Douglas C.A.R.E.S.

Douglas CARES: Moving to Our New Building and Seeking Community Support

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:00:00 GMT

At Douglas CARES, we're excited to announce that we’ll soon be moving to a brand-new building designed just for us, thanks to the generosity of local developer Guy Kennerly. His commitment to helping our cause has been truly remarkable, and we're eager to begin this new chapter. Starting in early December, you can find us at our new address: 1939 NE Diamond Lake Blvd, Roseburg.

This move marks a significant milestone for Douglas CARES as we continue our mission to protect children and uplift families. The new space will provide the dedicated environment needed to support our work in child advocacy, but we need your help to make it feel like home.

Why This Move Matters

The work we do at Douglas CARES is crucial for the safety and well-being of children in our community. As part of the Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) network, we coordinate investigations and treatment for child abuse cases using a multidisciplinary team approach. This system ensures children only have to tell their story once in a safe environment, reducing trauma and facilitating quicker access to services.

The new building will allow us to continue offering these essential services more efficiently and with greater capacity. With dedicated spaces for forensic interviews, therapy, and medical exams, the move will enhance our ability to support child victims and their families during difficult times.

Seeking Sponsorships: Your Support Can Make a Difference

Moving into a new space comes with many challenges, especially when it comes to outfitting the building with the necessary furniture and equipment to continue our services seamlessly. We are currently seeking sponsorships for furniture and moving costs. Every dollar raised will go directly toward creating a welcoming, child-friendly space where we can continue to provide trauma-informed care to those who need it most.

Your support will ensure that Douglas CARES can continue to be a place where children feel safe, families find hope, and offenders are held accountable. Whether you’re a business or an individual, your contribution will have a lasting impact on the community.

How You Can Help

If you’d like to contribute to our move or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit our donation page. We are counting on the generosity of the community to help us create a space that reflects the importance of our mission and provides the best possible environment for children and families in crisis.

Together, we can make a difference. Contact our business today to learn more about how you can get involved in supporting our new home and the essential services we provide.

July Newsletter

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:02:48 GMT

Douglas C.A.R.E.S

Douglas CARES staff wore jeans on Denim Day to stand for victims of Sexual As sault. Victims can be any age and any gender. It's important to remember that vic tims are generally chosen because of their vulnerability or their lack of visibility.

30 Years of Advocacy

5 pm—7 pm

Friday, June 7

545 W. Umpqua St. Roseburg

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of our Child Advocacy Center.

This milestone event is a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters in advocating for the rights and well-being of children.

The anniversary celebration will take place at Douglas CARES, located at 545 W. Umpqua St., Roseburg, OR 97471, on June 7th from 5 pm-7 pm. It will be an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and hope for the future. We will have light refreshments, tours, and an opportunity to connect with fellow advocates and community members.

We will be unveiling our updated Mission Statement and our improved website.

Your presence at this event would mean a lot to us as we honor the progress we have made over the past three decades and look forward to the continued impact we can make together.

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance by clicking the link provided below. We kindly request that you let us know of any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs you may have so that we can accommodate them accordingly.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our cause. We hope to see you at the celebration!

From the desk of the Executive Director

Welcome to our first edition of the Douglas CARES Newsletter. You will find important updates about our program as well as child well-being trends in our community.

Many people are surprised to learn about the high rates of child abuse in Douglas County. Along with the tireless caseworkers at Child Welfare and our officers in blue, Douglas CARES is on the front line, responding to child abuse and neglect. Even with all our efforts, we know that we are only handling a portion of the cases in Douglas County.

We also make great efforts to prevent future incidents of child abuse when we have the opportunity to be a part of a family’s life. Every family’s journey is unique, and the causes of abuse and neglect are as varied as the people we see come through our doors. However, we do see some very clear trends in the factors that lead to child maltreatment. One factor is the high number of parents who struggle with substance use disorders, which often result in difficulty providing a safe and nurturing home for their children.

We can all do more to educate ourselves, watch for signs of abuse, and report it, so that these families can be supported in caring for their children. Won’t you join the fight? Help us ensure Douglas County becomes a safe place for all children to grow and thrive.

Sarah Wickersham, MS

Executive Director

Douglas C.A.R.E.S

Houston, our newest staff addition, takes a well-deserved rest.

New Therapy ‘Comfort’ Dog Helps Abused Children Deal With Aftermath

Hi everybody! Meet Houston, a member of our team. Houston is a 2-year-old black lab who will be a constant presence throughout our facility.

Being with a therapy dog can help calm a child and reduce the child’s level of anxiety. These dogs are not only calming for the children but for the entire family. Houston has been extensively trained in responding to and assisting with trauma-induced behaviors and emotions.

Along with our fantastic staff members, Houston plays an integral part in helping families cope with trauma by providing a calming and comforting presence. Research shows that dogs help heart rate and breathing slow down and muscles relax.

Houston will accompany our clients as they participate in forensic interviews, forensic medical examinations, crisis intervention, and court hearings/trials. As you can see, Houston is a busy boy, and we are very excited to have him on our team!

Board Members

Anita Cox, Pres.

Ron Breyne, V.P.

David McGinnis, Treas.

Jessica L. Lloyd-Rogers

Juliana Marez

Josie Sustaire

Robin Vogel

Rick Wesenberg

What is Karly’s Law?

Karly’s Law is named after a 3-year-old Corvallis girl who died from abuse after allegations went unchecked. The law mandates that children in Oregon who exhibit suspicious physical injuries in the course of a child abuse investigation must receive medical attention within 48 hours. Since 2008, Karly’s Law has helped thousands of Oregon children receive medical care and support related to suspected abuse.

Karly’s Law imposes specific requirements on law enforcement, Department of Human Services (DHS) employees, and designated medical providers who have received specialized training to assess injuries that may have been caused by child abuse.

Notes on Statistics

We only have stats from 2016
Douglas Cares only sees a portion of the total cases in Douglas County

Celebrating 30 Years of Compassion and Commitment: Douglas CARES Anniversary Event

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:00:00 GMT

This year, Douglas CARES is celebrating its 30th anniversary! In 1994, we opened our doors with just a handful of employees working out of a few rooms in a little house. Today, we've grown to 25 employees, occupying a 9,000-square-foot building with state-of-the-art interview and recording equipment, a fully functional clinic with a full-time doctor, and a robust mental health department.

Who We Are

Douglas CARES strives to eradicate child abuse and neglect in Douglas County through effective, compassionate response and prevention, thereby protecting children and uplifting families. Our mission has remained steadfast over the years, focusing on providing support and hope to those who need it most.

What We Do

We're there to respond to child abuse and neglect in all forms. For our partners in Law Enforcement and Child Welfare, we provide Forensic Interviews and Forensic Medical Exams. We stand by the family throughout the complex and emotional process of a child abuse investigation, offering comprehensive mental health services to aid in their healing journey.

Join Us in Celebration

The anniversary celebration will take place at Douglas CARES, located at 545 W. Umpqua St. Roseburg, OR 97471, on June 7th from 5pm-7pm. It will be an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and hope for the future. We will have light refreshments, tours, and an opportunity to connect with fellow advocates and community members. We will be unveiling our updated Mission Statement and our improved website.

Your presence at this event would mean a lot to us as we honor the progress we have made over the past three decades and look forward to the continued impact we can make together.

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance by clicking here. We kindly request that you let us know of any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs you may have so that we can accommodate them accordingly.

Join us in celebrating 30 years of compassion, commitment, and community. Together, we can continue to protect children and uplift families for many more years to come.

Attend an Event/Webinar

Let's come together to commemorate this milestone and inspire a future where every child is safe and supported. We look forward to seeing you there!

Heroes Day Event at Douglas CARES

Fri, 05 May 2023 19:17:00 GMT

The Heroes Day event was a blast! Performances, free giveaways, and superhero masks for the kids brought joy to all in attendance. Kids came to the Douglas C.A.R.E.S. booth and picked up a mask and cape to be the hero of their own story and heroes were represented in all capacities at the event.

Our little superheroes got to explore over 20 vendors who joined us including four law enforcement vehicles from Sutherlin, Winston, and Roseburg PD. Roseburg Fire Department rolled in one of their fire trucks and the kids had a blast checking it out.

Several resources from the community such as Thrive Umpqua, UC VEG, Miss Douglas County high school, Juniper Tree, Winston Martial Arts participated. Also joining us was Brand Yourself (a Non-profit to help families feel less burdened by providing for the needs of families in Douglas County), Peace at Home, Creating Community Resilience, Oregon Family Support Network, UCAN, Adapt (sexual violence prevention cohort lead), FAIR, BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse), FARA, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Best Lemonade in Town (stand run by a young boy who owns his own business), Bushnell University promoting the new hybrid Masters/ Bachelors Program at UCC), Every Child Douglas, and ODHS. Advantage Dental gave out dental items. Wildlife Safari brought hands-on activities as well as a prairie dog, skink, and centipede for all to explore. Thundering Waters brought concrete ping pong and foosball for all to play. A huge crowd pleaser was the live dance performances with kids and adults from ages 3-18.

We are so thankful for the community involvement and the care for kids that took place. We count this as a very successful day for Douglas C.A.R.E.S.

Mayor Larry Rich Issues a Proclamation recognizing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:50:00 GMT

Roseburg Mayor, Larry Rich, proclaimed April 2023 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The mayor read a proclamation at the City Council meeting Monday night to call on all residents, community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, elected leaders, and businesses to do their part to help prevent child abuse and strengthen our community by increasing their participation in efforts to support families.

Our Executive Director, Sarah Wickersham, and the Douglas CARES team were honored to receive the proclamation on behalf of the children of Douglas County, OR.

Watch the presentation of the Proclamation below.

Douglas C.A.R.E.S goes to Washington D.C.!

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 17:40:00 GMT

Director Sarah Wickersham traveled to the capital in June to attend the National Children’s Alliance Conference along with hundreds of other Child Advocacy Center Directors, Forensic Interviewers, Detectives, and Child Welfare Caseworkers from across the nation to learn about the amazing support provided by NCA to communities like Douglas County.

Sarah was also able to meet with the offices of Representative Peter DeFazio and Senator Jeff Merkley where she told the story of child abuse in Douglas County. We raised awareness around important issues like information sharing, housing resources, addictions, and the truly innovative way we come together as a community to staff cases of child abuse and step in to help the whole family recover from the traumatic events.

Happy Healthy Kids Day at Douglas C.A.R.E.S.

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 22:37:00 GMT

April 28th was a day we celebrated Happy Healthy Kids with the community of Roseburg. We had just over 110 kiddos come visit all of our vendors! It was a wonderful and crazy day. Douglas CARES had 3 games with prizes, goody bags, pinwheels, balloons, and snack bags for all. Our bubble machine was a hit! Many of our kiddos attending came because of the thousands of bubbles seen from Harvard Ave. and the

DHS building.

Community members joined with us to make this event one to remember. Cougar Ridge came out with their horses, donkey, carriage rides, and ponies. Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Douglas County Sheriff Department, Winston Police Department, and K-9 units Eros and Zorro came out to see everyone. Family Development Center and Every Child Douglas County provided face painting. Adapt brought out books.Games and prizes were hosted by National Guard, ESD, and Umpqua Valley Rainbow Collective. Wildlife Safari brought some really cool artifacts.Advantage Dental offered free screenings and goody bags to the kids.WaiLani Shave Ice whipped up amazing treats. Miss Douglas County and other title holders ran our game booths. We even had Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, and Spiderman drop by on behalf of Occasionally Yours.

Every single child left with prizes and a smile! Even our teens were seen riding around in the horse cart with WaiLani Shave Ice and huge smiles. Thank you to everyone, including our event organizer, Amanda, for making this event such an incredible success!

Douglas County Commissioners Issue a Proclamation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 21:32:00 GMT

We were honored to receive a proclamation from our county commissioners in April. We received this note from them. "On behalf of the Douglas County Commissioners, thank you so much for “planting” Pinwheels for Prevention and attending the proclamation presentation today for Child Abuse Prevention Month. As Commissioner Freeman mentioned, you do some of the very most important work in our communities."

It is our honor to serve our community. Thank you to all involved.

Collaborating to Help Police Efforts to Stop Human Trafficking

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:28:00 GMT

Read the press release provided by CHI Mercy Health regarding collaborative efforts to stop human trafficking in Douglas County.