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Washington Parish Coalition on Human Services (WPCHS) held its monthly meeting on March 25, 2025 at the ADAPT Office.  Rusty Fornea, Executive Director of Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center, and Thomas Mitchell, Executive Director of Hope House, were the guest speakers.

Mitchell discussed Hope House’s mission to end the cycle of child abuse in the community. Hope House provides a path to justice and recovery for child victims through forensic interviews conducted in a neutral, child-friendly setting. These interviews help collect objective evidence and support legal proceedings.  Additional services include trauma-focused therapy by licensed clinicians, family advocacy, and child abuse prevention education.

Fornea announced that April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and thanked Hope House for their work.  He touched on the background of the Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center, which was founded in 1990 by Charlette Fornea and now services Washington, Tangipahoa, and St. Helena Parishes, offering free survivor-centered services. These include a 24/7 crisis hotline, hospital and judicial accompaniment, advocacy, trauma-informed counseling, support groups, and prevention education such as Safe Dates and Coaching Boys into Men. Its mission is to unite the community in addressing root causes of sexual assault and related issues through prevention, intervention, and ongoing support.   

Attendees of the March meeting were:  In person: Cheryl Bruton, Pamela Butler, Wendy Castillo, Cayla Colwell, Glory Davis, Chase Fontenot, Rusty Fornea, Hope Gregory, Leslie Holmes, Gloria Kates, Bobbie Kimbrell, Kristina Lee, Aerial Mathews, Regina Meyerchick, Tara Miller, Thomas Mitchell, Tammy Montgomery, Rebecca Nave, Jade Nielson, Joey Peterson, Rachel Polk, Jana Pounds, Tykesha Robertson, Emma Ross, Angela Shuckhart, Shawn Singletary, Becky Stogner, Dana Walker, Ruben Watts; Via Zoom: Katasha August-Robinson, Mignon Barnes, Kimberly Butcher, Paula Charles, Demetra Dantzler, Wylisha Day, Lauren Franklin, Elizabeth Garland, Marty Hennegan, Candice Kimbrell, Rosa Locascio, Kasey Lotz, Shakeisha McKay, Michael Otkins, Brittny Soteropulos, Caroline Theriot, Mecole Thompson, Cynthia Walls.

The next scheduled meeting for WPCHS will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the ADAPT office, 216 Memphis Street, Bogalusa. Guest speaker will be Jennifer Thomas, Washington Parish Schools Superintendent. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact Rusty Fornea at 985-735-0160.