FACES OF HEALTH - Vol. 31

Volume 31 | Summer2022

FACES of HEALTH THE DIFFERENCE YOU’RE MAKING FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED

Restoring wholeness and healing FOR CHILD VICTIMS

The kids who need your help most Child Advocacy Center assists abuse victims

Ten years ago, Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito (cover) saw a gap in the justice system that made life even more difficult for abused children. In sexual abuse investigations, children might be interviewed at the police station and ultimately have to be interviewed by multiple agencies in preparation for possible filing of criminal charges against the offender.

Twito championed the creation of the Yellowstone Valley Child Advocacy Center.

Located at RiverStone Health, the CAC has a comfortably furnished interview room designed to be non-intimidating to youngsters. When law enforcement is investigating a report of child sexual abuse, the victim can be interviewed at the CAC by a forensic interviewer specially trained to ask appropriate questions that don’t add to the child’s trauma and don’t lead the child to say anything but the truth.

Having the Child Advocacy Center is crucial. It needs to be there for our most vulerable victims - children.

Of all kids in our community, these ones need our help the most.

Scott Twito, Yellowstone County Attorney

A multidisciplinary team with representation from the County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Billings Police Department, Laurel Police Department, Child Protective Services and pediatric medical and mental health professionals reviews CAC cases and guides services to children.

“The child’s experience is less difficult when agencies work together,” Twito said. “Without the CAC, a child victim would have at least three or four formal interviews about the abuse and additional informal interviews.”

“The Child Advocacy Center allows victims the chance to regain their childhoods.” explains Nichole Lund, CAC coordinator.

“The CAC forensic interview is very defensible in court and helps to resolve the case without more trauma to the child,” he said. “It generally gives the best chance of holding offenders accountable.”

The CAC also connects the child’s caregiver to services the child needs, including medical care and mental health counseling.

Funding for the CAC has been cobbled together from multiple sources, including RiverStone Health. Last year, the budget was cut after its state-allocated federal grant was reduced unexpectedly. The decreased grant left RiverStone Health unable to fund a full-time advocate position.

Today your generous gift to the RiverStone Health Foundation designated for the CAC will help us restore the advocate position to full time. “The CAC is efficient, your dollars go a long way,” Twito said.

To make a gift in support of the Child Advocacy Center, visit RiverStoneHealth.org/ADVOCACY

Scan me

The 34th Hospice Golf Tournament took flight June 3rd at Laurel Golf Club. The tourney raised a new high of $75,000 for RiverStone Health Hospice care! On behalf of our patients and their families, as well as staff and hospice volunteers, THANK YOU for helping achieve a record-breaking scramble!

Find tournament results including putting challenge, target shoot, flag prize and raffle winners at RiverStoneHealth.org/GOLF and on our Facebook page.

Paul Adam, Gestner Adam Law team, drives for the green.

US Bank Home Mortgage Ladies 1st Place Net: 61

Montana Health FCU Ladies 1st Place Gross: 70

Sultans of Swing Mens/Mixed 1st Place Net: 50

Another beautiful day at Laurel Golf Club.

JUNE

Stella’s Kitchen & Bakery Mens/Mixed 1st Place Gross: 52

FPO

2 THE SAVE 2023 nd

Date 240 golfers hit the links in support of hospice.

Together YOU raised $75,000 for Hospice care. Thank You!

Thanks to over 80 local businesses we had amazing flag prizes up for grabs!

Saturday

Sept 10 RiverStone Health Foundation hosts its annual 5K promoting wellness and RiverStone Reads. Winding through historic neighborhoods and finishing at South Park, everyone supports books for kids! In addition to emphasizing physical fitness and back to school readiness we hope to give out 2,000 books this year.

Friends like you can sponsor registrations for patients and families in need. Sponsorship can happen when you register online or by calling 406.651.6555.

Register TODAY: RiverStoneHealth.org /RUN

Make a Gift Visit RiverStoneHealth.org/GIVE

Board of Directors Ryan Nordlund – Chair, City Vineyard John Dorr, MD – Vice-Chair, MSU Billings Greg Wing – Treasurer, Retired CFO John Felton – Secretary, RiverStone Health Carol Beam – Rocky Mountain Health Network Dan Carter – ExxonMobil Billings Refinery Drew Hedrick – Century 21 Hometown Brokers David Mitchell – Coldwell Banker Commercial Bill Royer – UBS Financial Services

Stay up-to-date Subscribe to our emails to hear about events and other happenings at RiverStone Health. Email us to sign-up: foundation@RiverStoneHealth.org Announcements Memorial Listing: Gifts given in tribute are posted quarterly at RiverStoneHealth.org/memorial Opt out If you no longer wish to receive communications from RiverStone Health Foundation, please call 800.398.9022 and ask for the Foundation.

Contact us directly at 406.651.6555, or email foundation@RiverStoneHealth.org to opt out.

Facebook There is more happening at RiverStone Health Foundation than can fit in this newsletter. Like us on Facebook to keep in touch.

Create a legacy by remembering RiverStone Health Foundation in your will.

123 South 27th Street • Billings, MT 59101 • RiverStoneHealth.org • 406.651.6555