34th Annual 'BIG EASY' Super Bowl Party

34th Annual 'BIG EASY' Super Bowl Party, a set on Flickr.

2011 Tee Up Fore Kids Golf Tournament

2011 Tee Up Fore Kids Golf Tournament, a set on Flickr.

JOB OPENING: Executive Assistant/Book Keeper

Harmony Home Children's Advocacy Center

Job Description

Position Title: Executive Assistant/ Book Keeper

Supervised by: Executive Director

Basic Function:         

• Administer payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, quarterly reports, monthly financials, ledger on funding sources, procurement, audit, and bill paying with authorization by Director.
• Administer grants, quarterly reports, monthly semi-annual and annual request for reimbursements, and grant adjustments.
• Assist in day to day operations of the agency as needed.  Salaried position, which requires some on-call responsibilities.
• Participate in Harmony Home team environment with staff, Board members, and volunteers.
• Assist Executive Director, Board of Directors with Fund-raisers, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Must have high school diploma or equivalent, good grammar skills, and intermediate skills in word processing, and spreadsheets. General bookkeeping  knowledge, especially QuickBooks. Articulate telephone voice.  Three year’s work experience; prefer bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, with experience in government grants, nonprofit management and human resources.  Bilingual a plus. 

Interested individuals should provide a current resume and 3 professional references to:

Denise Malm, Executive Director

Harmony Home Children’s Advocacy Center

P. O. Box 3087

Odessa, Texas  79760

Email:  executivedirector@harmonyhomecac.org

Harmony Home is a locally managed, nonprofit, dedicated to working with children who have been victims of abuse.  We coordinate our efforts with local law enforcement and child protective agencies, and provide victim’s services, therapy and other programs.  Harmony Home serves 500+ children a year, with an operating budget of $600,000.

34th Annual 'Big Easy' Super Bowl Party

Join us for BEER, BEADS, and FOOTBALL!!!

Experience the fun and excitement of Super Bowl XLVII at the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the Permian Basin. Watch the game on 5 big projection screens, enjoy a delicious dinner with plenty of cold beverages, bid on our game boards, browse fabulous items in our Silent Auction, and enter to win a $10,000 VISA Gift Card!!

All proceeds with go to help abused and neglected children. You won’t want to miss this year’s festivities so put on your Mardi Gras beads, grab some friends, and cheer your team to victory at our 

34TH ANNUAL SUPER BOWL PARTY & BIG EASY CELEBRATION!

***Reserve your seats now***

Panther Paws Girls Rock!!!

2012-2013 Panther Paws Dance Team

Coach Kristin Carter

Last Saturday, the Permian High School Panther Paws Dance Team brought adorable stuffed animals and blankets to Harmony Home. They got to tour our facility and hear all about our services. One thing they learned was that children who have suffered abuse or neglect are often confused and frightened when they arrive at the Center. We try our best to provide a sense of comfort and safety as these children go through the process of disclosure. Each special gift we receive is given as a comfort item to children who have to tell their story of abuse, and we would not be able to do this without the generosity of groups and individuals like the Panther Paws. We truly appreciate your support! 

What is a Forensic Interviewer in a CAC setting?

To start off I am going to introduce myself. I have a degree in Criminology and plan to obtain a Masters in Forensic Psychology. When I graduated college, I had no idea where my career path was going to lead me. I heard about a job with Child Protective Services and thought I would give it a shot…. Seven years later I am still serving and advocating for children and families who have been through some of the most horrific events of their lives- child abuse; including sexual, physical, emotional and even medical and physical neglect. Advocating for children and families has become a part of who I am today. I am currently a Forensic Interviewer for Harmony Home Children’s Advocacy Center.

You may be asking yourself what is a Forensic Interviewer? Basically I talk to children from ages 3-17 years old and interview them. The interviews are only scheduled through Law Enforcement (LE) and/or Child Protective Services (CPS). I interview a child on all sorts of allegations ranging from sexual abuse, physical abuse, child witness to crimes/violence and risk of sexual abuse.

Forensic Interviewers are specially trained to talk to children who have been sexually or physically abused or neglected, and who have witnessed a violent crime. Each interview is conducted using a semi- structured narrative, non-leading approach in a neutral environment where children feel at ease. The process is recorded and made accessible to investigating officials directly involved in the case, which eliminates the need for the child to repeat his or her story multiple times.

The interview break down is this. I meet with LE and or CPS prior to talking with a child. I obtain basic information regarding the child’s name, age, gender, ethnicity and the same information of everyone involved in the case if it is known. I then meet the child and show them the room where we will talk and tell them a little about the room. Once basic information is complete I turn on my recording equipment and the child and I go into the room and begin talking. The interview is observed by LE and or CPS through closed circuit TV in an observation room.

During the interview I start with a rapport session with the child where I get to know the child some and hopefully will ease any nerves the child may be experiencing by just talking about neutral topics. I will also establish some guidelines about talking in the room, established truth and lie concept, etc. At some point I will ask the child why we are here today. Sometimes the child knows and will begin talking about the ‘event’ that brought them to the Advocacy Center. Sometimes I use triggers (information provided by the child) to obtain a flowing narrative from the child about the ‘event’. Questions that I ask in the interview room are completed in what is known as a Semi-Structure Narrative process. The questions asked are primarily open-ended and non-leading questions. A good practice rule for interviews is that the child does not leave the room more knowledgeable about sex or drugs and alcohol, etc.

I hope you have a better insight to what it is I do and the reasons I do it. Through out this blog I hope to bring more light on child sexual abuse and child abuse. I hope to create more community awareness and turn this ‘taboo’ topic into a topic that people will be open and willing to talk about and help to stop the cycle of abuse. Knowledge is POWER!

I am One with Courage... Are you?

Rebecca O'Rear
Forensic Interviewer 
Harmony Home Children's Advocacy Center

Harmony Home welcomes our new Executive Director

ODESSA, TX- Harmony Home is pleased to announce Mrs. Denise Malm as our new Executive Director.

Mrs. Malm has experience in nonprofit leadership and a background affecting real change. She has performed administrative roles in organizations including the Children's Outreach Program Director at Cross Ministries/Fairmont Park Church of Christ;  Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Camp Fire USA West Texas Council, Midland Association for Retarded Citizens, and Texas Special Olympics Area 18. She has also served on various advisory council and non-profit boards including Association of Fundraising Professionals, West Texas Opportunities Child Care Management System, Midland Habitat for Humanity, and numerous others. She has expertise in education, community leadership, strategic planning, and fundraising.

"My professional career has been spent helping children, especially those disadvantaged or under-resourced.  A constant thread of every situation I have worked in has been the recognition of the fact that there were always multiple children trying to survive, or recover from, some phase of abuse.  Addressing those needs are never simple, easy, or to be taken lightly. 

I am overwhelmed by the dedication and work ethic of everyone I’ve met with Harmony Home.  Their devotion and professionalism leaves me certainly humbled to be a part of such a group.

My personal life has been spent raising two sons, Cody and Will.  Cody is employed, full time, after finishing college at ENMU.  Will is currently at UT Austin, with an undecided major.  I’m married to Russell Malm, current County Attorney for Midland County.  I have too many pets to name, yet find myself always considering whether or not I can bring home one more stray….." -Denise Malm, Executive Director.

Harmony Home is excited about the experience and expertise Ms. Malm will bring to the agency! She began her new role as Executive Director during October, 2012.