County OKs contract and funding for Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 19 to enter a Professional Services Agreement with the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center, authorizing $7,500 and $2,500 from the Sheriff's Department budget and directing the chair to sign the agreement effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Becky Yuncker, director of the assessment center, presented the organization's annual report and described the multidisciplinary response model that brings prosecutors, law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, mental health providers and victim advocates together to observe child interviews. "The Center is designed to be a child-friendly place where a child can feel safe telling their story," Yuncker said, and she told the board the center is expanding and needs a Crawford County board member to serve on its governing body.

The board approved the agreement on a recorded roll-call vote. The center's presentation included the statistic that one in ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday, a figure the director cited to explain the program's importance and need for local participation. Commissioners recorded their support during the meeting's business session, and the chair was authorized to execute the contract.

Next steps identified in the meeting record include the county's execution of the agreement effective Jan. 1 and Yuncker's request that the county identify a local board representative. The motion and vote were recorded in the meeting minutes.