Winnebago County board hears Carrie Lynn Center plan; county funding request referred to finance committee

Winnebago County Board members heard a detailed presentation March 26 from representatives of the Carrie Lynn Children's Center about plans to relocate into the Family Peace Center and expand services for child victims of abuse.

Kathy Pomahawk of the Carrie Lynn Center described the organization's role in reducing trauma for child victims by consolidating forensic interviews, medical exams and counseling under one roof. "We receive over 500 referrals a year and do over 350 forensic interviews a year," Pomahawk told board members, citing the center's longstanding local role.

Jay Hanley, Winnebago County state's attorney and chair of the center's advisory board, outlined finances tied to a proposed move and buildout. He said the center's nonprofit 501(c)(3) voted to contribute $250,000 toward the project and estimated that, after that contribution, the county's share of the buildout would be about $616,000. Hanley also described the center's operating mix: roughly $150,000 of its budget comes from a local tax referendum while the remainder is largely grant-funded.

The presentation highlighted service gaps and local statistics the presenters said link childhood trauma to later violent behavior. "When we reviewed juvenile violent-offense arrestees, 60 to 75% had documented exposure to domestic or sexual violence," Kurt Whizan said, emphasizing the presenters' rationale for expanding capacity and on-site therapy.

Board members pressed presenters on specifics. Commissioner Sweeney asked how a proposed annual county allocation of $250,000 would be spent; Pomahawk said the center would hire an additional forensic interviewer and a therapist to address the rising referral load. Ms. Valdez asked about grant instability; presenters warned that a potential reduction in federal funding (identified as BOCA in the presentation) could reduce therapist positions.

Commissioner Sweeney announced he would introduce legislation to use a portion of the county's public-safety sales tax (1%) to support the relocation and ongoing operations of the center and referred that proposed resolution to the finance committee for a vote at its next meeting. He also said letters of support were on file from local law-enforcement leaders and municipal officials.

The board took no final funding vote at the meeting; the finance committee will review the formal request and return recommendations to the full board.