Annual Report 2014-2015

ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOARD OF AND BOARD PRESIDENT Every week The Children’s Center staff fields calls support staff keeps the agency running smoothly; and the TRUSTEES from parents and caregivers anxious to get help for their Administrative team ensures the quality of care that every young child. For over 50 years, we have been a support family receives. In addition, we are incredibly proud of our 2014-2015 for children and families, but more recently, these referrals Board of Directors, a devoted group of caring professionals have become more complex and create a tapestry of the who freely offer their time and expertise strengthening The issues facing young families today. Many of the parents Children’s Center and helping raise over $1 million from the Davis Mullholand, Chair Mikelle Moore, Vice Chair are understandably upset because their child has just been community annually. Then there is that last crucial part of the Brent Moore, Treasurer expelled from preschool. Some are anxious to have their village; you, and all the supporters like you, help make our Forrest McNabb, Secretary child evaluated because they are worried about a possible mission possible every day. The passion of the staff, Board, Adria Swindle, Member-At-Large diagnosis of autism. An ever-increasing group is calling, and our community drives us to work together to make The THE CHILDREN’S Nancy Hogarty Baker, past Chair frantic for help because their child has witnessed domestic Children’s Center the outstanding agency that it is today. CENTER PROVIDES Sue Alder violence, or is struggling with We are especially COMPREHENSIVE Bill Ball the catastrophic loss of a “If parenting is feeling more distressing proud of the fact that our Jennifer Barlow parent. We are often asked than pleasurable, the family should be treatments are making real MENTAL HEALTH CARE Julie Brown to define who The Children’s receiving our compassionate, professional differences in the lives of our TO ENHANCE THE Amy Gallivan Damico Center helps. And while the families. Our outcome data Amy de la Garza help at The Children’s Center.” EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING behaviors and problems have demonstrates that children Craig Dunford changed over time, our answer remains, “We help families are less anxious and less aggressive. Families are feeling OF INFANTS, TODDLERS, Tina Faust with young children who are struggling with emotional and closer and are less stressed. And the parents we see are PRESCHOOLERS, AND Kay Hall Nicole Hemingway behavioral problems.” But it is critical to understand that it’s reporting that they are now able to manage their children THEIR FAMILIES. George Hofmann not always the most aggressive child, the most traumatized and enjoy more positive time together. In the next few pages Linda Laughlin child, or a child struggling with autism. Some children are you will read the personal stories of families who have Yi-Li Edee Lin referred because they are having a hard time learning to benefitted from our services. We are grateful to them for their Jenny Mackenzie speak. Some are wetting the bed and have a difficult time willingness to share their experiences as they bring to light Elisabeth McOmber toilet training. Others have temper tantrums and are hurting the very real issues confronting the families we treat. Jeremy Miller younger siblings. In general, we believe that if parenting is As always, we are forever mindful that we simply Tatiana Miller feeling more distressing than pleasurable, the family should could not do all of this great work without the support of John T. Nielsen be receiving our compassionate, professional help at The our friends and donors. Your generosity is a very real part Robert Rendón Children’s Center. Our incredibly talented team of clinicians of the progress our families enjoy. We hope that you fully Mick Routledge is extraordinarily well-trained to help manage mild to severe appreciate the difference that you help us make in the lives Sandra Sweetland emotional problems confronting families with young children. of the young children who need our help. Paul Allen Thompson Standing behind each and every family receiving help With our profound gratitude, Alexandra Von Maack Karen Weiss is our own TCC village: internally we have a professional team of experts that includes our clinicians, our Therapeutic Preschool Specialists and our Bus Drivers; the office Douglas Goldsmith, Ph.D. Davis Mullholand 1 HELPING PARENTS CONNECT WITH BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES THEIR CHILDREN Autism Program – Play2Learn Trauma Program for Families with Young Children The Children’s Center receives between five and ten been focusing on what I needed to change or fix, Lori filled This past year 328 children with a trauma history “When our adopted baby was six months old, and her referrals every week from parents who are concerned that me with hope. have been treated using our Evidence Based Trauma sister was eighteen months old, we got a call saying that their child may have autism. Our talented clinical team When we began Play2Learn, I was completely treatments at The Children’s Center. We are pleased to their older sister had been taken into custody during a drug provides comprehensive evaluations that help parents overwhelmed because it was a lot of work. We spent report that the data confirms raid. We were told that she understand their child’s strengths and challenges in a warm, hours playing and I wasn’t having “fun” playing with my our treatments are making “The Children’s Center helped us process had spent some time living in embracing environment. We understand how painful it can own kid. I kept trying to get him to play with me and meet a very real difference for what was going on, and helped our child a homeless shelter. As a two be to be given a diagnosis my expectations, but he children and their families. and a half year old she had of autism and we are “The autism services at The Children’s would often turn his back deal with the traumatic experiences We see significant decreases been exposed to a life filled one of the only agencies Center gave me the ability to reach him. on me when I would come from her past.” in children’s anxiety and with chaos. She never knew that provides supportive My experience has been life changing and to play with him. Through family therapy that helps Play2Learn, I learned to get aggression. Their sleep problems are resolving. They if her parents would be there to take care of her as she was parents get back on track. I feel like I got my son back.” on his level and do what he are demonstrating better appetites. Toilet accidents have exposed to many, many caregivers during her few years. In addition, our unique group program for parents and wanted to do. Rather than move toy cars through the track, decreased. The parents and caregivers report that their We were asked to begin the process of becoming her children, “Play2Learn,” is based on a new therapy called we would carefully line them up. I learned to not pepper him children are more easily managed at home. Critically, the foster parents. The first months with her were difficult. She Floor Time. Our Play2Learn groups provide a warm, with questions, which would overwhelm him. Instead, we families are reporting a decrease in overall life stress as a had PTSD from the drug raid and would wake up screaming welcoming place for parents to learn to engage with their learned to have back and forth exchanges with no words. result of our treatment. We are giving children the chance to and shaking, terrified that the police were in her room. I child, and to connect with them in ways they were unable to There was a night and day difference in our relationship. return to a normal childhood. would reassure her that she was safe, but it was physically before coming to The Children’s Center. And every day, we Our play didn’t look “typical,” but it was his play. His world and emotionally taxing to help her through these outbursts witness the magical moment when the child reaches out to opened up, and I could understand where he was coming while caring for two other young children. the mother who had never thought it would be possible. from. I just want him to know that I can be a safe spot in I remember contacting Dr. Doug and telling him that I “Our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder this crazy world, and the autism services at The Children’s didn’t know if I could do this anymore. He said, “Regardless when he was three and a half years old and we were feeling Center gave me the ability to reach him. My experience has of what you decide to do, I won’t let you go through this completely overwhelmed. I would scour the internet for any been life changing and I feel like I got my son back.” unsupported.” It was the kindest thing anyone had ever said guidance but nothing spoke to me about his experience. I felt to me in a situation like that. We wanted to keep her, but we so isolated and insecure, and felt like I was trying everything and nothing helped. needed help. The Children’s Center helped us process what Seven months after his diagnosis, we were referred to was going on, and helped our child deal with the traumatic The Children’s Center. From the moment I walked into the experiences from her past.

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