The impact of art

The art studio at Hillsides is a well used space alongside the recreation center that is showing its age, having endured paint splatters, ceramic drippings, and silkscreen wax droppings for quite some time now. The worn and tired studio is nevertheless a hub of wonderful activity.

Recently, I was walking by the art studio and was drawn in by the sound of singing. As I entered the room, residents were engaged with their respective projects while singing along with the pied piper of the group, Kim Ha, the director of the art program. Kim was strumming his guitar singing a well-known pop song while residents and staff sang along moving to the beat. It was a joyous experience, one that Kim describes as transformative, helping these children to put aside their cares and enjoy the moment, happy and carefree.

Kim explains that the goal of introducing music to the art sessions is to promote creativity and fun while giving the children an opportunity to become ever more comfortable with expressing themselves. For our residents, who often are at a loss to describe the traumas they have experienced let alone the feelings they have, art and music are indispensable ways to share what is going on in their heart and mind.

The work being done in the art studio is an important part of the therapeutic experience offered at Hillsides. In an effort to be supportive of this important activity, this year’s gala committee, led by our board member, Susan Pinsky, chose the theme, “A Celebration of Art.” This annual dinner and dance gala will feature art from local artists, among other items, and emphasize its important place in the array of services that we provide.  

Join us at this wonderful celebration and in doing so lend your support to sustain this indispensable activity for our residents. Your support will allow us to strengthen the capacity of the art program by giving the children we serve a wonderful way to express themselves and discover the “art” of living happily free from pain and trauma.

Tickets are $300 and can be purchased online. To learn more about the gala, contact CarrieEspinoza, Director of Development, at 323-543-2800, 121. Come together with neighbors and friend as we commit to creating lasting change for all those we serve. 

Non-violence dream

This week we celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. As I was reflecting on the significance of Dr. King’s life, I was struck by his commitment to confront the injustice of racial inequality exclusively through non-violent means. This approach was embraced in spite of the movement being the object of considerable violence. He himself was savagely slain. No one was spared the hatred, including some innocent children who perished in the Birmingham church bombing. Retaliation would have been easy to justify, but rather the “weapon” chosen by the civil rights movement was shear conviction and determination to confront hatred with non-violence, knowing full well that some would bear the ultimate sacrifice.

Violence has become a pervasive element of our society and culture, manifested in many ways, some blatant others less obvious. When I consider the lives of the many children, youth, and families we serve I can not help but be struck by the violence that they have experienced. The stories, in some instances, are horrific and the reaction visceral as we deal with piecing back together children and families who have been torn apart by brutal acts of neglect and abuse, both physical and emotional.

Certainly justice demands punishment and consequences for the perpetrators. Although as satisfying as that may be as with the civil rights movement, that is not the remedy to the injustice, rather only the consequence for the violence. Something more is needed to bring about change. This is where the dream of nonviolence comes to play.

For us at Hillsides we have a dream for those we serve-- a vision of creating lasting change in lives by restoring hope and freeing them from harm. It is a realistic hope that healing can come about, well-being can once again be established, and a stable caring relationship will serve as the foundation for a successful future.

In the past year we have embarked in a process of creating a heightened awareness of how trauma impacts the lives of all we serve. Like anything that is ubiquitous, it is easy to underestimate the subtle impact of trauma in our lives and how unwittingly we contribute to further traumatizing those who are so vulnerable.

It is very challenging to maintain such a heightened sense of awareness, but gradually it is helping us to create a better environment for both clients and staff, one that effectively mitigates the impact of trauma and restores hope.

Dreams are important because they have the ability to motivate and, therefore, create lasting change. The Martin Luther King Day celebrations invite us to embrace the dream of lives freed from violence and inspire us to devote all our energies to realizing this great vision.

Travesty

Unlike many of our peer organizations, Hillsides does not provide foster family services. We do not have any foster homes associated with Hillsides. When asked why that was the case, my predecessor, John Hitchcock, indicated he was reluctant to provide a foster home service where the quality of care that would be provided in these foster homes could not be guaranteed. He had reason for his reluctance and certainly the recent exposé in the Los Angeles Times points to why we all should be reluctant to entrust vulnerable children to a system that seems woefully inadequate.

The article points to abuses by some providers and certainly does not reflect the excellent and essential service that many of our peers organizations provide through the foster homes that they sponsor. However, it would seem from the article that there are some significant concerns with how many of the foster home agencies operate and are monitored.

More so than ever the children that are being referred to a foster home require a relatively comprehensive array of services. The foster parent must display extraordinary skill and ability to be successful. In addition to providing a safe living environment, foster parents are asked to facilitate therapeutic care that is specifically oriented to the individual needs of the child. It is very demanding, requires a significant level of training and exclusive commitment. Given the extraordinary need for such homes and the increasing neediness of the children being served, it is essential that the selection of foster parents benefit from a rigorous screening process. In addition, foster parents should be afforded all the resources and support needed to adequately and effectively address the needs of the children in their care.

From the details revealed in the Los Angeles Times article this was not the case with the foster parents that were the subject of the exposé. In addition, the organizations themselves did not have the adequate structure or orientation to effectively deliver quality care to these children.

The following measures would better provide for the needs of the children served in foster homes.  First, foster homes should be aligned with a reputable organization that is accredited by a body that has clearly identified standards of operation and practice for foster homes. Second, the same licensing and regulatory requirements that govern institutions providing therapeutic services should apply to all foster homes and be rigorously applied and monitored by Department of Children and Family Services. Third, infractions or violations need to have meaningful consequences and be addressed in a timely fashion. Minimally, these measures should be instituted if not already in place.

Although there will always be a need for good quality foster homes, the ultimate solution is helping families to provide for their own children. Much success has been achieved by identifying within an extended family a relative who can fulfill the parenting responsibilities, if for whatever reason the actual parents are unable to do so. Coupled with a strong community-based support system, most children can be served well, family caregivers can be effective, and the trauma of inadequate care can be avoided. Together with a  couple of other peer organizations, Hillsides has piloted this approach and it has been very effective. Children have been kept safe, improvement is evident, and long-term stability is established.

The challenges are great, but that cannot keep us from doing everything in our power to avoid any recurrence of the travesty that some children in the foster care system have suffered. 

Labels

During this season I often ask some of the children in residence at Hillsides what they would like as a gift for the holidays. They often respond by mentioning a brand name instead of the actual item. Luckily, I know that Nike refers to sneakers but I often need a translator! In an increasingly commercialized world, things are often identified within particular categories, each with a perceived value and even prestige.

The compartmentalizing of our world is not limited to commercial aspects. Within the children’s services field we identify  people according to categories often associated with their diagnosis, behavior or symptom. Of course the problem with these categories is that they do an injustice to those we serve. The children, youth, and families we serve are more than the sum of the symptoms or challenges that any one of them experience.

Recently, I was stopped by one of our more enterprising residents who “works” in the kitchen as a dish washer. He called me over to negotiate a better reimbursement for his indispensable service. In spite of the many challenges he confronts or the diagnosis given him, he is an engaging, ambitious kid prepared to make sure that his wage is fair. He wants to be happy, have fun, not worry about his safety or well-being and be successful.

For him and all the children, youth, and families we serve at Hillsides what they need from us is to serve as a resource for them so that their dreams may be realized. It is not just about providing the right diagnosis, but rather looking beyond the presenting symptoms to embrace the dream of a full and happy life for them.

This kind of work is not done in isolation. It can only be done effectively by a community of professionals, volunteers, and neighbors who together play different roles in delivering the many resources that make a difference in the lives of all in our care. Be assured that it does make a difference, especially at this time of year. We could not fulfill all the needs we attempt to address during the holiday season without the generous support that we receive from our donor community.

This week we anticipate a series of articles in the Los Angeles Times that will expose the failures of the foster care system and the tragedies that result because of its ineffectiveness. As important as such a series may be in serving as a catalyst for change, it also does a disservice to many good people who in spite of the challenges never-the-less provide indispensable care to children and families struggling with many issues. Rather than being disheartened I hope you will redouble your efforts at supporting and advocating to create a system of care that truly and effectively makes a lasting change.

Stress free Thanksgiving

One of our initiatives this year is to develop an organization with the capacity to better serve those in our care who have experienced trauma. Nearly 90 percent of all children served by the child welfare system have experienced some form of trauma that elevates their "toxic stress." Toxic stress is stress that increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, drug and alcohol dependency, suicide, teen pregnancy, domestic violence and depression. Although it is just an indicator of risk and not a cause of illness, it is worth noting the relationship that stress and trauma has as a deterrent to well-being.

With this prevalence of stress among those in our care, it is imperative that our treatment interventions and the environment in which we operate are sensitive to this issue to support our clients’ well-being and avoid anything that would further traumatize those who are already so vulnerable. These efforts are very comprehensive and are intended to influence all aspects of our operations, the treatment environment, our interactions with clients, and the manner in which we conduct business.

These efforts reminded me of an interview recently of a mother and son who are served at Hillsides. This adolescent arrived anxious and impulsive, demonstrating significant disruptive behavior that negatively impacted him and his family. His mother was challenged to provide him the support they needed to avoid an escalation of behaviors that were harmful. She was referred to us through their local school system. As we initiated care, we were able to identify the trauma he had experienced and help him and his mother reduce the stress that was so detrimental to their well-being. Months later she says that the services they have received at Hillsides helped her, “to get her life back….to get her son back.”

The process of restoring hope and a sense of well-being can be challenging, but the end result makes the effort very worthwhile. As this family prepares for Thanksgiving they do so freed from some of the burdens that had previously impeded their ability to sit at the same table and enjoy a holiday together. This year there will be something very special for which they will be very thankful--their family restored.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, let us be ever sensitive to the hurts and traumas that others have experienced and in a very intentional way create an environment where everyone feels safe, welcomed, and supported. In doing so, we lay the foundation to address the stressors that impact us and initiate the process of moving beyond the trauma to hope. 

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. 

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.

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!