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service provision report 2012

From the Director - December 2011

At the Elizabeth Upjohn Community Healing Center, the group sessions for children who have suffered sexual abuse are especially poignant. I hear them say “I like coming here”, and see them skipping down the hall holding their therapist’s hand. They have written in brightly colored markers a list entitled “What Kids Need” and posted it on the therapy room wall. The list includes simple requests: Safety, “protexion”, my mom, not to be so scared, someplace to play...and of course Pizza!  These kids find relief in bringing their secrets out of the shadows, and are thankful to be listened to and believed.
Expressions of gratitude occasionally find their way to my mailbox. Most recently, there was a note from a friend - “You may have saved my son’s life. The individual therapy, group, and
family support has been a miracle. My son may be 37 years old, but he is still my child. Keep up the great work.  Thank you.”
Another carefully written note arrived from Sandra, who is in our Women’s Specialty Program:  “Thank you for everything Community Healing Centers does to help women like me.  Miss Marian makes sure we have everything we need to stay clean and sober.  Even if I have to call her six times a day, she will hear me out...and then give me another idea about how to stay away from drugs. And she sees to it I get to all my doctor’s appointments on time.”
Weeks ago, the front desk buzzed me to say I had a visitor, with her baby, in the lobby. There’s nothing like the word “baby” to get my attention, so I scurried down the stairs. There was Julie, with her 6 month old son asleep in her arms. Of course I got to hold the baby while she told me how things were going.  Her son Noah had been born clean, she was off probation, graduated from Drug Court and found a job working nights in a warehouse part time. She had managed to get custody back of her 4 year old, file a personal protection order against her violent boyfriend, and still attended the Women’s Specialty group for support.  Oh yes, and she was volunteering for the United Way campaign. Julie wanted me to know how grateful she was for the help and support she had been given. Then she hurried off to catch the bus so she could give plasma again to help make ends meet.
The wall outside the kitchen at Jim Gilmore Community Healing Center is covered with letters, notes and photos of thanks. Phrases like “you saved my life”, “you guys gave me the tools”, “my therapist really helped me find the core of my problem”.  There is a special story of gratitude “to the nurse that sat with me in detox with a cool cloth on my forehead, until I could fall asleep”. When people are at their lowest, small acts of care can mean the most.
All these moments of gratitude are brought to us by folks like you. This caring community of donors, volunteers and sponsors makes it possible.
We cannot thank you enough...but we will keep trying!
In Gratitude
Sally Reames, CEO

Community Healing Centers

 

 

Father-Hand-and-Child-Hand2At the Elizabeth Upjohn Community Healing Center, the group sessions for children who have suffered sexual abuse are especially poignant. I hear them say “I like coming here”, and see them skipping down the hall holding their therapist’s hand. They have written in brightly colored markers a list entitled “What Kids Need” and posted it on the therapy room wall. The list includes simple requests: Safety, “protexion”, my mom, not to be so scared, someplace to play...and of course Pizza!  These kids find relief in bringing their secrets out of the shadows, and are thankful to be listened to and believed.

Expressions of gratitude occasionally find their way to my mailbox. Most recently, there was a note from a friend - “You may have saved my son’s life. The individual therapy, group, and family support has been a miracle. My son may be 37 years old, but he is still my child. Keep up the great work.  Thank you.” 
Another carefully written note arrived from Sandra, who is in our Women’s Specialty Program:  “Thank you for everything Community Healing Centers does to help women like me.  Miss Marian makes sure we have everything we need to stay clean and sober.  Even if I have to call her six times a day, she will hear me out...and then give me another idea about how to stay away from drugs. And she sees to it I get to all my doctor’s appointments on time.”hope shines forth

Weeks ago, the front desk buzzed me to say I had a visitor, with her baby, in the lobby. There’s nothing like the word “baby” to get my attention, so I scurried down the stairs. There was Julie, with her 6 month old son asleep in her arms. Of course I got to hold the baby while she told me how things were going.  Her son Noah had been born clean, she was off probation, graduated from Drug Court and found a job working nights in a warehouse part time. She had managed to get custody back of her 4 year old, file a personal protection order against her violent boyfriend, and still attended the Women’s Specialty group for support.  Oh yes, and she was volunteering for the United Way campaign. Julie wanted me to know how grateful she was for the help and support she had been given. Then she hurried off to catch the bus so shecould give plasma again to help make ends meet.

The wall outside the kitchen at Jim Gilmore Community Healing Center is covered with letters, notes and photos of thanks. Phrases like “you saved my life”, “you guys gave me the tools”, “my therapist really helped me find the core of my problem”.  There is a special story of gratitude “to the nurse that sat with me in detox with a cool cloth on my forehead, until I could fall asleep”. When people are at their lowest, small acts of care can mean the most.

All these moments of gratitude are brought to us by folks like you. This caring community of donors, volunteers and sponsors makes it possible. We cannot thank you enough...but we will keep trying!

In Gratitude,

Sally Reames, CEO  
Community Healing Centers

Comments or thoughts? Send Sally an email by clicking here .