Isabel's House Executive Director Dottie Mullikin has exited her post, less than six months after she took the lead of the Junior League of Springfield children’s crisis nursery.
Mullikin, who had most recently served as director of prevention for the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the first director of the Mental Health First Aid public education program, was hired in September as the third executive director of Isabel's House since its 2007 inception.
The Ozarks native succeeded two-year director Francine Pratt, who took a position with Drury University in mid-2012.
Isabel's House board member and past-President Stephanie Stenger Montgomery said Mullikin exited the position in early March.
Montgomery, an attorney and president and CEO of Springfield Land LP, declined to comment on the circumstances of Mullikin's exit, citing confidential personnel policy. Junior League President Pam Leggett-Lutes declined to comment, and efforts to contact Mullikin were unsuccessful.
Isabel's House board President-Elect Sandy Howard, vice president of public affairs for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, declined to say whether the nonprofit's board took a vote on the issue.
"We are very pleased with the job she did for us, and we're sorry to see her go," Montgomery said. "She was instrumental in getting us back on track."
Montgomery pointed to Mullikin's advocacy work in Jefferson City, specifically her role in the renewal of the Children in Crisis Tax Credit. The program - to be renamed the Champion for Children tax credit in honor of former Sen. Norma Champion - benefits crisis nurseries, child advocacy centers and court-appointed advocates. It is one of several benevolent tax credit programs up for extension or renewal via Senate bills 20, 15 and 19, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, and handled by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, in the House. The
legislation was passed to the governor's desk March 14.
Last month during Springfield Business Journal's 12 People You Need to Know series, Mullikin spoke about her commitment to Isabel's House and her mission to fight child abuse and neglect.
"We've got to get this community unafraid of talking about child abuse and neglect," Mullikin said Feb. 19.
Isabel's House Program Manager JaeLeann Velten is serving as executive director of the nonprofit in the interim, Montgomery said, noting the board of directors has formed a committee to perform a regional search. The job vacancy also has been posted on
IsabelsHouse.org. Among the job requirements is a minimum of five years of managerial experience.
With an annual operating budget of $900,000 and a staff of 36, Isabel's House serves roughly 550 children a year and counsels about 350 parents. The house, 2750 W. Bennett St., is equipped with 20 beds and a staff to care for 12 children at all times, according to
SBJ archives.
