a precious letter from one of our own

*As you probably noticed, this letter had the author’s name removed for sensitivity to our population. 

something's gotta give...

This article was recently released with the LA Times. It was written by Garrett Therolf who has followed the unfortunate happenings within the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County supervisors ordered child welfare officials to disclose deaths resulting from abuse or neglect, amid questions Tuesday about why dozens of such fatalities apparently were not made public.

Supervisors told county staff to come up with a plan to implement a series of recommendations proposed by Michael Gennaco, chief attorney for the county's Office of Independent Review. Gennaco, who was asked by the board to conduct an independent audit, reported that the inquiry uncovered at least 22 cases in the last 2 1/2 years in which the county had not disclosed the deaths of children under the scrutiny of the child welfare system.

Department of Children and Family Services Director Trish Ploehn told supervisors "there is no excuse" for how the department had handled the disclosures.

Gennaco said the failure to publicly disclose those deaths violated state law. Among his recommendations:

* The release of all records inappropriately concealed.

* An end to the department’s practice of asking law enforcement agencies to issue any objections to the disclosure of records without first giving investigators an opportunity to review them.

* An independent auditor to regularly evaluate the department's decisions about which fatalities to disclose to the public.

Ploehn took deep breaths and was visibly uncomfortable under questioning by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. She insisted that the failures to disclose deaths to the public had been honest mistakes and said she had been unaware of the problem until last week.

Yaroslavsky suggested that he has information contradicting her assertion. "There are some reasons to believe that this is not just an accidental disconnect," he said, declining to elaborate.

In addition to the inaccurate picture provided to the public,  the undisclosed deaths also escaped review by the county's child-death investigator, Rosemarie Belda. Belda is responsible for recommending reforms to address any systemic issues at play in the deaths, and she can  investigate only cases assigned to her by the Board of Supervisors, the county executive or Ploehn.

It was also unclear if officials had disciplined any social workers for errors that may have contributed to the undisclosed fatalities. Ploehn has said her department imposed no discipline on the social workers involved in the investigation of Jorge Tarin, the 11-year-old Montebello boy who hanged himself with a jump-rope just hours after he was interviewed in his home by county officials.

Supervisor Don Knabe said he opposed efforts to look back at any omissions.

"I do not agree with the recommendation that we have to go revisit these cases," Knabe said.

Supervisor Gloria Molina had asked for the independent audit after Yaroslavsky questioned why officials had not disclosed  Jorge's suicide even though the boy had told authorities he planned to kill himself to end beatings and abuse.

Only 38 deaths resulting from abuse or neglect had been disclosed to the public by the department. But according to Gennaco, his inquiry found about 60 cases in which  the department  had gone to court to allege that a child with surviving siblings had died of abuse or neglect and that the siblings should be permanently removed from the home.

Social workers do not always file such petitions in court when a child dies. So officials acknowledge that the total number of abuse and neglect deaths  could be significantly higher than 60.

The lack of clarity over the numbers was another indication of county officials' confusion about how many children have died of abuse or neglect after their families came under the scrutiny of child welfare workers.

At  Tuesday's meeting, officials discussed as new all 60 cases now under review. Ploehn never disputed the number during that discussion. After Gennaco later alerted The Times that the number of new cases was unclear,  department spokesman Nishith Bhatt said he was unable to say for certain the total number of abuse or neglect  deaths. William T Fujioka, who is ultimately responsible for day-to-day oversight of  the department, did not return repeated messages.

Ploehn has been criticized repeatedly by Yaroslavsky and Molina in recent months for management lapses, and supervisors' aides said  Ploehn had recently polled their offices to gauge their support for her continued tenure.

Ploehn, who briefly answered questions from The Times on Tuesday, said her department  would soon release records for each abuse or neglect fatality as required by the state public disclosure law. For months, The Times has been denied repeated requests for such records, and under the law's 10-day deadline  after such a request, the records  are already overdue.

Under an approved motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, staff was ordered to report to the board within 30 days on the implementation of Gennaco's recommendations and on a quarterly basis thereafter.

In addition, Ploehn said she would be establishing a new protocol for social workers who want to file a petition that children should be removed from their parents because a sibling has died of abuse or neglect.

Before filing such a petition in the future, social workers must first consult  the department's risk management unit, which is responsible for determining which cases are subject to public disclosure and for minimizing liability, she said.

When we saw this article we couldn’t help but remember that these are the things, and others like this sort, that no human should ever know as truth, but that the small children that we serve go through. There are many of these little children out there, harmed sometimes by the transgressions of the adults in their life that are supposed to care for them. Although these stories are saddening, we are grateful for the reminder that they give to love and to LOVE with all we have.

response to a week of love...

Upon returning from camp we've received some feedback from a foster mom whose little girl will soon reunite with a biological father she barely knows:

         "I have to tell you that, before camp, the stress of our situation had gotten to both of us, and we were having seemingly incessant conflict. She'd become irreverent, disrespectful and just plain mean. We were in a terrible place.  When I dropped her off for camp I was so afraid of how she'd behave.

         When she approached me on returning from camp, I immediately felt her peace. The child I picked up has been beautiful, kind, and sweet—more so than I have ever known her to be. What magic the volunteers performed.  

         I am so grateful to you for rescuing our fragile little family unit! I have such a short time left to spend with her and, now, thanks to all of you, it won't be filled with difficulty. We'll be able to really enjoy one another's company. Thank you!"

It's 2010, not 2009!

Day One; Tuesday July 6^th

After arriving up at our campsite in Big Bear on Monday, and doing much setup and preparation, our favorite part of the day arrived.  At about 12:30 a chartered bus pulled down the dirt driveway bringing to us 34 smiling faces.  Each child was whisked through a parade of welcomers and over to the Chapel on the Rocks where they were introduced, two at a time, to their counselors for the week.  Next, sack lunches to be enjoyed while they explored the site with their freshly formed 2 campers, 1 counselor team. 

After soaking each other in and exploring the grounds, all campers headed to a Drum Circle to get the party started and, two at a time, into a small log cabin, known as Bonanza (since Bonanza was filmed there), where they painted their hands and placed them onto a banner and then onto a tee shirt to form a heart. 

Flash forward about an hour to Everybody’s Birthday Party where each camper was blessed by name and by gift, thanks to the ever-generous Birthday Fairy and celebrated with dinner and an extra-ordinary cupcake dessert courtesy of DOTS. This part of camp is very special to us as it isn’t unusual that our kids do not get to celebrate their birthdays throughout the year.

Dinner and dessert were followed by a performance from our very own Drama Team at the outdoor Amphitheater and a night of Ice Breakers to get to know each other.  We finished off our night with a bedtime story of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” read to us by our Nana and Papa, since Grandma and Grandpa (who started our camp) couldn’t be with us this year.  Once our story was over, each camper went back to his or her room to get ready for bed, discuss the day ahead, and had delivery of precious mail from their fellow campers and volunteers then; LIGHTS OUT!

Phew, a long and joyous day!

Day Two; Wednesday July 7^th

         Rise and Shine and get ready for the day to come. Breakfast for all, followed by a segment at Chapel on the Rocks about 1 Peter 2:9; “For you are a chosen people, a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light.” (We’ll get to the significance of remembering this verse come Friday night.) After Chapel on the Rocks the children went to the Athletic Field with the Staff while their counselors took an hour to rest and shower. Our coaches taught the campers a few things about soccer. Next, a snack of granola bars and Apple Rush Maui Organic Sparking Apple Juice for their hard work and onto the Morning Show where they were blessed by our very own storyteller as well as praised for their hard work playing soccer.

         Following the Morning Show was a new and loved addition to camp that we called the Rotation Activities.  Camp was divided into three smaller groups that moved from three very special activities each day. One day of a Drum & Music Circle, one day of Printmaking, and one day of a Service Dog Assembly.  Then finally it was time to wash up and go to lunch.

         After lunch each day is an hour of mandated rest and quiet time we call 30/30 time. You can imagine how it goes with 34 kids who are very excited to be at camp and enjoy the lake. Rest? Quiet time? Right! 

         On this, the first day the lake was open, from 2 o’clock to 4 o’clock, we had Family Lake Day where EVERYONE on site went down to the lake to play. Swimming in the lake, catching a fish for the first time, learning how to bait a hook, kissing your fish, canoeing, splashing, sun bathing, you name it, this was the time. This time to ALL be together is always a favorite! The hour after this was free time but most of the kids stayed down at the lake.  When you don’t usually have access to this therapeutic time in the water, why wouldn’t you?

         Post lake time, wash up for dinner and then replenish the energy you’ve used up for the day. After dinner we headed back to the Amphitheater for the second installment of the drama and more camp songs.  If you don’t know Bazooka-zooka Bubble Gum, the McDonald’s song, Wataliatcha, Boom Chick A Boom, Duke of York, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and so many others that elude at the moment, you’re missing out! Once we were through singing some songs of our own we moved inside for a special performance from The Colour Elect who sang for us and talked to us about becoming singers and songwriters. 

         Next up, bedtime, (yawn)…and we are carried off to dreamland.

Day Three; Thursday July 8^th

By this point camp is running, and we mean RUNNING, at it’s own pace and the mornings look pretty much the same with a few minor excepts like a new meal of pancakes…

moved from soccer to volleyball on the Athletic field…

praised a whole new set of campers for their hard work during the Morning Show…

heard a new story…

moved from yesterday’s assigned Rotation Activities to today’s.

THEN…

Lunch.

Rest, sweet rest.

FREE TIME of hiking, lake time, mail writing, Arts & Crafts, Talent Show rehearsals, etc etc etc.

Wash up.

Dinner.

Drama and songs.

Then, the pace changes again for the night.  Wednesday we heard songs from a band and how they became songwriters and this night we were blessed to have heard from Caitlin Crosby about a project that she continues to pour herself into as well as some songs.  Her project is called LoveYourFlawz and it is all about learning to love yourself for ALL that you are.  Her message spoke strongly to our whole family, both kids and adults, and we love her for it!

After Caitlin was finished, but before we moved outside, we had a little talk by our resident fire fighters about fire safety.  Then, we moved outside for our first ever campfire. Most of us adults know that being huddled closely around a campfire does something special to your soul but most of our campers had yet to experience a like this. Huddled closely around the fire and cuddled up next to each other, we had the joy of hearing from each counselor about their two campers, their character, what they were like to be with 24 hours a day and the way that they changed each other’s lives. This time to publicly encourage our campers goes further than any of us truly understand. Think about the last time that you were praised in front of a large group.  Most of us have never been affirmed in that way and most of our campers won’t again until next year. This is HUGE! You can see their behavior change as you do it. Try it with your own kids! After we went through each and every one we took a moment to ALL look up into the sky at the stars and bask in the gifts that God has given us in each other. Blessed we are, beyond belief. 

Bed, mail, and slumber…

Day Four; Friday July 9^th

         Same as the past mornings but this day by lunch time every kid had tried out a handful of new sports, heard a handful of new stories, and been to each Rotation Activity.  Filled to the brim with new experiences and knowledge to share with each other, their caregivers and us volunteers, as they go back home.

Lunch.

        

Then, while every other camper had their 30/30 time of rest all the 11 year-olds in the graduating class had special time to sneak away with their counselors.  Each 11 year-old child decorated a “popsicle stick person” in their likeness and wrote on note cards the things they most treasured about themselves and placed them into a treasure chest.  After doing so they were off on their 11 year-old hike.

When they arrived back they joined up with the rest of the group who were busy during Free Time. (Which for most meant lake time and catching, by this point, “my 10^th fish” time.) After Free Time was over and dinner was eaten our whole family went to the Amphitheater for songs and the Camp Graduation. Each 11 year-old was called forth by name and given a special gift of a copy of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss with an individualized inscription inside each cover.

        

Then it was time for the much anticipated Talent Show:

 - Fresh and catchy songs written by campers that we’ll never forget like “It’s 2010, not 2009!” by one of                         our newest 7 year-old campers

- Exciting new choreographed dances as well as free style dances

            - Re-enactments of some of the best moments of camp (like counselors in canoes almost getting hit by “Catch and Release” fishermen and everybody’s favorite “Where’s Uncle So-and-So?” taking a boastful “I’ll kick it to the trees!” step up at soccer and slipping onto his butt.)

            -Probably the most popular was in regards to 1 Peter 2:9 as I referred earlier.  A male volunteer told one of our graduating 11 year-old girl campers, that if she memorized the verse he would eat a bait worm.  (Mind you, these are not little earthworms they are HUGE worms!) She lured him into thinking that she didn’t have it memorized as she (fake) stuttered through the first couple words and then nailed it, making him have to face the 7 inch long worm while being taunted by 34 screaming campers. Queasy yet? Pure camp stories!

         All the campers headed back to the their rooms to get ready for bed except for the graduating class who moved quietly and cautiously down to the lake to place each of their popsicle stick people onto a wooden boat along with their treasure chest and allow it to set sail just as we are sending them off. Next they were allowed some planned mischief of toilet papering a volunteer's car. Every camp needs a little planned fun! 

        

         Then it was off to bed, reading mail, and dreams about the laughter and fun of camp!

Day Five; Saturday July 10^th

         A quiet but joyful rise, breakfast, delivery of packed bags to the parking lot and our last Chapel on the Rocks together.  All this followed by planting a Cedar tree that the returning campers will get to watch grow each year.  Then the boarding of the bus through the pouring out of “I love you”, “I’m proud of you”, “Be good” and a hopeful “I’ll see you next year.”

Each of these things said with love, hope, and joy, and the occasional heart break of the knowledge that a lot of these little ones aren’t looking forward to going home the way that we are; to people who love and support us, a comfy bed, a hot shower, and a fresh meal, but knowing that as they go we’ve done all we can, given all we’ve can, and loved until it hurt to make a big impact on their little lives.

To each of you who were apart of this journey over the last 365 days, a HUGE Thank You!  You donated your time, your money, your ideas, your care, your prayers and mostly your love to make this work for yet another year. We can’t express enough how important you ALL are to us and our mission and how much we truly can’t do it without each and every member of our FAMILY.

WE LOVE YOU!

Signing off for 2010 and looking on to 2011! 

LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS

“I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.”  -Mother Teresa

While reading these wise words from Mother Teresa this afternoon, I realized how much it applies to what we will be doing up at camp next week.  Even at the end of the first day, our bodies will start to feel the pain of altitude and running around our campus; up and down the stairs and hills, around the lake and back, planning every little detail before our little ones arrive.  Then, at the end of the second day, we’ll begin to feel the physical “hurt” of little sleep, dwindling nutrients, & a lack of caffeine as well as the emotional “hurt” of a heart stretched and stressed for our children.  As the week goes on, we will push on and continue to LOVE until it hurts, until the hurt is replaced with even more love and all the while knowing, when we return back home, we’ll know that we did the best we could and LOVED UNTIL IT HURT to be filled again with even greater love. 

Just two weeks from today,

...all of our munchkins, 32 this year, will be arriving at camp.  To get to this point we’ve done lots to prepare. 

We had a “Down-to-Business” training meeting in March to allow all volunteers, both old and new, to gain insight into how best to serve and love the population of the children at our camp. We were very excited about the structure of our training this year! Throughout the course of this day volunteers had a chance to be introduced to the new additions to our family, connect with returning volunteers, hear from our leadership team and board of directors, as well as a priceless visit from Franklin Smith, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Mental Health training and consulting.

Then in April we gathered again to allow all volunteers, both old and new, to continue to establish and build the relationships amongst ourselves, which is what truly propels us to be able to serve. What better way to have done this but spending a Saturday afternoon picnicking in the park with friends? That is exactly what we did. Throughout the course of this day we also continued to build on our training with some games and role-playing.

Last, but not least, we gathered up at our campsite in May for a weekend of team building, training, and campsite preparation.  This was an especially wet year up in Big Bear so much of the trailblazing that is our “norm” for this weekend was deferred to cleaning, replacing dirt for steps, and clearing some large fallen brush from the trails. We even got to wake up Sunday morning to an unusually late in the year snowstorm!

         Now that we are all trained, bonded, and ready to go we will wait on the kiddies.  These final weeks, as the boxes on our “to-do” lists get checked, we will continue to pray for camp and all that it entails, especially for the hearts of our little ones. We are also trying to push on to reach our monetary needs before camp, that the burden could be lifted.  If you could help us by donating using the button on the right that would be of great and crucial help. Thanks so much for your prayers, donations, & support during these final weeks…for the children! 

to visit orphans in their distress...

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans (and widows) in their distress…” James 1:27

In a meditation of what this means, John Piper tells us, “Face it. A few kids are cute, but most street kids will be thankless, rude, dirty, diseased, scar-faced, shifty-eyed, lice-infested, suspicious, smelly, and have rotten teeth.”  The mystery to how these children got to this place in their short life may never be understood in whole but we can get a pretty good idea if we understand where some of them have been.

Most of them were born into this world without ever having a sense of belonging to anyone.  Imagine, the feeling we get from home.  Home doesn’t have to be the actual place you live but more so the feelings of home.  For me it’s a comfy bed and a fluffy blanket, a hot shower and a clean towel, the freedom of food and health, and opportunity for love and peace that you can’t find anywhere else.  It’s the people that make home just that for me. The consistency of family and friends and even the consistency of the barista at the local coffee shop all give the feeling of home.

For these kids there is NO home.  There is no person or people that give them the sense of home that we yearn for, even as adults, after being on vacation or trip away from it for a while. They are constantly shifted from home to home for any number of reasons and most of the time for no reason at all. As soon as they are settled the carpet gets taken out from under them yet again.

If we gave our time, money, effort and love for the payoff of an investment, we would burn out after only a week. If we did this because we believed that there is a way of changing these little ones in five short days, we wouldn’t come back year after year.  The truth is that it takes so much more than what we are humanly able to give. The results of what we do are not up to us, which does not take away our responsibility but essentially makes it greater.  When we grasp that we do what we do with hope for future grace, we will be able to comfort and love the ones who are least likely to thank us. For the reward is much greater when we can give with no expectation of reward aside from a proliferating love.