Reducing Child Abuse by Strengthening Families
Community Family Guidance Center Receives $25,000 Grant from Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center to Expand Programs
The Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center has granted $25,000 to Community Family Guidance Center to support our Parenting Program for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. This program seeks to increase family communication, improve relationships, reduce parental stress, and teach effective limit setting, with the overall goal of decreasing the risk of child abuse & neglect and reducing behavioral problems in families.
Among the population of children served at the Center, 41% act out in school or at home due to disruptive and defiant disorders, while parents do not have access to the services they need to learn how to effectively deal with these issues. In addition, in 2009 in southeast LA County (where we provides the majority of their services) there were 18,094 referrals for child abuse and neglect. These factors paint a picture of a population in need of support and education services to help strengthen families and ensure happy, healthy childhoods.
With the grant provided by Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, the Center’s Parenting Program will use a whole-family approach to help parents and children achieve their goals of improving family relationships and decreasing the risk of abuse and neglect. Free parent and child group sessions will be held weekly and offered in either English or Spanish. In addition, all participants will receive short-term individual, couples, and family counseling and will have the opportunity to work with case managers to learn how to access community resources.
This will be the second year the Center has offered this program. Past participants have expressed their appreciation for the education and peer-support they receive in the groups, and have reported fewer family arguments and children behaving more responsibly. In this next round of sessions, the Center hopes to help increase parent satisfaction in their own parenting skills, parent-child communication skills, and parents’ ability to set limits with their children.
The Center is collaborating with the Downey Unified, ABC Unified, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Bellflower Unified School Districts, which will provide referrals and space to conduct the programs.
For more information about the Center and the Parenting Program funded by Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, please contact the Center’s Director of Development, Marcia Salvary, at (562) 924-5526.
Child Abuse: The Problem That Still Hasn’t Gone Away
Recently it seems every time we open the newspaper or turn on the television, another horrific case of child abuse is reported – some of them in our very own backyard. Last year 167,723 child abuse and neglect cases were reported in Los Angeles County and on average about 25,000 are confirmed each year – and tragically about one-third are children five years old and younger. Even one child is too many but 25,000 in one community alone is an epidemic.
Far too many children will lose their innocence and face life-long emotional damage from this trauma. Child abuse and neglect can cause low self-esteem, aggression, developmental delays, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Children who have been abused are at higher risk of using drugs or alcohol, teen pregnancy, and juvenile delinquency, negatively affecting their relationships with friends and family, how they do in school, and how they function as adults – including how they treat their own children one day.
But this widespread problem doesn’t have to be hopeless when communities like ours come together to make a difference. During Child Abuse Prevention Month in April we’ll be raising awareness about child abuse and asking for your help in reaching our goal of reducing the number of children who ever have to go through this trauma. On May 21, 2012 we’ll be holding our 22nd Annual Golf Classic to support our Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse. Won’t you join us? Your support will help us reach our goal of raising $50,000 from this event to benefit our programs for child abuse prevention, education, and treatment.
For example, our “Safety Bear” program provides educational presentations to elementary school children to teach them what child abuse is, how to protect themselves from it, and what to do if it does happen. The related “Safety Bear Cares” program provides free short-term counseling to parents for whom the Safety Bear presentations bring up their own history of abuse or domestic violence and who realize their history may be affecting their parenting. We also provide ongoing counseling to children at the Center to help them deal with the trauma and mental health issues caused by abuse and neglect. By addressing child abuse at every stage of the cycle, we aim to help those who have already been abused and prevent further abuse – and with your help we can make this a reality.
We are currently seeking sponsors, golfers, and raffle prize donors to support the Golf Classic. For more information and to register, visit http://2012cfgcgolf.eventbrite.com or contact Marcia Salvary, Director of Development, at (562) 924-5526.
By Gordon Capp, LCSW – Outpatient Therapist, Prevention Programs Coordinator
Back to school. Do these words make you excited? Afraid? Worried? While there is the promise of new things to learn and new opportunities, there is also the threat of difficulties and judgment. Students are judged on their academic abilities, their test scores, their handwriting, their ability to get the right answers – and the ability to make friends and get along with other kids. We know they want to fit in, to have friends, and not to be teased, bullied, or belittled.
Just like adults do when we go to work, students want to feel successful at school. Every day there are students who dread going to school because they fear being bullied. Maybe someone makes fun of their clothes or the way they look, or their grades. Maybe other kids exclude them from the lunch tables or from social events, and spread rumors. Either way, kids can begin to feel hopeless and depressed. If you felt this strongly about your workplace, would you go to work? Would you do your best work?
Community Family Guidance Center’s bully program began many years ago in response to our local school districts’ desire to help students deal with bullying. Still, bullying is a constant worry for kids, parents and schools, and so we continue to look for the best ways to help students feel better about going to school, and have better relationships with people they encounter. We provide our programs to elementary schools, and a few middle schools, in five local school districts: ABC, Bellflower, Little Lake, Paramount, and Norwalk/La Mirada.
Our program has two components this year. First, we have a class presentation that we deliver to individual classrooms. In our short time with the kids we provide a variety of information designed to teach students how to deal with bullying, including sharing definitions of what bullying and cyberbullying are; giving students ways to solve problems and difficult situations; teaching them to control their own reactions to bullying situations; giving them tips for coping with stress and frustration; assisting them to identify people who can help and support them; and hopefully helping them feel better about going to school.
Second, we are piloting a program this year with one of our schools that is a “whole school intervention.” This means that every classroom in the school is working through the same curriculum to help students develop their ability to solve problems, make friends, and boost their self confidence. When these things are all happening, we know there are fewer problems with bullying!
Teachers tell us that our program is important, and that they are thankful we share this information with their students. Many schools contact us every year to work with their students, and this is our encouragement to continue our work. We recently did our first presentation of the school year and presented to 300 sixth-graders. We look forward to seeing even more familiar schools and teachers this year, and new places as well. We appreciate the dedication of teachers, principals, parents and students to look out for each other and work to keep kids safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
Want to hear more? Have questions? Call me or email me: (562) 924-5526 or gcapp@cfgcenter.com.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To learn more, visit our Facebook (www.facebook.com/communityfamilyguidancecenter) or Twitter (twitter.com/cfgcenter)
Easy Ways to Support the Center
Did you know you can support the Community Family Guidance Center just through the everyday activities you do already? Shop at Ralphs and a percentage of your purchases can be donated to the Center; and use GoodSearch as your regular search engine and the Center can receive quarterly donations! The donations we receive will be used to support programs and services at the Center, such as child abuse prevention, education, and treatment programs and counseling for at-risk children and families in LA County (visit our website for more information: www.cfgcenter.com). See below for more information.
Shop at Ralph’s and Help Support the Community Family Guidance Center
It’s easy! If you already shop at Ralph’s with a Ralph’s Club Card, all you have to do is register your card online and link it to the Community Family Guidance Center. If you don’t have a Club Card, you can sign up for free at any Ralph’s store to take advantage of their discounts and support the Center.
On a quarterly basis Ralph’s will send CFGC a check based on a percentage of qualifying purchases.
How to Sign Up:
1) If you already have a Ralph’s Club Card, go to the Ralph’s Community Contributions website. You’ll need to have your Club Card number ready (if you use your phone number at the register and don’t know your Club Card number, call 1-800-660-9003 and ask for all the digits of your number).
2. In the “Participant” section at the bottom of the page click on “Enroll.”
3. If you already have a Ralphs.com account, sign in. If you don’t have a Ralphs.com account, take five minutes to create one.
4. Once you’ve signed in, scroll down to “Community Rewards” and enter CFGC’s Nonprofit Organization Number: 84745.
5. Follow any further directions and start supporting the Community Family Guidance Center!
6. Within 7-10 business days, you will see at the bottom of your Ralphs receipt: “At your request, Ralphs is donating to “Community Family Guidance Center.”
Raise Money for the Center While Doing Your Everyday Web Searches
GoodSearch is a search engine powered by Yahoo that allows us to collect donations every time you do a web search or shop online!
1) Download the GoodSearch toolbar and use that to do searches from any website just like you would use a Google or Yahoo search box; or search directly from the website after selecting “Community Family Guidance Center.” Every time you do a search half of the advertising revenue (about a penny per search) will go towards the Community Family Guidance Center! Since it’s powered by Yahoo your results will be just as good as using your regular search engine.
This is what the toolbar will look like:
2) Use GoodShop.com to shop at hundreds of stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy’s, and Barnes & Noble and 30% of each purchase will be donated to the Center.
How Much Can We Raise With Your Support?
- With 100 supporters searching and shopping we could receive $2,230 a year;
- With 1,000 supporters we could receive $22,300 a year!
Thank you for your support!
The Road Less Traveled
The Story of One Family’s Journey Through Trauma and Back
By Jyoti Patel, MFT; Outpatient Therapist
When I first started at CFGC, I was given the opportunity to work in our Intensive Outpatient Program, that includes a wonderful team of therapists; and the support and excellent clinical guidance of my supervisor and program manager, Tracy Schmidt, LCSW. This is the story of one of the many children who have thrived in this program.
Before coming to treatment, Robert* had experienced a tremendous amount of severe trauma: exposure to drugs and alcohol while in the womb, experiencing many forms of abuse after birth and throughout life, as well as numerous changes in home and school placements due to behavior problems. He had just started first grade and was about to lose yet another home placement when a loving, kind, but unprepared family opened their arms and home to him. The parents, John and Laura,* were informed that if this placement did not work out, the next stop for Robert would be a group home. For Robert and his new family, “two roads diverged in the woods.”
John and Laura allowed me to be in their home numerous times a week and to walk beside them as they traveled this long and difficult road. It was a very dark and scary time for Robert; he trusted no one, had no friends, and no place was safe, not even home. His focus was narrow: survival. This exhibited itself in intensive behavioral outbursts.
I provided the family with support, pointed out strengths of both Robert and his adoptive family, and explored the effects of trauma on every aspect of development, attachment, and how these issues present themselves behaviorally. They readily accepted that Robert was not a bad or odd child, but a traumatized child. Even though it was at times exhausting for John and Laura, they worked hard during therapy to build a safe and secure relationship with Robert. Together we created a plan to manage destructive behaviors, while Robert worked through some of the trauma through play, a safe therapeutic relationship, and through exposure to this safe family and home environment.
During this time, I helped John, Laura, and Robert to access various services through school to address the speech, behavioral, and academic difficulties which came about as a result of the trauma. We also provided medication management and crisis intervention so the family was surrounded by support. Over time they needed less support and gained many skills to help Robert to the point of eventually needing to be seen only once a week. After two years of hard work, Robert was able to take a break in treatment and was officially a member of his new family.
Every time there was a bend in the road that was a little too overwhelming for Robert, they returned to CFGC for a “brief sprint” of therapy to help smooth the path. Each time, the length of treatment was shorter and shorter as the family gained more skills. Robert is now a teenager who by the end of this last sprint in treatment exhibits no behavioral outbursts, is a very witty young person who is more often than not laughing and smiling. Robert is a kind and open spirit is beloved by teachers, is now connected to friends and family, and is beginning to feel safer in the community. Though changes in the road and new people may continue to make him a little anxious, the road is brighter, open, full of possibilities, and made safer by a home, school, and community that cares.
I thank Robert, John, and Laura for allowing me to walk beside them during this difficult and joyful journey, because you see for this family two roads diverged in a wood, they took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference!
* Names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality
For more information about Community Family Guidance Center go to http://www.cfgcenter.com/ and check out our 2011 Summer Newsletter at http://www.cfgcenter.com/progress-reports/cfgc-newsletter.
America’s Night Out Against Crime
August 2 is America’s Night Out Against Crime, a day designed to bring together neighborhoods and communities to support crime prevention efforts and strengthen relationships within communities. This annual event was started 28 years ago by the National Association of Town Watch. According to the event website (http://bit.ly/HExco), America’s Night Out Against Crime was formed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Over 15,500 communities are expected to participate this year with block parties, parades, exhibits, flashlight walks, visits from local police departments, and youth programs, along with the traditional display of outside and front porch lights. Visit http://bit.ly/qHabss to find a local Night Out Against Crime activity, or organize your own.
Some local events:
Cerritos, CA: http://bit.ly/n1Jdtg
Bellflower, CA: http://bit.ly/oVYM7e
Whittier, CA: http://bit.ly/rkkHVG
Mid City West, Los Angeles: http://bit.ly/o0LpRz
Foundation Board being sworn in
On Thursday, June 9 at 6:00pm, the Community Family Guidance Center and CFGC Foundation held the annual Board Installation & Donor Awards
Dinner. This year’s event took place at the Clearwater Building in Paramount, and was graciously hosted by the City of Paramount.
This annual event brings together board members, donors, community
supporters, and elected officials to recognize the hard work put in by the two boards over the year, and to appreciate the support of donors. It is because of the dedication of board members and donors that the Center is able to
provide ongoing mental health and child abuse prevention & treatment
services to children and families in southeast Los Angeles County.
This year neither board had outgoing or incoming officers, so both boards were re-installed. Also recognized were Ivana Royse and Mary Crawford, Center Board members who stepped down in the last year; and Jane Finley, a new Center Board member this year. Former Mayor of Norwalk Gordon
Stefenhagen administered the installation oaths for the boards.
Community Family Guidance Center Board for 2011-2012:
President: George Ray
President-Elect: Dr. Robert Hughlett
Secretary: Jim Edwards
Members: Tammy Cannon, Victoria Casanas, Joy Darling, Amy Dominguez, Jane Finley, Roger Garrett, Larry Good, Jose Iglesias, Ellen Latino,
Kathleen Lovell, Marilou Mirkovich, Vince Torres, Joseph Vicente
CFGC Foundation Board for 2011-2012:
Chairperson: Dr. Robert Hughlett
Vice-Chairperson: Vince Torres
Secretary: Jim Edwards
Treasurer: Richard Murase
Members: Zaheer Ahmed, Joanna Blake, George Dominguez, Louise Dodson, Pam Hickok, Maynard Law, Ray Lovell, Jim Parker, George Ray,
Susan Searey, Leslie Wind
