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Free, round-the-clock help for children, teens and parents
Since its founding in 1978, Kids in Crisis has helped more than 80,000 Connecticut children and families; in
2007 more than 8,100 children and families received assistance from the organization.
Based in Cos Cob, Kids in Crisis provides services to children of all socio- economic conditions in
Fairfield County, including those in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford,
Weston, Westport and Wilton.
For community programs call 203-622-6556
For Help call
203-327-KIDS
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Kids in Crisis - Insight Issue 40
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Recess - No Longer Child's Play
When it comes to the fight over recess, educators and parents might very well end up “taking it outside.” If they do, there may not be many cheers from the sidelines because, increasingly, playgrounds are being left empty as recess is being eliminated or reshaped in schools throughout the country.
One of the biggest implications of the national No Child Left Behind Act has been the reduction or elimination of recess. As school districts search for instruction time to help kids meet mandated standards, one of the easiest places to “find” time is recess. It’s become such an issue that a recent study found nearly 40% of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess. In schools that are keeping recess, it’s still facing a squeeze; many schools are cutting free time to just 10 or 15 minutes of recess a day.
Psychologists and academics argue that recess is an important part of childhood development. They claim that overly scheduled, less playful school days hurt a child’s growth. “This is the one time during the day that they have the freedom, or the power, to control what they will be doing in terms of decision- making, in terms of negotiation, in terms of conflict resolution with their peers,” says Audrey Skrupskelis, a professor of early childhood education at the University of South Carolina.
Only a few states require schools to provide a break during the day; Connecticut has mandated a break, but its state law doesn’t direct the length of the break or specifically require recess. “As we see with the children in our care, having the ability to step back and take a breather is critical to staying focused,” says Shari Shapiro, Kids in Crisis’ Executive Director. “After all, adults count on breaks during the day to feel energized and focused.” The need for recreation and play is emphasized at both the Teen House and Crisis Nursery; children are encouraged to use gym facilities at the Boys and Girls’ Club nearby, to participate in after school sports and take lessons in a personal interest they have.
Right now, children at Kids in Crisis are participating in basketball leagues, karate lessons and wrestling, among other pursuits. Afternoons find many of our older kids playing board games with staff, working on jigsaw puzzles with one another or just shooting hoops in the yard. Younger kids spend hours – no matter the temperature – on the swing set and play equipment outside. “Some of our favorite childhood memories stem from play, from recess,” says Shari. “We want to make similar memories for children whose memories now may be of only trauma or stress.”
Safety First
This spring, Kids in Crisis will again lead the way in caring for kids. This March, the Agency will inaugurate the national Safe Place program in Fairfield County, designating more than three dozen locations in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton as safe havens for children who need immediate help in a crisis situation.
Project Safe Place, a national program first established in 1983, is designed to reach out to youth who find themselves in crisis situations. Once a child enters a Safe Place location, identifiable by the large Safe Place sign prominently displayed in a window or front door, on-site staff makes sure he or she is all right. They immediately call Kids in Crisis; our Crisis Services staff will then assess and handle the situation, ensuring the child’s safety. Since its inception more than 20 years ago, Safe Place locations have helped more than 104,000 children. Today, there are 16,787 Safe Place sites in 40 states throughout the U.S.
With Safe Place, there is always an accessible place, an easy way for kids to get help. If they are being followed, harassed, or are combating verbal or physical abuse, there’s a place right in town they can head to – with Kids in Crisis experts in place to help them handle the situation. “We see the implementation of the Safe Place program throughout our area as a natural extension of the outstanding crisis care Kids in Crisis has provided for the past 30 years,” says Executive Director Shari Shapiro.
For kids, Safe Place provides piece of mind, knowing they have someone nearby for help. For local businesses and organizations, becoming a Safe Place location is a critical community service, providing assistance to neighbors in need. “I firmly believe that giving kids more places to go for help means we can be more successful in ensuring their safety and their future,” says Janice Marzano, Program Director, Darien Depot Teen Center. The Safe Place program encourages public/private partnerships to provide youth outreach, helping kids solve problems effectively, while focusing on preventing more serious problems.
Kids in Crisis expects to expand the Safe Place program even further in Fairfield County throughout 2008, with the goal of identifying 75 additional Safe Place partner sites, including area businesses, municipal facilities and community centers. Additionally, Kids in Crisis will soon take its latest donation – a Safe Place van – on the road, visiting area health fairs, family festivals, sporting events and more, to increase awareness of and access to the new Safe Place program in Fairfield County. The van will not be the only way to see Safe Place “on the go.” Every public bus throughout Fairfield County will also be a Safe Place beginning in late March.
Going For The Gold
It’s not only Beijing that will host exceptional athletes and competitors this summer, but Stamford. Stamford? Yes, on Sunday, June 29, Stamford will host the first KIC It Triathlon, an Olympic level event that invites 500 athletes to fundraise by swimming 1.5k (.9 mile), then tackling a 40k (25 mile) bike ride, and capping it all off with a 10k (6.2 mile) run. For the past four years, dedicated athletes from area companies, led by GE’s Chris Beers, have participated in both the New York City Triathlon and the Greenwich Cup Triathlon as part of a Kids in Crisis team. Now, the group is ready to call the streets their own. As in years past, Kids in Crisis will host regular training sessions for all interested athletes to ensure that they’re ready for the race. If you are interested in training for and joining the KIC It Triathlon, please visit the Kids in Crisis website (www.kidsincrisis.org) or call Alon Marom at 622-6556 for more information.
Time Travel
Remember when…
- The average new home price was $54,800?
- Annie Hall won “Best Picture” of the year?
- Median household income topped just over $15,000 a year?
- Bjorn Borg and Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon?
- Gold reached an all time high of $200 per ounce?
- The first test tube baby was born?
- A gallon of gas cost $.63?
It was 1978…the year Kids in Crisis was born. This year, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Kids in Crisis, the annual fundraiser will take guests back in time, where Hoedown stays “Forever Young.” Join us on Saturday, May 3, on the grounds of Tudor Investment Corporation when the always-fun, dress down evening travels back to the 1970s. For ticket and table information, please contact Lotte Bidstrup, Events Manager, at 622-6556.
Family Matters
Left home alone, the three siblings were caring for themselves – and a neighbor’s toddler – when they were found. Testing positive for drug use, their mom was arrested and the door to their dirty apartment was locked. Police brought the children – ages 11, 9 and 6 – to Kids in Crisis.
Their mother is committed to creating a better life. While she completes rehabilitation treatment, she stays in regular communication with the children and plans call for reunification when she returns to the area. The oldest, Michelle, has enjoyed the chance to step back from her role as caretaker for her brothers. Her recent birthday at Kids in Crisis included a trip to the nail salon and an in-house party, complete with her favorite dessert: peach cobbler. As she grows more comfortable with accepting help, Michelle often turns to Denise DeGasse, the social worker in the Crisis Nursery, for support and exploration of her feelings. She has recently joined an age-appropriate support group that gives adolescent girls a voice for their feelings. Direction from the Kids in Crisis educational support team – and lots of hard work – is helping both boys enjoy school, working hard and staying focused. Thanks to the Kids in Crisis program, the children have been able to stay in their original school, with transportation provided by staff. While at Kids in Crisis, individual interests are being explored for the first time, and the children are being given a second chance to enjoy childhood and age-appropriate play. The children are looking forward to being together again with their mom, but deeply appreciate the family approach and feeling at Kids in Crisis.
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Honoring Tender Loving Care
Mutual of America, one of the country’s most prominent life insurance companies, recently announced that the TLC Health Center, operated by Kids in Crisis, is one of ten organizations chosen to receive the company’s nationwide Community Partnership Award. This award honors organizations that “demonstrate the value of their partnerships to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing social issues.” Since 1997, when the TLC Health Center Honoring Tender, Loving Care opened as collaboration with Stamfordbased HealthCare Connection, the clinic has provided comprehensive medical and psychiatric services to more than 1,700 children from throughout the area. The Award, which will be presented to Kids in Crisis at a luncheon ceremony in mid-April, recognizes “true leaders in their communities, marshalling the creativity, good will and resources of diverse interests to help those in need,” says Mutual of America. “Where many of us see overwhelming, intractable problems, these collaborations find opportunities to assist the disadvantaged among us. Their approaches are dynamic and innovative, expanding the possibilities for change by bringing down the walls that traditionally separate the public, private and social sectors. Their work strengthens and unites us all.
A World Away ... But Close To Home
By Denise Qualey, Managing Director, Clinical Services
Traveling back to Connecticut after more than a week in Cambodia, I was struck by the fact that my impressions of the work being done in Southeast Asia matched my experience working at Kids in Crisis: one person can make an incredible difference in the lives of those in need.
To celebrate my 25th Anniversary with Kids in Crisis, I was generously offered the opportunity to participate in the U.S.- Cambodia Joint Conference on Social Work, traveling as a delegate with the National Association of Social Workers. The trip, which took place in late 2007, was organized by the international group People to People. Since 1956, People to People has facilitated face-to-face interactions, fostering communication to promote better understanding, respect and cooperation among different cultures.
While in Cambodia, our group visited 16 non-governmental agencies (NGOs), the equivalent of non-profits here in the U.S. Unlike here in America, NGOs receive no municipal, state or federal funding. In Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, there is tremendous need for programs and dollars; the 1,200 NGOs in the country simply cannot do it all.
On site visits, we quickly saw the impact these NGOs have. One of the strongest leaders in Cambodia is Ellen Minotte, Director of Social Services, an American who traveled to Cambodia 18 years ago for a six-month volunteer experience and never left. Today, she is an integral part of the system, creating programs and providing services that will have a lasting impact on improving the lives of so many. Ellen has now trained over 1,000 paraprofessionals to work throughout the country; she is currently spearheading the government’s effort to establish the first Bachelors degree in social work program at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
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In the capital of Phnom Penh, the extreme contrast of one-room huts and modern buildings is startling. The abject poverty amid roads clogged with luxury sedans and SUVs demonstrates the dramatic changes coming to Cambodia. All the while, these changes are being made in a country that has virtually stagnated since French Colonial times, struggling through the ravages of the Vietnam War and the genocide of the Khmer Rouge. Estimates are that 20% of the population – some 2.5 million men, women and children – were exterminated between 1975 and 1979.
Not surprisingly, the issues associated with post-traumatic stress are vivid and visible. It is a significant part of the work the NGOs are doing with clients; other major concerns are the staggering rise in sexual abuse, drug abuse and HIV exposure. The past 25+ years have seen progress, but there remain several daunting tasks ahead.
Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, stressed during meetings that three decades of war have left the country with an uphill battle. The country’s leadership has determined economic growth, particularly tourism, is the top priority, believing it is what will pull their citizens out of poverty. At the same time that they are working to attract tourists from around the globe, they must undertake difficult work at home to better the lives of their people and to encourage positive international attention.
In addition to learning so much on my journey, I was able to experience a great deal. Visiting Angkor Wat, the 12th Century temple complex was a breathtaking moment. The grandeur of these temples, seeing them at sunrise and at sunset is an unbelievable opportunity that falls under the category of “wonder of the world.”
I am so appreciative of what Kids in Crisis has done for me the past 25 years. I have had the opportunity to work with caring, talented professionals and the privilege to work with families and children throughout Connecticut. Now, in addition, Kids in Crisis has given me new friendships, new personal and professional passions and memories I will carry for a lifetime. I thank you all for providing ongoing inspiration.
Meet And Greet: Lee Bowbeer, Director, Children’s Services
Since joining Kids in Crisis 18 months ago, Lee Bowbeer has left his mark on the Children’s Services program at Kids in Crisis, the program that provides therapeutic care to babies, infants and children up to age 12. Lee joined Kids in Crisis after six years at Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut and following an earlier stint as a school social worker in Michigan, his home state. Lee received his B.A. and M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. Today, he lives in Stamford with his wife and four year old son; in his spare time, Lee participates in triathlons and, when he can, loves to read. There have been significant changes at the Crisis Nursery under Lee’s direction. Insight met with Lee to learn more about the youngest children staying at Kids in Crisis. What are some of the biggest, most critical issues facing the youngest children served by Kids in Crisis? Our kids have experienced rejections, trauma and separations from their parents from a very young age. That’s very damaging to a young child’s psychological and emotional development. I think the biggest issue for our kids is navigating the long road they have ahead to get back on some sort of typical developmental track. That’s important if they are going to experience relationships as a positive thing.
What are some of the recent changes you’ve instituted at the Children’s House and why? One of the biggest changes I’ve instituted since beginning here is a significant shift in the way we train staff. Along with my colleague, Craig Haen, we’ve developed a comprehensive new employee training that emphasizes the various psychological theories and techniques of crisis management that, ultimately, serve our children best. We’ve even required long-time employees to go through this training as well. That’s been a critical development. There have also been changes made to the Nursery’s “level system,” which helps establish goals for the children and encourages their independence, yet still lets them rely on staff for 1:1 comfort. Finally, we’ve implemented a daily community meeting, held every day as the kids return from school, They can use that meeting to talk about the ups and downs of their day, ask me questions or just eat their snack and listen to others.
What’s your biggest wish for the children in our care? I wish there were more resources available for them so they can move on from here and continue the healing process that often starts here.
How can we, as an Agency, better serve these children? I think we do a great job providing kids in our care with new experiences and stability that many of them have never had. Being able to continue and extend our wonderful partnerships with so many in the community, from the schools to the recreation centers, from the Boys and Girls Club to local businesses, will continue to make the real difference for our kids.
What drives you to do the work you do? My father was in a car accident when I was 8 years old. He was in the hospital for 99 days and, during that time, I became the ‘man of the house,’ cooking breakfast for my mother and sister every morning. I grew up a lot in those three months. Having had that experience, I can only imagine what it must be like to not have supportive and loving parents from such a young age. After college, my first job was working as a counselor at a residential treatment center, similar to Kids in Crisis. So being here makes my career ‘arc’ seem like it has come full circle. Working with children just feels comfortable to me.
What’s your most recent “success story?” We have a young man, now 12, who had missed school the majority of last year and was participating in some serious gang involvement. After a rocky start with our rules and procedures, he has blossomed. He has made great relationships with others in the house – particularly the younger ones – who tend to view him as a “big brother.” Along with doing well in school, he’s participating in basketball and football leagues and pick-up games. He has made a strong friend in school and has spent some time with him and his family, most notably on Christmas Day. Our resident is looking forward to attending his class field trip to Washington DC later this spring. He has asked to stay locally until the school year ends and our social worker is advocating for him to be placed in foster care close by so that he can finish out the school year. He recently wrote to his DCF worker highlighting his progress and requesting not to be returned to his hometown for fear of being drawn back into his old activities. He has really come a long way at Kids in Crisis and is a great example of how the comprehensive, loving care we provide can dramatically change a young life.
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Knowledge is Power
Recently, the Teen House program at Kids in Crisis began a new partnership with the Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) a non-profit organization located at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford. CCA works to promote and protect the legal rights and interests of children who are dependent upon the judicial, child welfare, health and mental health, education, and juvenile justice systems for their care.
An off-shoot of the school-based legal services program the group implemented in 1998, CCA’s Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic provides legal services to youth in shelters and other community sites. Staff and law students offer legal advice and representation to teens in an effort to help them solve the crises in their lives. Now, CCA and Kids in Crisis have teamed up to present workshop trainings for adolescents at the Teen House, teaching them how to recognize and respond to legal issues affecting them. Topics include the legal rights of teens in foster care (as well as those in group placements), educational rights of homeless children and more. “Because of the circumstances of their lives, many of the kids in our care struggle to feel like a participant in their own lives, understand what their rights are and to have a voice in decisions made on their behalf,” said Craig Haen, Clinical Director, Adolescent Services. “This collaboration provides us with the means to help educate and empower our residents to navigate the system and advocate appropriately for their own needs.”
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