Kids At Risk Action History

KIDS AT RISK ACTION / KARA / INVISIBLE CHILDREN HISTORY

• 1994 DAVID STRAND SWORN IN AS A COURT-APPOINTED HENNEPIN COUNTY CASA VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM (ACTIVE TO 1997)
• 1996 MIKE TIKKANEN SWORN IN AS A HENNEPIN COUNTY COURT-APPOINTED CASA VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN AD LITEM (ACTIVE TO 2012)
• 1998 INITIAL INVISIBLE CHILDREN/KARA BOARD FORMATION MEETINGS
• 1999 INVISIBLE CHILDREN BOOK PROJECT BEGAN
• 2000 INVISIBLECHILDREN.ORG FOUNDED BY ACTIVE CASA GUARDIAN AD LITEM VOLUNTEERS MIKE AND DAVID, + BOB OLSON, LARRY WALKER & JOE MCCARTHY
• 2001 REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS BEGAN TO OUTLINE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
• 2002 LAUNCHED PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR INVISIBLE CHILDREN, CHILD PROTECTION & CHILD ABUSE TO METRO CHURCHES & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
• 2003 PRESENTATION TO WOMEN’S PRISON WARDEN ANNUAL CONFERENCE BLOOMINGTON MN
• 2004 INTRODUCTION TO DR DAVID MCCOLLUM – A FOUNDING MEMBER OF AVAHEALTH.ORG (ACADAMY ON VIOLENCE AND ABUSE)
• 2005 2005 INVISIBLE CHILDREN BOOK PUBLISHED
• 2006 HARMONEY AWARD FROM BETHEL COLLEGE FOR COMMUNITY EFFORTS
• 2006 FIRST MONTHLY PRINTED NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE CREATOR ARTROPOLIS BUILDS INITIAL INVISIBLECHILDREN.ORG WEBSITE
• 2007 RECEIVED IRS 501C3 NONPROFIT CERTIFICATION
• 2007 PRESENTION AT UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSEMBLY  IN NEW YORK.
• 2008 BRUTAL TRUTHS AND BEST PRACTICES PUBLIC FORUM CENTURY COLLEGE
• 2009 KARA’S FIRST FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
• 2010 MIKE BECOMES A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF CASAMN
• 2011 KARA PRESENTATION AT INDIANA FOSTER CARE AFTER GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
• 2012 RENO CASA ANNUAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
• 2013 MIKE AND DAVID BECOME FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF CHILDREN NONPROFIT (now CASA CARES)
• 2015 INTERVIEWS FOR TPT FILM DOCUMENTARY PARTNERSHIP
• 2016 METRO POLICE CHIEF HARRINGTON/PRESENTATIONS CRYSTAL POLICE & MULTIPLE SUBURBAN ROTARIES
• 2017 ONE THOUSAND BLOG AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLE MILESTONE REACHED
• 2018 250 PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS REACHED &
• 2019 DESIGN AND 2019 LAUNCH OF INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS – ST CLOUD STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL WORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE
•  2021 FIRST TWO FINLIT PEER GROUP PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHED
• 2021 LAUNCHED ONLINE BOOK DRAFT OF AMERICAN CHILDREN IN 100 CHARTS (WORKING TITLE)
• 2021 ENGAGED RIIPEN FOR COLLEGE RESEARCH/WRITING VOLUNTEERS TO DISCOVER HARD-TO-FIND INFORMATION.
• 2021 PORTAGES MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
• 2022 THIRD FIN LIT PEER GROUP LAUNCHED
• 2022-24MULTIPLE INVISIBLE CHILDREN CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS Metro State College, Dakota County Community College, Wellstone Center
• 2023 LAUNCH OF CASA FREE GOOGLE AD GRANT PROGRAM
• 2024, WISCONSIN CASA CONFERENCE PRESENTATION & CASAMN SIGNED ON TO GOOGLE AD GRANT PROGRAM
• 2025 LAUNCHING PROGRAM FOR AN INTERACTIVE AI DRIVEN NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE & CHILD PROTECTION INFORMATION & SOLUTIONS PLATFORM
• 2025 AMERICA’S CHILDREN IN 100 CHARTS BOOK SENT TO AGENT