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Advocacy center gets second look

ELKHORN — The Walworth County Public Works Committee on Monday will take a second look at preliminary plans for a new building that would centralize services for victims of abuse.

Officials from several county and non-profit agencies have teamed up to plan the center. They will present plans to the committee at a regular meeting Monday afternoon.

The committee expects to learn details about funding for the center and options for its location, Public Works Director Shane Crawford said.

The center would bring under one roof services for victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, according to a presentation developed by Gen Krahn-Reed, executive director of the Association for the Prevention of Family Violence.

A one-stop shop would close gaps in services and promote confidentiality, according to the presentation.

The building would be styled after the Lakeland Health Care Center, the county-run skilled nursing facility at 1922 County NN, Elkhorn, according to the presentation. It would include rooms for children and teens as well as a kitchen, examination rooms and conference rooms.

A non-profit group called the Alliance for Children is heading up the project. The group is an offshoot of the Children’s Court Advisory Board and obtained non-profit status in 2007.

So far, members have raised about $105,000 for the project, and the alliance does not expect to spend tax dollars to build or run the center, according to the presentation.

The center’s services would be free.

When the public works committee took its first look at plans in summer 2008, most of the questions were about funding and how the group would maintain the building and programs in case money runs short, Crawford said.

He expects the committee to talk about those details as well as a possible location. No one has picked a site for the center, but the group is interested in building on County NN in the Walworth County complex. It has not been determined if the alliance would buy, lease or accept a donation of county property, Crawford said.

IF YOU GO

What: The Walworth County Public Works Committee will hear preliminary plans for a child and family advocacy center in Elkhorn.

When: 4 p.m. Monday.

Where: Walworth County Government Center, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn.

For more information: Call Walworth County District Attorney Phil Koss at (262) 741-7198.