truly set him apart, and this recognition is a reflection of the lasting impact he has on our community.”

Flokstra also attended the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Training and assisted in the development of ACSO’s Child Abduction Response protocols.

In Barry County, Safe Harbor honored Kayla Wickham, a Child Protective Services investigator who has dedicated more than 12 years consistently, all the while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to child safety and advocacy. 

Her nomination reads, “Kayla is described a professional who goes above and beyond in every aspect of her work. She invests significant time and effort to ensure all relevant details are thoroughly explored so that children are protected and safe. She is not deterred by difficult or complex cases and routinely does more than what policy alone requires when the well-being of a child is at stake.”

Antkoviak added: “Over the past several years, Kayla has been involved in numerous significant and challenging cases that have come through Safe Harbor.”

Her dedication, persistence, and follow-through have directly contributed to positive and safe outcomes for children—outcomes that may not have been achieved without her willingness to dig deeper and advocate tirelessly on their behalf. Her genuine care for the children she serves is evident in her work, even when it requires additional time and personal commitment.

In Van Buren County, Safe Harbor named Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Keeley as Child Advocate of the Year.

Her nomination reads, “Ever since Rachel started working as an Assistant Prosecutor in Van Buren, she has been dedicated to serving those she is most passionate about – women and children.  She requested her caseload include all the Criminal sexual conduct cases that came into the office so she could focus her time and talent to serving in this area.  She has worked tirelessly and passionately to develop relationships with these children who have been broken by those they trusted.  This relationship was established so that she would be able to fight the battle in the courtroom to try to receive some justice on their behalf.  She has been able to achieve a winning record that most prosecutors only dream about in criminal sexual conduct cases and she has touched the hearts of many along the way.”

Congratulations and thank you to all the Child Advocates of 2026!