If you see something, say something

This week on Tuesday the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to examine the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in light of the recent death of a child in its care. Some reservation was voiced given that these reviews have taken place in the past with little, if any, impact on avoiding the tragedy of deaths resulting from child abuse. In spite of the skepticism, I believe the Commission may be very worthwhile and serve an important purpose of engaging the whole community to address this kind of horror.

Although DCFS was indeed ultimately responsible for the well-being of the child, this family had a number of other interactions with people and institutions that should have served as another tier to assure this child’s safety. What is seen as a failure of the child welfare system is also a failure of the whole community to keep a child safe. It is not acceptable to think that someone else will take care of this kind of thing. All of us have the responsibility to note the concern and to be diligent in making sure the issue is addressed.

Important for the Blue Ribbon Commission is to not only review the system of care, but also address the larger infrastructure in the community to determine how together we can be supportive of the efforts of DCFS. Our schools, health care system, law enforcement, churches, other community organizations, and neighbors have a role in creating an integrated and effective network that is solely oriented at assuring safety for the most vulnerable children and their families.

Terrorism in this country has been thwarted to some degree by a heightened sense of vigilance that helps us identify suspicious activity and encourage notification to the appropriate authorities. I suggest that we need to bring this same approach to a campaign to make children safe. If you see something suspicious going on with a family or a child, say something. Report it to law enforcement, DCFS or raise the concern with the local school personnel, but never assume that it is someone else’s responsibility to address the issue. We have a role to play in making children safe.

The last thing we need are vigilantes.  However, if each of us, as neighbors and community members, embraces the concept that together we have an obligation to keep children safe much would be accomplished; and systems of care would be more effectively used.

This notion of the community providing a safety net for vulnerable children and families is supported by the fine work done by Child Welfare League of America in its recent publication, National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare. The publication is also reinforced by the work of the Casey Family Programs that have served as a catalyst in creating communities of hope. Together we can create the kinds of communities that are responsive to families in crisis and assure that children will be kept safe. 

Understanding the effects of trauma

This past spring I attended a conference that featured a presentation on the effects of trauma on the brain. Seeing the images of the brain before and after treatment was fascinating. Stress, resulting from trauma, can have any number of negative impacts and serve as the source of persistent ailments and disorders. The relationship between trauma, stress, and illness are well known, but for the first time we can see its impact and track improvement as a result of treatment.

For all the children, youth, and families we serve, trauma is a given. For many, their trauma is rooted in violence, loss, and so many persistent life challenges. As this issue has become more dominate in the practice field, we at Hillsides have taken on the challenge of becoming more effective at addressing trauma, confident that the treatment we offer can help restore hope and health to all we serve.

The starting point in this process is to recognize the trauma that we ourselves have experienced. The ability to be in touch with what has been traumatizing in our own lives allows us to empathize with others who have experienced trauma. Beyond the common experience, the challenge is to provide an environment that allows the causes of  trauma to be addressed effectively.

Hope is robbed when trauma rules, however, hope is restored when a hurt can be recognized and addressed. Treatment conducted in a respectful environment where safety is assured and compassionate care is offered relieves the stress caused by trauma and sets a path to restoring hope.

As I visit with our residents and follow their progress, I see the impact of trauma lessen and their childhoods restored. I may not be able to see a brain scan to demonstrate the improvement, but I can see the smile on a face and a carefree demeanor that indicates for me that something good has happened...hope has been restored.

The truth is that no one gets through life without experiencing trauma along the way in some manner. For each of us, caring people in our lives have helped us deal with challenges without losing hope. For those we serve, Hillsides offers a cadre of people whose sole purpose is to help address the traumas of life effectively and in the process make a lasting change in their lives. 

She is fabulous

Joining Susanne Crummey (Bottom row, third from left) is Susan Pinsky, Hillsides Board Member (left of Susanne)

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Susanne Crummey's office you feel like you have entered Santa’s workshop. In the corners of the office are stacks of toys and other kinds of prized treasures for children. I’ve always found it curious, but never felt the need to delve into why there was so much “stuff” in her office. Then one day it became clear to me why all those items had been kept in her office.

As I stopped by to catch up with her on a couple of issues, Susanne was busy preparing a “welcome bag.” The welcome bag provides new residents with an array of items to help them settle into their rooms and feel welcomed at Hillsides. The bags are huge, the size of a large duffle bag and filled with stuffed animals, games, electronics, music discs, and some clothing. Each is individually prepared to meet the specific needs and interests of the new resident and personally prepared by Susanne. Needless to say, this is not listed as one of her many responsibilities as the associate executive director, but clearly is one of those activities that she relishes and links her to the children we serve.

Susanne has general oversight over all clinical aspects of the agency. She does a marvelous job and has provided extraordinary leadership on any number of critical issues for the organization. But satisfying these responsibilities does not adequately define who Susanne is. More than anything else, Susanne is the touchstone that keeps all of us rooted in Hillsides mission to create lasting change for all those we serve. We are so fortunate to benefit from her exemplary leadership.

This past week she was honored by THE Magazine as one of Pasadena’s 50 fabulous women. It was great that the community at large was able to celebrate what we all have known for some time--Susanne is indeed fabulous and a great example of the extraordinary staff that we have at Hillsides.

What sets Hillsides apart is not just the quality services that we offer to vulnerable children and their families, but in a particular way it is our extraordinary staff who embrace a “can do” approach to being an essential resource for all those we serve. It is not sufficient to encourage our staff to take up this approach. This really needs to be modeled so that in concrete terms, staff come to understand what it is to be focused and dedicated to the children, youth, and families in our care. Susanne serves as such a model and indeed does a fabulous job at it.

Along with her were two other fabulous women who were honored and are also associated with Hillsides: Susan Pinsky, a long time Board member and Leah Mason, the wife of Board member Brent Mason and member of our support network H100.To Susanne, Susan, Leah and all the Fabulous 50, congratulations! 

Commencement: Untold Story

The Hillsides Education Center had its 29^th graduation on Tuesday, June 4. One of the graduates chose a quote from Maya Angelou to describe what motivates her: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Graduation is all about achievement, but often the achievements are not just academic for the students at HEC. Their achievements have to do with the ability to tell an untold story that resides deep within and longs to be expressed. Untold, a story has the power to hold a person captive, however, when spoken it losses its power to hold and instead becomes an expression of a truth and reality. Sometimes what may be expressed is a hurt, an embarrassment, even anger, but inevitably the telling of the untold story is cathartic and life giving.

As our Education Director, Jay Bechtol, reminded the assembly, each graduating student at Hillsides is a valedictorian and given the opportunity to address those gathered for the graduation. As each student took their place at the podium, they had an opportunity to tell their story, a story of challenges, but also of resolve to see their way to this significant milestone equipped to look beyond this moment and set a direction for their lives.

As they head out on this next chapter, they do so confident of who they are, their abilities, even their limitations, not overwhelmed, but rather determined to be happy and successful.

I sometimes wonder what happens to the many aspirations that are shared at graduation, whether they are achieved or altered by harsh realities. Just as I was reflecting on this thought, I encountered a former student who had come by for the graduation. She was happy to reconnect with friends and staff at HEC and with great excitement  filled them in on what was going on in her life at this time. I’m not sure what aspiration she had when she graduated, but it seemed to me from the encounter that some of them have been realized

As important as goals are, it’s the dedication to achieve them that makes all the difference. Inevitably goals change, lessons are learned along the way and hopefully a direction is set, and much is achieved. As another graduate summed it up with a quote from Robert Frost: “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”

Life indeed does go on with the help of so many family members and friends who support these graduates and walk along with them. To the graduates, their families and friends, the incredible staff of HEC, and all those who passionately support our mission, congratulations and thank you!