County asked to give Susie's Place $15,000 as federal funding for child abuse interviews shrinks

What happened

Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard asked the council for $15,000 from the general fund to support Susie's Place, which conducts forensic interviews with child abuse, neglect, and violence victims on behalf of the sheriff's office, local police, prosecutors, and DCS. Chief Development Officer Kathy Stoll said the Terre Haute center interviewed 185 Vigo County children in 2025 and had already seen 209 by the end of June 2026, that federal funding has become less reliable, and that the county funding would be a one-time bridge, not an ongoing ask.

The outcome

Presented to the council for consideration; no vote was taken at this meeting.

Sources

• $15,000 request from general fund
• Interview numbers and funding gap
• One-time bridge funding, not ongoing

Also known as: Susie's Place funding · Suzy's Place · child forensic interviews · child advocacy center · sipping for Susie's Place fundraiser