YOU are truly helping our community thrive. I have seen the effect quality, compassionate care has on individuals, families, and communities. As CEO, I am so grateful to see the transformations possible for those who receive services at Lena Pope. This month during Child Abuse Prevention Month, our focus is on prevention as well as healing for our clients who have experienced abuse.
As a therapist who specialized in traumatic child abuse, I have witnessed firsthand the devastation of child abuse. I have also seen the resilience possible with the right support and resources. Treatment introduces new skills, newfound hope, and a renewed belief that one can not only survive, but thrive.
There are many treatment modalities that provide positive results for clients who have experienced trauma. The research is clear: trauma alters functional pathways in the brain. The good news is, research also tells us our brains can change and adapt with new experiences. We are capable of recovering and becoming even STRONGER than before the traumatic event. With interventions like EMDR and other trauma-informed practices, we can help children and families in our community move toward healing. Just like healing from a broken bone, this work is crucial for healthy functioning later in life. Thank you for caring so deeply about those in need of support!
I believe we can each play a role in ensuring every child and every family in our community has a strong support system to bolster them during difficult times. A strong support system is one piece of child abuse prevention. We can provide those supports by responding when someone asks for help and standing together in solidarity.
Respond when someone asks for help
We all need help. Life is challenging, parenting is difficult, and we are all human. Rally around those in your life. Ask them if they’re ok, and find ways to provide tangible support. Small acts like dropping off a few groceries, a note to say I’m thinking about you, or offering a judgement-free space for a friend to talk can all lead to a feeling of connection instead of isolation. Creating that connection can open a door for you to offer additional resources, like Lena Pope.
Stand in solidarity
Join us this month to take a stand. Let your community know you care by wearing blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month, placing a pinwheel in your yard in honor of child abuse survivors, talk to the kids in your life about safety, volunteer, or donate to a local nonprofit. While many individuals in our community have experienced abuse, that is not the end of their story. They each have a beautiful life, and the transformations I have seen with my own eyes are humbling.
Thank you for being a community who is involved, who looks for the good, and who supports children and families on their paths to healing.
Ashley Elgin, Ph.D.
CEO, Lena Pope