About | Red River Children's Advocacy Center

About Us

Our mission is to facilitate healing and justice for victims of sexual and physical abuse, neglect, and exploitation and to engage the community to protect and support children.

What We Do

We provide a compassionate and effective way to bring services to children victimized by abuse. Our public-private collaboration significantly reduces the trauma associated with reporting child abuse. We help coordinate care and investigation from first report to conviction and beyond, while keeping the child at the center of everything the team does.

Who We Serve

Child Abuse has no boundaries. It spans across all social and economic levels, races, religions, and cultures. The Red River Children’s Advocacy Center serves victims of child abuse from Eastern North Dakota, Western Minnesota, Northeastern South Dakota, and four Native American Reservations.

Meet Our Team

Administrative Team

Sarah Matthews

Executive Director

Raelyn Soltis, LBSW

Director of Operations

Anna Schimmelpfennig, PhD, LP

Director of Mental Health Services
Licensed Psychologist

Amanda Marum

Finance Administrator

Miranda Marum

Director of Finance

Jessie Andren

Director of Community Partnerships

Forensic Interviewers

Chislaine Weisz

Forensic Interviewer

Jillian Gould

Forensic Interviewer/Program Assistant

Bailey Brantner

Forensic Interviewer/Family Advocate

Advocacy

Kim Thompson

Family Advocate

Lindsay Schneider, LBSW

Mental Health Advocate

Julie Stene

Family Advocate, Prevention Coordinator

Isabelle Hawkins

Family Advocate

Mental Health

Candace Meyer, LMSW

Mental Health Clinician

Courtenay Werth, LAPC

Mental Health Clinician

Alyssa Evans, LMSW

Mental Health Clinician

Sara Hruza

Mental Health Program Assistant

Board Member Spotlight

Ruth HEtland

Vice Chair

Founder, The Strong Alliance

What is your role on the RRCAC board, and how long have you been serving?

I currently serve as Vice Chair of the RRCAC board. I have been serving on the board for three and a half years.

What inspired you to become involved with the RRCAC and its mission?

While finishing my chapter in Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to (re)Claiming Our Voice, I started researching organizations that support children who have gone through experiences similar to mine, hoping to find a way to help. That search led me to RRCAC. I reached out to Sarah, helped plan the annual gala, and was later invited to join the board.

What do you find most rewarding about your service to the community through RRCAC? How do you hope your board service contributes to the wellbeing of children and families in our community?

It’s been incredibly rewarding to see more people learning about and benefiting from RRCAC and the services we provide to children and families going through something terrible. It means a lot to know that more families are finding the support they need.

How do you hope your board service contributes to the wellbeing of children and families in our community?

I hope my perspective as a survivor brings an important voice to the board and organization. My own experience gives me a personal understanding of how important it is for children to feel heard, supported, and connected to people who can help.

Are there particular community initiatives or causes you are especially passionate about supporting, and why?

I’m especially passionate about community awareness and helping families know about and connect with the support they need. I believe connection can be a source of strength, especially during difficult times, and no child or family should have to navigate something like this alone.

What has been your favorite achievement or impact that RRCAC has accomplished during your time on the board?

Seeing how much RRCAC has grown and how much greater awareness there is in our community about the services we provide has been one of the highlights of my time on the board. I’m looking forward to helping reach even more families. Also, seeing Sarah honored for her work and dedication as a YWCA Woman of the Year was phenomenal!

Board of Directors

Dr. Stephanie Hendricks

Secretary
Founder, Amend Healthcare

Christi Westman, CPA, CGMA

Controller | Accounting Department, Gate City Bank

Ashley Larson

Senior Product Manager, US Bank

Amy Norstedt

Board Chair
Marketing Director, TruGrid

Eric Malchodi

Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Gate City Bank

Ken Chase Hanson

Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, Altru

Ruth Hetland

Vice Chair
Founder, The Strong Alliance

Patty Blozinski, CAFP, CAMS, CERP

SVP, Director of Financial Crimes/BSA Officer

Jennifer Christianson

Business Analyst, Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND

Charitable Giving Information

Legal Name: Red River Children’s Advocacy Center
EIN (Tax ID): 20-1095721
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Including RRCAC in your will, trust, or estate plans is a meaningful way to support our mission of providing hope, healing, and justice for children and families impacted by abuse.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Jessie Andren, Director of Community Partnerships at jessie@rrcac.com