Lori Antkoviak

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo announced Thursday that it’s giving West Michigan children an early Thanksgiving gift.

Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center will be given a former Perrigo plant building appraised at $320,000 to expand services for victims of child abuse and neglect in Allegan.

“Perrigo’s donation of this building will light the way for children to light the way of healing after abuse,” Safe Harbor Executive Director Lori Antkoviak said at a media event Thursday.

The building is more than double the size of the current center.

Antikoviak said the building that Safe Harbor has been operating out of only allows three children to be cared for at a time and the new building allows significantly more children to be cared for since it’s designed to provide multiple services at once.

She said there will be rooms for children based on their age so they can be in an environment most comfortable to them when they have to do interviews that require them to share their experiences of abuse.

“All while law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the prosecuting attorney will be able to watch each interview in separate observation rooms,” Antikoviak said.

She said this is significant because the different government agencies will be able to listen to the child’s interview at once instead of the child having to go to each agency to tell their story of abuse multiple times.

Perrigo said the building will include counseling rooms, forensic interview rooms, and a medical suite.

“Each of these essential services help children find hope and healing after abuse,” Antikoviak said.

Perrigo Vice President of Operation Strategies Pat Hodapp said at the media event that the company has a more than 130-year history with the Allegan community. The company is one of the largest employers in the area.

“I can’t imagine a more worthy cause than an organization that protects children and our future,” Hodapp said. “We want to ensure Allegan continues to be a safe haven for children and families across the region.”

Source:

https://wwmt.com/news/local/perrigo-donates-building-to-center-for-victims-of-child-abuse-neglect

Saturday, June 16, 2018 – 7:00am to 4:00pm

ALLEGAN—Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center in Allegan has planned its first Biking for Bravery event for Saturday, June 16, at Littlejohn Lake Park in Allegan. The fundraising ride will feature a 1-mile family fun ride, and 80-, 50- and 20-mile routes for more serious bicyclists. To sign up for the rides and learn more, visit www.safeharborcac.org/bike.

http://www.allegannews.com/allegan-biking-bravery

“In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a cherry tree and victims’ waiting room were dedicated at the Allegan County Courthouse on Friday, April 13, in memory of a fierce advocate for young victims of abuse and neglect—Michigan State Police trooper Ray Hoffman.

Hoffman died at the age of 46 on Sept. 26, 2017, due to heart complications. He had been with the Michigan State Police for 24 years at the Wayland Post. Hoffman was instrumental in changing and improving forensic investigations and interviewing of abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse of children in Michigan.

He helped draft Michigan’s model protocols for these types of investigations and helped train hundreds of people in the use of them. Dedicated to helping children, he worked closely with young victims of abuse and neglect at Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center.

Allegan Police Chief Rick Hoyer welcomed Hoffman’s family, brothers and sisters in uniform, elected officials, judges, and court and victims’ rights support staff as they gathered next to the courtyard’s Civil War monument for the tree dedication. Hoyer said it was a time to remember and honor not only past and present victims but  also those who help them. He said Hoffman was a mentor to all in that area.

Prosecuting attorney Myrene Koch gave the dedication address. She said the first encounter with a crime victim is the most critical moment on how successful the case will be.

“It sets the tone on how they view the criminal justice system and that was taught to me by a special person—Ray Hoffman. “He was a true champion of victims’ rights.

“His passion helping victims never faltered or wavered, even when he was sick. He had a genuine sense of caring for every victim he met.”

Koch said Crime Victim’s Rights Week, April 8-14, was a challenge for communities to revisit the history of the victims’ rights movement, celebrate progress made and recommit to make further advancements in this area. The theme was “Expand the Circle, Reach all Victims.”

“This year’s theme is the importance of inclusion,” she said. “To reach all victims of crime we must build relationships by reaching out, listening and delivering competent services.

“We must engage our communities across professional, cultural and economic areas and remove barriers to reporting, provide safety and access of services.”

Koch said in 1990, the prosecutor’s office and Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center (then the Child Victim Services Commission) collaborated on a grant to hire the first funded victims’ rights advocate. Although needs have changed, the agency still funds the advocate today and for the past 22 years, Emelda Calanchi-Pope has been that person.

Calanchi-Pope, Rhonda Baux, Dianne Yeaman and Jewell Raab, all of the prosecutor’s office and Lauren Frederick of Safe Harbor were all recognized for their efforts promoting Crime Victims’ Rights Week and helping victims get the services they need throughout the sentencing process, which can take years.

Koch said in the three-month period in 2018 between January and March, 288 victims of crime were served. While numbers are still being compiled for 2017, in 2016, 8,678 contacts from victims of crime were handled.

Those who work with crime victims donated to rejuvenate the victims’ rights room in the prosecutor’s office for crime victims and family members waiting to testify in court. The room was then dedicated in memory of Hoffman with his name on a plaque outside the room and a three-part framed set with a photo of Hoffman, a photo of the cherry tree and a quote that summed up the trooper.

The quote had been a tribute to Hoffman by Det. Craig Gardiner of the Sheriff’s office.

It reads: “If you remember anything of me, After I leave this world, Remember that I loved even when it was foolish. That I cared even when it was unwanted. When my body is gone remember my heart.”

“He offered encouragement and hope when it was needed most,” Koch said. “These are reminders to all of hope, kindness, strength and Ray, and to always look up.”

The plaque on the stone at the base of the cherry tree reads, “In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2018. Planting Hope for the Future.””

http://www.allegannews.com/allegan-news-news-union-enterprise/trooper-remembered-during-allegan-county-crime-victim-rights-week

“Friends, family and volunteers joined the Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center in Allegan in planting blue and silver pinwheels Tuesday, April 10, to raise awareness that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The pinwheel is the symbol for a happy childhood and hope. The color blue represents child abuse and neglect awareness. Safe Harbor also requested the bridge be lighted in blue lights during the month of April.

Five children in the United States die every day of abuse or neglect in the home. In Allegan County, more than 3,120 investigations of child abuse and neglect were conducted in 2017.

Safe Harbor board vice president Myrene Koch who also serves as the county’s new prosecutor, said the county is fortunate to have Safe Harbor not only to advocate and counsel for children but also to provide prevention services. Since the beginning of this year, 2,600 children have learned about safe touches through a body safety “Okay to Tell” program taught by  Safe Harbor.

A declaration by the City of Allegan gave a reminder that child abuse prevention is “an acknowledged community responsibility to promote family cohesion and resiliency, provide social support systems and encourage child development education in order to prevent the maltreatment of children.””

http://www.allegannews.com/allegan-news-news/safe-harbor-plants-pinwheels-prevention