Child Abuse Council
of Muskegon County
Meet Our Team
We know that child abuse is bigger than any one person, group, or organization. That's why we've taken a collaborative approach. Working with professionals from all over Muskegon, we are all unified in our purpose to care for and protect the children in our community.
Child Abuse Council Staff
Kyleen Gee
Executive Director, MBA
23 Years at the Child Abuse Council
"I was blessed with an amazing childhood, with parents who protected and loved me. Not every child is that fortunate. Child abuse happens every day, in every part of our community. We work daily to eradicate it. Children deserve a childhood filled with joy, not fear. Protecting them is a duty, not an option."
Debbie Anderson
Prevention Director
30 Years at the Child Abuse Council
"Year after year, we educate and empower children to make safe and healthy decisions about their emotional and physical health. Through child abuse prevention education in nearly all Muskegon County schools, I am able to speak to this vulnerable population, watching them grow and remember me each year. Preventative education is so effective and a big part of the reason I am in this line of work. When a child has the courage to come forward and get the help they need after my presentation, I know that's right where I need to be."
Matthew Moore
CASA Director
Year 1 at the Child Abuse Council
"Every child deserves to know that they have someone in their corner, on their side. Many children who have experienced abuse and neglect find themselves involved in a court system where people are making decisions for them that affect their current situation as well as their future. Children are often not present for these proceedings and often feel they don’t have a voice in the court system. These children deserve a voice in this decision-making process, and I am proud to be a part of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program where volunteer advocates come alongside children to help them have that voice."
Christina Tulgestke,
LLMSW
Lead Clinician
5 years at the Child Abuse Council
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"I believe in the CAC Model and that all children should have access to mental health services at no charge to the family. I love that I get to help children work through and process their trauma, watching the healing transformation each child goes through. This is a thankless job, but when a caregiver hugs you and thanks you for helping their child or you get a thank you note from a young child it's all the thanks I need and is why I'm here."
Hayley Gilbertson/LLMSW
Clinician
1 Year at the Child Abuse Council
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"I am dedicated to providing trauma-informed therapeutic services that help children and adolescents process difficult experiences, build healthy coping skills, and regain a sense of emotional safety and confidence. I believe children deserve to be heard, supported, and empowered after experiencing trauma, and that early intervention can significantly impact long-term healing and resilience. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel understood, valued, and reminded that their experiences do not define their worth or future."
Cortney Garza, BHS
Family Advocate/Intake Supervisor
6 Years at the Child Abuse Council
"When I was in high school, our superintendent always told us to "go change the world." Going to college and becoming more aware of what was going on in the world, I started to figure out what my path was and how I could make a difference. I knew I had to do my part to make our community better and I hope I am, supporting one child at a time."
Andrea Kelley, B.S.
Family Advocate/
MDT Coordinator
7 Years at the Child Abuse Council
"I have always wanted to help people no matter what they were going through. I feel it is my duty to be there for people in their time of need and it brings me great joy to know I get to make a difference in someone's life."
Taylor Gee
Family Advocate
2 years at the Child Abuse Council
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"I love working with kids and watching them grow during their time at the CAC. The staff here care so deeply about making sure the children and their families get the best support in times of need. Being part of a team that shows up with so much heart is something I’m genuinely grateful for."
Grace Clemons/BSW
Forensic Interviewer/Forensic
Services Supervisor
4 Years at the Child Abuse Council
Shane' Durga/BHS
Forensic Interviewer/
Medical Coordinator
1 year at the Child Abuse Council
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Ivy
Therapy K-9 Companion
2 years at the Child Abuse Council
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Livvie Weatherbee
Intake Coordinator
​Year 1 at the Child Abuse Council
"I want to ensure that child abuse survivors get the help they need so that they can become thriving adults and have healthy families of their own. I want to be a part of preventing future trauma and spreading awareness on how to protect children."
"Helping people is my passion, but children are my purpose. I chose this job because I want to be a part of the change for our children."
"I do this job because what I do in my position benefits each child and my coworkers. The more people helped, the better. My position ensures an organized communication and scheduling process on my end, and everything that I put into place helps tasks run smoother which assists my coworkers help children and families efficiently. When I do my part, I support my coworkers in doing theirs at the same time and I feel that is important when it comes to helping children."
"Soon to be Therapy Dog. I have to wait until I am a little bit older to go through the official training to become a therapy dog, so right now I am a therapy K9 companion.
My job is to greet all new people in the office and help them feel safe. I love to show off my new toys and really love my bed that is placed in front of the heater. I get all the love and attention I could ask for from people my size and sometimes when I'm really good I get treats! My favorite part of my job is helping the kids feel safe when they are talking to my mom about scary, sad things that have happened to them. I really like when they pick me up and put me on their lap and pet me. Sometimes I am a little stinky...and my mom makes me go lay down on my bed. But I try really hard to love on every person that comes into the office. This is the best job ever!"
Our Multidisciplinary Team
We collaborate with multiple partner agencies to keep children safe and promote better outcomes. These are some of our partners:
Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office
Muskegon Police Department
Helen Devos Children's Hospital
Norton Shores Police Department
Muskegon Heights Police Department
Muskegon DHHS
Homeland Security
Michigan State Police
Muskegon Township Police Department
Fruitport Police Department
Muskegon County Sheriffs Office
Trinity Health
Bethany Christian Services
Catholic Charities of West Michigan
F.B.I.
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Our Board of Directors
Thea McMullen, President
Helen Dobb, Vice President
Kathy Fearnley, Treasurer
Jared Meldrum, Secretary
Kim Bourdo
Tanya Haynes
Edie Kessler
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Honorable Gregory Pittman
Amanda Tumele
Emma Balaskovitz
Kiesha Guy
Melanie Lyonnais
Austin Aamodt