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For each child who comes through the doors of The Children’s Place, a journey from sadness,
fear, even terror, back to hope and trust begins. This was the case for 3 1/2 year old Lana*
when she and her 5 year-old brother Seth* arrived at The Children's Place. Both children had been referred to
the agency’s Day Treatment Services because they had been sexually abused. Lana’s father,
Seth’s stepfather, had molested him and Seth had then molested Lana. Both children had been
placed in foster homes and their mother, who had been in a state of denial about the abuse, was
under strict orders to keep the children away from her husband during their visitations with her.
After his initial assessments, it was determined that Seth required a residential treatment program
due to his aggressive behaviors.
In the early weeks after her enrollment, Lana was defiant - lashing out, kicking, screaming
and biting those around her. She was extremely non-compliant, resisting her teachers and therapist.
However, Lana was very bright, and in a nurturing environment with the professional help
she needed, she began to make progress. Therapists at The Children's Place are trained in leading edge, best
practices treatments for traumatized children and the agency is recognized for its work with sexually
abused children. Working with therapist Debbie Landis and teachers Marcia Werp and
Marnita Edwards, Lana learned what “safe touch” was and how not to allow others to control
her body or invade her personal space. Her therapist helped her with the identification of her
feelings, how to appropriately express them and act on them, how and when to ask for help
from an adult. Seven months into her program services, Lana was happy to be re-united with
her mother. Lana’s therapist and teachers also had been working with her mother who was anxious
to support Lana’s healing.
Ten months after coming to The Children's Place, Lana had achieved her treatment plan goals and educational
objectives and was ready to be discharged. Her behavior clearly had changed. She smiled
often, was cheerful with classmates and adults, and had become a positive leader in her classroom.
Lana was emotionally and behaviorally ready to move forward and be enrolled in a mainstream
child care program. For traumatized children like Lana, The Children's Place is a critical part of their journey
to a new life with trust, safety and, most of all, hope for a promising future.
*Not her real name
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