Big Hearts Helping Little Hearts: Inside Helping Hearts Child Advocacy Center
By Tracy Christopher on Thursday, March 26th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY — Helping Hearts Child Advocacy Center may be one of Wallowa County’s best-kept secrets—but it’s a place many local children are deeply grateful exists.
Founded in 2014, Helping Hearts was created so that children who have experienced abuse don’t have to relive their trauma over and over. Instead of telling their story multiple times to different adults, kids come to Helping Hearts for what’s called a forensic interview.
“There is a point in every interview where the kiddo, if they disclose, kind of takes a deep breath and lets it go,” explained Erin Taggart, the center’s director. “To me, it’s always that first little step in healing.”
In that interview, a specially trained forensic interviewer talks with the child one-on-one in a comfortable, home-like room stocked with their favorite snacks and drinks. Meanwhile, law enforcement, child protective services (CPS), the District Attorney’s office, and other team members watch remotely, so the child doesn’t have to repeat their story again and again.
Helping Hearts’ core services include:
- Forensic interviews
- Family advocacy
- Medical evaluations
- Mental health support and referrals
The center’s designated medical provider, Dr. Emily Knudsen, is known for her dedication, often coming in at all hours of the night when a child needs to be seen.
The team stresses that their work is about more than one appointment. Their advocates walk alongside non-offending caregivers and children as long as they’re needed—helping with court support, basic needs like food and gas, transportation to services, and ongoing emotional support.
“We work around the kids,” said Ashley Immoos, the lead family advocate. “If they don’t want to miss school, they don’t miss school. If they’re ready to talk at midnight, we talk at midnight.”
Behind the scenes, Helping Hearts is supported by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes law enforcement, the DA’s office, CPS, schools, and other community partners. The MDT meets twice a month to review cases and coordinate services, making sure no child or family falls through the cracks.
The team says they don’t want big numbers: the goal is always prevention. But when abuse does happen, they want every child to know there is a safe place—with caring adults ready to listen—right here in Wallowa County.
