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Citizen Advocacy is an independent, non-profit organization that creates and supports one-on-one relationships between volunteer advocates and people with developmental disabilities.
Established in 1978, Citizen Advocacy has provided and supported over 300 relationships, some over 34 years long.
Our non-profit organization is funded by foundation grants, United Way, fundraisers, donations from individuals and businesses, and contributions from various community, civic, and religious organizations.
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Our Mission
Our Mission is to "Create relationships which make a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities."
Annual Fundraiser
The Annual Gala: Dancing For A Difference and Auction is our agency's exciting annual fundraiser. This is a wonderful way to support our mission! The silent auction features originally designed birdhouses, artwork, gift ware and much more.
Who can be an Advocate?
Any caring individual who wants to reach out to people with a developmental disability. Advocates must be good citizens and give freely of their time. Join us!
What do Advocates do?
Help partners continue to live with their families by supporting their parents in a variety of ways. Help partners become accepted into neighborhood schools, activities and community life. Share part of themselves through freely giving relationships as friends and committed allies. Enhance the self-esteem and quality of life for partners.
Who are Partners?
Individuals of any age with developmental disabilities who need advocates to: Prevent isolation from the community. Encourage community friendships and enhance meaningful personal relationships. Mentor and assist with life decisions. There are no fees and no age limit for this program.
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The Principles
Advocate Independence
Advocates are free to act in the best interest of their partner. Their actions are not dictated to them, but rather supported and aided by support from program staff.
Loyalty to Partners
Advocates are to actively represent the best interests of their partners. Their loyalty is not to the Citizen Advocacy Program, staff, other people in the partner’s life, or the social service system. This makes their role unique.
Program Independence
The Citizen Advocacy Program is to be free from any conflict of interest. This relates to the overall structure, place of location, affiliations, financial base, etc. The responsibility to enact and protect this principle lies primarily with the board.
Clarity of Staff Function
The Citizen Advocacy Program Coordinator is responsible for carrying out the Key Activities of the program. They are not to do the advocacy, but to provide support to the advocates. They are responsible for the day-to-day activities of the program, but not the fundraising and governing duties.
Diversity of Needs & Roles
The Citizen Advocacy Program is to represent (as best as possible) a wide base of needs and categories of people with developmental disabilities.
Positive Imagery
The Citizen Advocacy program (and all those involved) should represent positively and respectfully people with developmental disabilities.
Bottom Line:
These principles make us unique. They are person centered (i.e. centered around the best interests of people with developmental disabilities.)
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Highlights of Citizen Advocacy History
February 1978
Grant given to Association for Retarded Citizens of Washington County from Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy to start Citizen Advocacy Program. Sue Moser hired as Coordinator. Office located in St. Joseph’s Hospital
June 1982 – August 1987
Ran Self-Advocacy project with separate grants. Various staff hired. Susan Goebel stays on after grants to be first Assistant Coordinator until April 1988.
January 1984
Incorporated as a non-profit organization
April 1986
Office relocated to larger space in Lakeland Title Insurance office building on E. Washington Avenue, West Bend.
April 1988 – July 1990
Sandy Olson hired as Assistant Program Coordinator
February 1989
First External evaluation of Citizen Advocacy
July 1990
Grant from Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy made staff expansion possible.
July 1990 – December 1994
Lynn Zemlicka, Assistant Program Coordinator
August 1990 – December 1991
Susan Maurer- Office Manager (Up to this time job training people or secretarial trainees were assisting in the office)
December 1991
Jan Downs hired as Officer Manager
June 1992
Office relocated to Marth Real Estate Building on N 6th Avenue, West Bend
February 1993
External evaluation done
June 1993
Office relocated to 139 S. 6th Avenue, West Bend
October 1994
Relationship Review done
December 1994 to March 1996
Deb Anderson hired as Program Coordinator
March 1996 to February 1998
Deb Anderson becomes Executive Director
February 1998 to April 2000
Re-organization of internal structure--Deb Anderson resigns as Executive Director and acts only as Program Coordinator. Jan Downs takes over all administrative duties, and becomes Administrator
April 2000 to November 2001
Lisa Beringer hired as Executive Director/Program Coordinator---Jan Downs – Office Administrator
January 2002
Lynn Zemlicka hired as Program Coordinator
April 2002
Susan Kaczmarek hired as Executive Director
September 2002
Lisa Pulte hired as Program Coordinator
April 2003
David Slinde hired as Executive Director
September 2003
Office relocated to 1702 W. Washington Street, West Bend
October 2004
Jan Downs resigns as Office Administrator --Mark Brunner hired as Executive Director
December 2004
S.W.O.T. analysis provides a more secure direction for Citizen Advocacy program.
February 2005
Non-profit Management Fund matching grant for $3,000 gives Citizen Advocacy opportunity to upgrade office computer system.
May 2005
Office relocated to 120 N Main St. Ste. 350, West Bend
July 2005
Received grant from Greater Milwaukee Foundation to fund the SST program
October 2005
Tracy Elver hired as Assistant Program Coordinator
November 2005
CA 400 Business to Community Program launched
June 2006
Received second year funding grant from Greater Milwaukee Foundation to fund the SST program
July 2006
Lisa Pulte leaves as Program Coordinator
September 2006
Sarah Johnson join the CA staff as Program Coordinator
October 2006
Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger, founder of Citizen Advocacy, headlines our Annual Dinner and non-profit, board workshop
November 2006
Jenny Spieth joins the CA staff as our new Community Activist
December 2006
Citizen Advocacy of Washington County made its 2007 goal of 7 matches in the course of the year
February 2007
The the first time ever, Citizen Advocacy of Washington County increases its working list to 10 partners
May 2007
Second annual Citizens’ Ball auction exceeds all previous auctions by 43%.
August 2007
Citizen Advocacy of Washington County notified it will receive Year 3 of SST grant.
September 2007
Community Activist, Jenny Spieth, leaves.
October 2007
Kristie Haecker, Sarah Jones, Pat Strachota, Cheryl Starling join the board.
Gerry Lofy and LynnDee Murphy leave the board after serving three full terms.
Lynn Mueller leaves the board after one term.
December 2007
The Citizen Advocacy matching program announces 7 matches for 2007.
February 2008
Deb Wilke joins our CA board. Board membership stands at 9 for the first time in two years.
April 2008
Graham Wiemer and Dr. Krysti Wick join our CA board. Membership now stands at 11 for the first time since 1985.
April 2008
Sarah Johnson, Program Coordinator, announces that she will be moving to Rockford, IL. Sarah achieved 13 matches in the 18 months she was with our CA program. Community Activist, Jessica Frederick becomes interim Program Coordinator.
April 2008
The Citizens’ Ball is a great success and over 240 guests attend. Our fundraising goals are exceeded by 13%.
June 2008
The West Bend Mutual Charitable Trust becomes a sustaining supporter of our CA program.
August 2008
Jessica Frederick becomes our Program Coordinator.
September 2008
Michael Laird joins our CA board as our 12th member.
December 2008
Community Partners Pilot Program begins at Kewaskum High School.
February 2009
Miles Severson joins our board of directors. For the first time we now have 12 directors on the board.
May 2009
The last Citizens' Ball is held in Hartford, WI.
November 2009
Kewaskum Community Partners Program graduates from Pilot to Ongoing.
November 2009
Sexual Abuse workshop, sponsored by Community Memorial Hospital and hosted by West Bend Mutual attended by 25 community professionals and members.
February 2010
Nancy Baker joins CA Board of Directors. Sarah retires after serving 3 terms.
May 2010
First Gala – Dancing For A Difference takes place in Hartford, WI.
October 2010
Our 32nd Annual Dinner takes place at West Bend Mutual. Investors of the Year are Gerry and Joy Zeidler. Volunteer of the Year is Nancy Baker.
November 2010
CA announces the closing of our 120 N. Main Street offices and a pending move to the Cornerstone Church Building on Hickory and Main in downtown West Bend.
March 2011
Ryan Hetzel, director and past President of our Board of Directors, retires after three terms. Ryan is replaced by Cheri Lindstedt, Westbury Bank, West Bend.
March 2011
Community Partners program expands to West Bend East and West High Schools.
April 2011
Citizen Advocacy moves its offices from the 120 N. Main Street, West Bend (Centrum Building) to 102 S. Main, (Our Place), West Bend. Citizen Advocacy also establishes an Executive Office in Kewaskum.
May 2011
2nd Annual Gala–Dancing For A Difference in Hartford, WI.
June 2011
Citizen Advocacy launches its new Community Connections program in Washington County.
July 2011
The Board of Directors begins a Branding Research program aimed at amending our mission statement and, possibly, changing the program name. Pointer Marketing of West Bend is hired to do the research.
October 2011
Citizen Advocacy holds its 34th Annual Meeting at Moraine Park Technical College, West Bend.
November 2011
The Board of Directors votes officially to change the Program Mission Statement to: "Our mission is to create relationships which make a positive difference in the lives of persons with disabilities." This change opens the program to "all" disabilities.
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Citizen Advocacy of Wa. Co. | 102 S. Main Street, PO BOX 582 | West Bend, WI 53095 | P: 262-334-3384
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