Raising the bar

At last week’s annual CWLA Conference in Washington, D.C., I was honored along with other colleagues for helping to “raise the bar” for vulnerable children and families in this country. I was surprised by the recognition, but gratified that my efforts over the years, and in particular my support for the work of CWLA, was acknowledged. The recognition I received was an indicator of not only my efforts, but also of the collective effort shown by Hillsides staff to raise a voice for the children and families we serve.

As I thought about the recognition, I was reminded of a time when I sat in the plaza on campus having lunch one day this past summer watching a young boy arrive to be admitted to the residential treatment program with only a plastic bag of belongings. He was subdued when I met him and offered little affect when greeted. His withdrawal was profound and made me inquire about his situation. Left without his biological parents, he was placed in an adopted home. For numerous reasons the adoption failed and now he was placed at Hillsides with the hope of finding a permanent home for him soon. However, complicating the situation was that he was also being treated for leukemia. Although we often have residents who have very specific health conditions that require special attention, this young boy was the first resident who was admitted and actively being treated for such a serious condition.

A few days after his admission, I began to ask staff how he was doing and questioning how we were adjusting our typical program to address his special medical needs. Although staff had indicated an initial reluctance to admit a child in such a compromised health condition, I believe we were also confident that we would rise to the occasion and do whatever was necessary to individualize a program of care for him. Indeed it has been that kind of approach that has allowed us to be so successful with this boy. Although he will continue with us for a while, his health has stabilized and we are hopeful we will be able to find a loving family to receive him into their home.

These kinds of extraordinary efforts are really what “raising the bar” is all about. Efforts to advocate, assure quality care, and develop integrated, effective systems of care are all well and good; however, their success is measured by the impact created. Hillsides is known not just for the array of quality programs, but more importantly, for our willingness to make the extra effort and individualize programs to best serve the needs of the children we serve. This approach is indeed the best example of what it means to “raise the bar” for children and their families.

The bar is not just raised by any one person, but by a community that truly values all its children and places its many resources available to make a lasting impact.

Reaction to violence

I had been in meetings all day at the CWLA conference in Washington, D.C. when I got word from a colleague from Massachusetts that there had been a bombing at the Boston Marathon. I immediately became concerned because I knew my niece and her husband, who had run the marathon, were there. I called my niece and was reassured that they were safe though disturbed by the incident and grateful that they had managed to escape the melee. Such random violence is an increasingly common occurrence in our society. The victims of such heinous acts are innocent bystanders going about their lives, hoping the odds are in their favor that they will not be stricken.

This morning on the final day of the annual CWLA conference I sat in on a listening session addressing the threats to children in such a violent culture and how we, as caregivers, can help to address their needs. The sad fact is that 60% of all children in the United States are exposed to violence. Violence seems to have become pervasive. In the light of the Newtown tragedy and the Boston Marathon bombing, many are suggesting that the solution to such unspeakable acts is greater vigilance and capacity to defend ourselves.

The instinct to protect and defend is not the solution, but rather an understandable initial reaction to a threat. The solution is more complicated and requires a great deal of thought and effort for us to reverse what is a pervasive violent culture.

The impact of such violence is made painfully clear because of notorious acts. However, every day in this country 29 children or youth under the age of 18 die un-necessarily. They die because they are victims of violence, abuse or neglect, some taking their own lives because they consider death preferable to the tragic lives they endure.

Solutions should go beyond arming ourselves, fortifying our homes, and resorting to suspicion. Our ultimate response is to resist a bunker mentality in favor of a resolve to make a difference. While many instinctively ran from the chaos at the Boston Marathon blast, some were drawn into the mayhem and courageously responded to the injured risking their own well-being to tend to those who had been affected by the bombing. Their instinctive response to care is a great example of how violence is ultimately thwarted. We should honor, value, and share stories of courageous people in the midst of tragedy rather than overwhelmingly highlight the tragedies and perpetrators.

Our prayers are with the individuals and families affected by this recent violence.

Common Sense

Photo credit: www.usatoday.com

Washington, DC has become a place of sound bites, posturing, and token measures meant to appease as opposed to addressing issues in a meaningful way. Next week I head to Washington, DC for the annual meeting of the Child Welfare League of America. As part of the conference, delegates will walk the halls of Congress advocating for the needs of vulnerable children and families. Without exception, we will get a cordial reception by all our elected officials. Their staff will acknowledge our contribution to the field, our indispensable services, and assure us that they will advocate for those we serve. However, even the most effective of our legislators, like Representative Karen Bass, are up against a system that is driven by priorities that do not include the needs of those for whom we care.

The current debate on “gun control” is the most recent example. Will the modest measures that have survived the winnowing legislative process make any difference? Without being too skeptical, I suggest that more attention has been placed on the actual process than the intended outcome. As a result, no measurable benefit will come from whatever legislation may emerge. Perhaps less legislation and more common sense measures is the answer.

How can we address maintaining a secure society let alone one that is safe for our children without addressing the need for resources to provide adequate care for those who are most vulnerable? For many, they are made vulnerable by crisis and trauma that impact their mental health. Mental illness is an epidemic in our country that barely is recognized. The majority of those suffering mental illness are untreated either because of a failure to diagnose or limited access to care. Those experiencing mental illness are not to be feared; treatment can be very effective. But without an awareness of the illness and the necessary resources to provide effective interventions, it can be deadly!

I can only hope that the lack of mention of the need to reinforce the mental health service delivery system in the gun control debate is an attempt to appropriately disconnect the two and develop legislation that exclusively addresses the resources needed to adequately provide good and quality mental health services.

Common sense dictates that we keep guns out of the hands of those who would do us harm. Common sense motivates us to keep those most vulnerable safe. Common sense helps us to establish priorities in allocating precious resources to address the most vulnerable effectively.

At the end of the day, measures in Sacramento, CA and Washington, DC are important, but never a substitute for common sense and the commitment of each of us to hold the safety and security of our society, and especially our children, as a priority.

The Easter Squirrel

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Easter Bunny now let me tell you about the Easter Squirrel!

Like many residential treatment centers, Hillsides provides its residents with a comprehensive array of services that include a chaplaincy program for those who may choose to participate in it. Although we are an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, there is no sectarian agenda reflected in the care that we offer. The chaplaincy program has proven to be an important service providing comfort and support to children and families who value it.

On Good Friday last week, our great chaplain, the Rev. Pat Hendrickson, offered to lead a special devotion of the Stations of the Cross designed for children. A small group of residents and their staff chose to join me and our chaplain for this devotion. We gathered on the playing field at Hillsides and  walked over to the Church of the Angels where we started in the church and walked the grounds, stopping 14 times to prayerfully recall that first good Friday. At each, “station,” a meditation and prayer was offered and I was really edified by the attention and reverence of the residents.  

However, the mood changed when we got to the twelfth station, “Jesus dies on the cross.” As we were completing the prayer, a scrawny, emaciated squirrel appeared at our feet. We acknowledged the tiny creature, but continued on to the last two “stations.” At the end of the devotion, we realized that the little squirrel was now following us, seemingly seeking our attention and care. A few of the residents cautiously crouched down on the ground to examine the little critter. It didn’t take long before they began to try to figure out why this cute little squirrel was clinging to our every move.

Sure enough the baby squirrel was the sole survivor of a fallen nest and thanks to the compassion of our residents, the resourcefulness of the Rev. Pat and the assistance of the SCPA, our little friend was saved and lived to see a glorious Easter.

It is moments like these that continue to amaze and inspire me. There they were, children who have experienced hardships and challenges through no fault of their own, reaching out to assure the safety and well-being of this stranded squirrel. Their selflessness and desire to help demonstrates their capacity to be resilient, to move beyond trauma, and enjoy a full life.

If Easter is indeed the story of new life that defies tragedy, then all those we serve are great witnesses to hope. Long live the Easter Squirrel!