Post by rambabe on Nov 10, 2009 19:42:04 GMT -5
E-mail from Stephanie via Safe Horizon:
Sent By:
"Stephanie March" <safehorizon@safehorizon.org> On: Nov 11/10/09 11:01 AM
My name is Stephanie March and heaven knows I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I have a happy and healthy family, a roof over my head, a job I love, and food on my table. But to add to that remarkable list I have this: I am thankful for Xander’s rescue from abuse.
Xander
Xander has speech and developmental delays, but he knew the way his foster father touched and hurt him was wrong. After telling a friend (who told a concerned teacher) about the abuse, Xander was led to Safe Horizon’s Child Advocacy Center. At Safe Horizon’s CAC Xander immediately began to receive the treatment that makes these centers so special and so important.
You see, Safe Horizon has created Child Advocacy Centers to gather a team of the most experienced professionals under one roof to deal with the most severe cases of child abuse. This will ensure that these cases are dealt with swiftly and effectively to minimize the trauma to the child. Everything happens under one roof in a timely and caring fashion. The police from the Special Victims Unit (SVU), the child protective services agent, an assistant district attorney, and clinical forensic specialists from Safe Horizon gather to discuss how to ensure that Xander will get the best possible care under very critical circumstances.
He was greeted by a Safe Horizon professional who gave him a snack and led him to a playroom filled with toys. Xander was so excited! While Xander played, there were serious discussions going on beyond the walls of the room. The team knew they needed to help Xander, and to do that they needed to encourage Xander to open up. Because of Xander’s limited speaking abilities, they understood they faced a challenge in getting the little boy to tell his story. The team turned to Safe Horizon’s clinical forensic specialists to help Xander find a way to communicate through this process.
The specialist understood Xander was anxious, in addition to having speech issues. The specialist approached Xander gently, building up a rapport with him, until Xander finally felt comfortable enough to repeat the things he’d told his classmate.
Xander’s life was changed for the better through this process. Because he was able to describe his abuse in detail, the detectives were able to arrest his foster father, and child protection services opened an investigation on the family. Xander was quickly removed from the home and placed with a new foster mother who showed him love and support, and who made sure she and Xander attended every counseling session at Safe Horizon so Xander would once again feel secure and safe. Xander is now thriving and happy.
But … what if there was not a Child Advocacy Center? What if there was no Safe Horizon?
Safe Horizon is here to help children like Xander. It’s through your compassion and your support that Child Advocacy Centers continue to help these children. Because of you, Safe Horizon can offer food, clothing, and toys to children, and also give them the valuable professional resources they need to find justice. Because of you, more than 3,000 children a year find the support they need to help them heal and recover from abuse and violence.
This Thanksgiving, help me give an incredible gift to children like Xander. Give them something to be thankful for -- a place like Safe Horizon.
Donate Now
Sent By:
"Stephanie March" <safehorizon@safehorizon.org> On: Nov 11/10/09 11:01 AM
My name is Stephanie March and heaven knows I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I have a happy and healthy family, a roof over my head, a job I love, and food on my table. But to add to that remarkable list I have this: I am thankful for Xander’s rescue from abuse.
Xander
Xander has speech and developmental delays, but he knew the way his foster father touched and hurt him was wrong. After telling a friend (who told a concerned teacher) about the abuse, Xander was led to Safe Horizon’s Child Advocacy Center. At Safe Horizon’s CAC Xander immediately began to receive the treatment that makes these centers so special and so important.
You see, Safe Horizon has created Child Advocacy Centers to gather a team of the most experienced professionals under one roof to deal with the most severe cases of child abuse. This will ensure that these cases are dealt with swiftly and effectively to minimize the trauma to the child. Everything happens under one roof in a timely and caring fashion. The police from the Special Victims Unit (SVU), the child protective services agent, an assistant district attorney, and clinical forensic specialists from Safe Horizon gather to discuss how to ensure that Xander will get the best possible care under very critical circumstances.
He was greeted by a Safe Horizon professional who gave him a snack and led him to a playroom filled with toys. Xander was so excited! While Xander played, there were serious discussions going on beyond the walls of the room. The team knew they needed to help Xander, and to do that they needed to encourage Xander to open up. Because of Xander’s limited speaking abilities, they understood they faced a challenge in getting the little boy to tell his story. The team turned to Safe Horizon’s clinical forensic specialists to help Xander find a way to communicate through this process.
The specialist understood Xander was anxious, in addition to having speech issues. The specialist approached Xander gently, building up a rapport with him, until Xander finally felt comfortable enough to repeat the things he’d told his classmate.
Xander’s life was changed for the better through this process. Because he was able to describe his abuse in detail, the detectives were able to arrest his foster father, and child protection services opened an investigation on the family. Xander was quickly removed from the home and placed with a new foster mother who showed him love and support, and who made sure she and Xander attended every counseling session at Safe Horizon so Xander would once again feel secure and safe. Xander is now thriving and happy.
But … what if there was not a Child Advocacy Center? What if there was no Safe Horizon?
Safe Horizon is here to help children like Xander. It’s through your compassion and your support that Child Advocacy Centers continue to help these children. Because of you, Safe Horizon can offer food, clothing, and toys to children, and also give them the valuable professional resources they need to find justice. Because of you, more than 3,000 children a year find the support they need to help them heal and recover from abuse and violence.
This Thanksgiving, help me give an incredible gift to children like Xander. Give them something to be thankful for -- a place like Safe Horizon.
Donate Now