By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A benefit performance hosted by the Dance Arts Center will raise money to benefit Voices of Courage.
Voices of Courage Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the organization is a child advocacy center working with children who have been through abuse or trauma
"We work with child abuse victims in a couple of different ways, we provide several services," Birdsell tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "We do the forensic interview, which is the initial step in the investigation of a child abuse case, and then we work with the family regarding advocating for them, finding them resources, helping them in any way that we can."
Birdsell says the organization does the forensic interview for victims, but makes sure from the beginning the child is only interviewed once
"When a child goes through some kind of trauma, when you interview them over and over that retraumatizes them every time it can, and the other thing it does is it makes them feel like no one is believing them if they have to keep telling the story over and over again," Birdsell explains.
"So, our goal is to get one interview, we record that interview, and that's then used in the investigation."
Birdsell says that process helps make the focus on the child and that they are treated safely.
The performance, called A Chance to Dance, has been held for 18 years and has raised roughly $140,000 for Voices of Courage.
Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler says the idea for the benefit came from her just wanting to help make a difference
"I work with kids and have pretty much my entire life as far as being a dance teacher, so it just always hit me really hard when you would hear those stories on the news of things that had happened to kids," Heeler says.
Heeler started the effort while she lived in Illinois, but when she moved back to St. Joseph brought the idea to Voices of Courage
"I said I want to put together this benefit dance concert, because that's really all I know how to do is dance, so I said but i think we could raise some money at least and help out," Heeler explains.
This year's performance will be held on Saturday at Central High School starting at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at JoMoTickets.com or at the door.
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