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Show Sun Advocate Price. Utah Tuesday October 29, 2002 13B I Justice Center helps community children and families By KEN LARSON Sun Advocate publisher Family Support and Childrens Parenting in todays world is e not always easy. The is of a often being parent job complicated by jobs and community demands. Parents often find themselves in a balancing act, between their family and job. Parents can often find themselves overwhelmed, exhausted and overstressed. For these reasons and many others, the Family Support and Childrens Justice Center was established in May of 1996, For the past six plus years, the center has sat on the busy comer at 109 North 300 East, while inside a group of professionals help children and families. Ibrry Willis has served as the director full-tim- since it began. Initially the group that began the program secured funding federal through a three-yegrant with CAP monies (child abuse prevention). But as die program evolved it has secured on going state funding and today it serves the community by helping children and their families by building stronger and healthier relationships. effort Their only of the year, the Harvest Ball, was held but Saturday at the Elks Club. Over 233 people turned out, many in costume, to support and recognize the work of the ar -- fund-raisi- ng Justice Center. The Center, serving Carbon and Emery counties, is the only center in the state that has two very separate programs. According to Willis, the fact that the counties have small populations ing abuse, says Willis, adding, it is not a drop off program, Some of the reasons for using the nursery include respite, family crisis, court, doctor appointments, medical emer- day-ca- re the center the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) will think that they are abusing their children, but we do not share any information with explains, Willis, emphasizing that questions are addressed, such as, is the family getting therapy? Is the child safe? Is more therapy needed? Has someone been arrested? Or is the case ready to be closed? We follow cases for several months to make sure they are progressing and not falling DCFS." and limited funding makes it practical and necessary to house both the Family Support and Childrens Justice Center. The Family Support and Childrens Justice Center is designed to be a resource for parents. Our safe homelike environment is a place to find help during times of crisis and services to prevent other crisis situations says Willis. Wb wont with many different community agencies to provide the best support possible. The Family Support and Childrens Center helps parents take control of their lives and strengthen their parenting and coping skills. Crisis care is the number one tore all other reasons. The nursery is designed to provide a safe, homelike setting where parents can bring their children when the family is in a stressful situation. Children., who are under 11 years old can stay at the nursery, brought by parents or legal guardians and can stay for up to 72 hours. The crisis nursery is intended to be a means ofprevent- - and referral material, has a large resource lending library and a variety of family support services. The parenting classes assist parents in becoming more effective in their interactions with children. They also assist parents in locating and obtaining information about community services and crisis intervention. Books, videotapes and resources are available to assist litem representing the children. They review each case to make sure that it is moving forward, on-goi- ng parents, teachers and others with parenting skills for all aged youth. The staff is available to talk to parents through parenting issues and minor crises. Referrals and assistance is, available to help parents through their crisis situations. The Family Support and Children's Justice center served. 339 children during the period beginning July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002. This is an unduplicated number, while the through the cracks, Willis summarized. A satellite office of the Children's Justice Center is also established in Castle Dale serving Emery County, basically doing the same thing. We want people to understand that the facility is available to anyone, Willis says. We welcome people at all times, and this is an open place where we want to make sure that we are combating the misconceptions that we are here only to serve certain groups. Shelter care is also available when DCFS needs a safe place to leave a child should they be removed from a home. The reasons are numerous but never because families had used the center for childcare. In addition to all services listed the center also provides parenting classes, information he Judge and the Spider (Dennis and Terry Willis) at the Harvest Ball last Saturday night All the funds from the ball will be used to support the Family Support and Childrens Center. Over 235 people attended the annual fund raising event gencies, mental health appointments, escaping family violence, attending parenting or divorce classes or attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotic Anonymous meetings. The biggest myth about usthe center is that its ftv abuing sive families, says Willis. Its, just the opposite, she explains, some parents fear that by using . The second agency housed on the comer of 108 North and 300 East is the Children's Justice Center. This portion of the facility is a homelike facility that serves children who might have been physically and or sexually abused. The center is designed to help children feel safe and comfortable. The atmosphere is and interview rooms are designed with children in mind. Children visit the center while investigators meet with them and their parents. team coA ordinates the interview process and assesses the needs of the children and the families for support services. There are two interview rooms, that are furnished with both audio and video equipment, which provides protection for the child, interviewers, and the community to make sure the children is chorused into saying anything that may not be true. Either DCFS or law enforcement personnel bring the children to the center. (tace a month the staff at the Justice Center reviews all the cases that have come through the center. This is known as the child protection team and is made up of the law enforcement, DCFS, mental health, medical personnel, and county attorney investigator as well as the guardian ad child-friend- duplicated number was 1187 children. The center provided eight series of parenting classes and the shelter provided 2491 hours for children. Staff members from the center made 17 presentations during this time period. The Childrens Justice Center served 127 cases during this time with a number ofpeople receiving service which totaled 461 while 96 children were interviewed. ly multi-disciplina- ry -- Blake and Montana play at the director of the Family Support and Children's Justice Center, reviews the number of brochures and material available at the center located at 108 North 300 East in Price. Terry Willis, Family Support and Children's Justice Center. Desolation Canyon used as theme for college presentation By KEN LARSON Sun Advocate publisher Ibis story began 30 years ago as part of a wilderness studies program at Desolation Canyon in Eastern Carbon County. For tire up of more than 60 canyons all flowing into the Green River, which sits on the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau. The Plateau runs from Vernal, Utah, south to Flagstaff Ariz east to Grand Junction, Colo., which includes the entire Price River past three decades students attending Prescott College in drainage basin. So for 30 years class after class Northern Arizona have been traveling to Eastern Utah to of Prescott college students study the river, the canyons and learned from the unique training the desert grounds in Desolation Canyon, section of Green but as the area became more The River as it runs through Desolapopular the BLM found it neces-sai- y to make this area of the Desotion Canyon, following the route of earlier explorer John Wesley lation Canyon a limited access Powell, is the deepest canyon in area. But that means that the colUtah. At its deepest point. Bright lege needed to be lucky enough Angel Ihul, it is over a mile deep. ' to be selected. A lottery is held each Februaiy and from the more It has the largest wilderness stu area in the 48 lower states and it than 4000 applications only 400 is ideal for exploring, hiking and are selected to make foe trip. This studying archeological sites and past year Rachel Peters, permit coordinator for the college and early settlement ranches, according to Dennis Willis, Outdoor Willis were serving on apanel of river managers discussing the Recreation Planner for the Bureau of Land Management in importance of having recourses 84-mi- le Price. Desolation Canyon is made like Desolation Canyon available to groups for learning. The question was, why werent they making special accommodations for these types of groups? Following the formal discussion, the meeting continued between Willis and Peters and she wondered if the college could sponsor a service project but the thought of something like a cleanup project or serving the trails seemed like such a waste for a strong liberal arts college like Prescott College. Willis found himself asking Peters, What can your students do that we cant? They thought about this area as a limited access area, not well known, with few people ever hearing about its uniqueness and really appreciating it so it can be protected. Peters threw out the idea of using arts, literature, dance and visual arts to communicate how special Desolation Canyon is. At this discussion, the thought was bom that Prescott College would create a presentation and perform it to the Carbon County community as a way of saying thank you. From this point the project was in motion and under an administrative permit 12 students and three instructors spent nine days on the river earlier this Its been like this since the day we arrived in Price. Their trip up the Nine Mile Canyon to an ancient Freemont Indian Village showed the group how a community lives through their rock art It gave the students a more realistic idea of bow the Ftoemont peoples may have lived. It gave them ideas on set design and how they could tie in the ancient cultures to the western move munity leaders, college officials, and tedinical supporters. Liz Faller, instructor at Prescott College, summarized their efforts by saying, its being done to thank your community. She and the student Mar and Burhop were overwhelmed with the hospitality of the community. We kept hearing the same message, whatever you need? However we can help? ment and development of this desert comer of eastern Utah. According to Willis, this will be purely a presentation of appreciation. The Prescott students are now back in Arizona creating their show, putting together the materials, developing dances, sets, and themes. The show is coming to Price December 7. . - ? V"'- Aft?. v - r- v ."V V . V month. They launched near Myton, in the Uinta Basin and traveled the 84 miles down river, getting out about 12 miles north of Green River. As it has for the past 30 years the canyon served as the classroom for the nine days and 12 students. But this time they had another goal in mind; they were gathering material for a presentation. Tliey were intro- duced to foe spectacular foil scenery of the canyons, the numerous and unique archeological sites, the settlements, the wildlife, geo-, s - V 'V .7 ' tf. ' v f rv '. ' ' ' VAS : ' , .. t Ni J ',' f - ' v ' ' ':,! f s From Desolation Canyon y traveled to Price and spent BreaMt Music is pictured discussing the technical Issues far an upcoming presentation by Prescott College. Pictured from Prescott with Breinholt is Liz Faller, instructor and artistic director and Brynifl Mar and Greg Burtnp, production coonfinators. Ned Breinhoft, owner of ir more days researching the nmunity. It was a whirlwind ) as they interviewed people : Don Wikxn, rancher on the ginal settlement, and Don rgtf, CEU Prehistoric Mu-un manager. They met com- 1 isolation Canyon as it winds its way through the Green River basin. The Canyon ha beeti used as a classroom for Prescott Codego for 30 years. It will now be the theme of I presentation scheduled for Dec. 7 in Price. I i I |