News for
September 30, 2026

 

  • Children’s Justice Center finds a new home

By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent

One year ago ground broke for the new Juab-Millard Children’s Justice Center (CJC), and on Wednesday, September 24, at 11 a.m. the facility was opened with a program, ribbon-cutting, tours and luncheon.

The CJC is located at 829 South 200 East, Nephi, and looks like a beautiful home which was the goal, said Ann Peterson, Chair of the Friends Board for the Juab-Millard CJC.

The CJC had received a state grant of $200,000 but knew it would take much more to build a facility. She said that, prior to the construction, the Friends had been looking for a place to permanently house the facility.

“I called Riley Park, owner of a home that had been remodeled,” said Peterson.

The home was no longer for sale, she said, but the next day he called and said that he and his wife, Tana, would donate the property where the center now stands. She said that the project had seen miracles upon miracles. The year of construction had been heavily supported by local contributions, volunteers, donated labor, materials and furnishings.

When she didn’t know how to do something, she called someone who did. She had called Mark Stoddard, Central Valley Medical Center administrator, and asked who was a good attorney to contact and he had told her to just use theirs.

Denise Park, board member, paid tribute to Scott McKay who had donated hours of blood, sweat and tears to the project before passing away recently. A retired teacher, he cared deeply about children and was there to oversee and help with fundraising projects.

Also a house painter, he planned to paint the entire interior.

Stewart M. Young, Criminal Deputy Attorney General, said that Attorney General of Utah, Derek Brown, was a big supporter of the CJC program but had a prior commitment.

“This is a terrific space,” he said.

Traditionally, a child might have to retell their traumatic experience multiple times to different investigators. The MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) approach aims to limit this to a single, specialized forensic interview shared across agencies, he said. The CJC minimizes child trauma, improves case outcomes, and provides wraparound support that ensures that while the investigation proceeds, the child and non-offending family are simultaneously connected to medical care and mental health therapy.

Tracy Tabet, Utah Children’s Justice Center Program Director, said that in 2018, the Utah State Legislature passed SB 81, which formally codified the requirement for the Utah Attorney General to establish a Children’s Justice Center (CJC) or multidisciplinary team in Juab County.

“This legislative milestone paved the way for local efforts in Nephi to expand from a part-time operation into a fully dedicated, permanent space,” she said.

The center had moved from a temporary space to a leased space but then wanted a permanent center. The building before the community was the result.

Children who experience abuse face a 2 to 8 times higher risk of developing psychiatric and psychological disorders compared to non-abused children and are 2 to 5 times more likely to attempt suicide later in life compared to those who have not experienced abuse, she said.

Heather Williams-Young, Juab-Millard CJC Director, said that the main goal was to reduce trauma for child abuse victims during the investigative process by providing a safe, supporting, empowering, comfortable, and child-friendly environment.

The center provides immediate crisis support, mental health referrals, medical care coordination, and victim advocacy for both the child and their non-offending family members.

“We serve children 17 years old and younger who have been victimized,” she said.

She read a few comments made by children and their non-offending caregivers. One said they felt like they were falling and the help they received made them feel like the were caught.

Clint Painter, county commission chairman, was presented the keys [for the second time] to the building since the Friends of the CJC had finalized the deed that gave the county possession.

“It has been one year since we broke ground,” said Painter. “We now have a comfortable, home-like facility that is safe and where child victims feel open to talk.”

However, he said, a building was just a building--it was the people inside who made it a safe space.

“When Heather comes in and gives her report,” said Painter, “I am always shocked.”

He would rather that Juab County did not have a single child who suffered abuse at the hands of a parent or family member.

“The people working her are heroes,” he said.

He also thanked Peterson, who, he said, has been relentless in her work to assure that the CJC was built.

Members of the Juab-Millard Friends of the CJC Board of Directors were introduced as: Peterson; Deborah Sanders, vice-chair; Sharon Kay, secretary; Jennifer Evans, treasurer; Mark Jones; Denise Park; Annette Sevy; Rhett Peterson.

Special thanks was given to: Kayleen and Bruce Evans, Bar-W, Provo Bakery, Mary Nielson and Local Roots Flowers for assisting with the open house and to Livingston’s Photo and Print Shop for the program design and printing.

County Attorneys: Jared Rowley (current), Perry Davis and Jared Eldridge. Attorney Kasey Wright.

Recognized as donors, builders, suppliers, and government entities who had contributed funds, work or materials were: The State of Utah; Riley and Tana Park; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Wright’s Healing Solution Foundation; Rural Health Group; Juab County; Nephi City; HRB--General Contractor Heath Butler; Jones Brothers Construction--Devin Jones; Apex Engineering; Christensen Ready Mix; Mountain West Concrete Construction; Sun Pro; RayNat; Mountainland Supply; CR Doors and Moldings; Major Electric; RSW Roofing; On the Side Painting; Economy Floors; Marlin Park; Quality Craft Cabinets; Wasatch Appliance; Primary Children’s Hospital; Alice Lane; Ridgeline Landscape; Sunset Rail.

“Our city is grateful to be a part of this vital service for children in our community and surrounding areas,” said Justin Seely, mayor. “Serving the most vulnerable amongst us, who are in crisis, needing help, and needing a safe space-- this is what the Children’s Justice Center does.”