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Children Are the Forgotten Victims of Traumatic Events
Many children in the
Toledo area are exposed to traumatic life events. More than
half experience traumatic events such as abuse, violence,
terrorism, disaster, neighborhood gang violence and
traumatic loss. Many experience more than one such event.
Many children live with chronic trauma with no time for
healing between events.
Most children can return
to prior levels of functioning with time and support from
family and trusted adults. But what if the adults themselves
live with chronic trauma?
Beatrice Daniels, trauma
and grief management specialist, and the staff of A Journey
Through Healing, are arranging a two-and-a-half day camp.
Camp Journey, to be held at the Boys and Girls Club on
Detroit Avenue, focusing on the grief and trauma experienced
by our children and youth: death of grandparent, parent,
friend, incarceration of parent, lack of attention because
of abusive situations, bullying in neighborhood and school,
gang violence in the neighborhood, the current opiate crisis
and so many others.
Most children with
persistent trauma-related distress do not receive
psychological treatment, indeed adults in grief do not even
recognize the toll a traumatic or violent event takes on
children. Children do not and cannot recover on their own,
no matter how resilient we believe children to be. This may
be due to cost, lack of insurance for treatment, or the
inability of parents and caregivers to recognize and
acknowledge symptoms other than their own. We hope to fill
that void with the activities of Camp Journey.
The camp is scheduled for
August 1, 2 and 3 – all day Thursday and Friday, with a
completion ceremony on Saturday. The schedule will include
age-appropriate sessions for youth and family groups, games
and recreation, creative activities, sessions for parents
and caregivers, respite activities for caregivers,
especially grandparents when parents are unable to provide
adequate care and support.
Camp Journey staff are in
process of inviting motivational speakers, grief coaches,
musicians and other facilitators who have experience with
youth and can offer age-appropriate sessions. The wonderful
facilities of the Boys and Girls Club will provide swimming
and other “energy-consuming” activities for a blend of
physical and psychological outlets for participants.
Please free to contact Bea
Daniels for more details at 419-531-1336 for more
information
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