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đź•Š Towards a More Trauma-Informed Church: Partnering for Healing đź•Š

Dear Church Leaders,

At Care in Action Minnesota, we believe that every faith community has the potential to be a powerful force for healing and support.

Trauma is not a new concept to the Christian faith; it’s deeply embedded in the Bible’s narratives of suffering and resilience. From child abuse and persecution to spiritual trauma and more, the pages of Scripture bear witness to the realities of trauma and the enduring need for healing.

We invite you to join us for an insightful and interactive luncheon discussion and presentation led by the founder and current Board President of Care in Action Minnesota, Peter Singer, MSW, LICSW. Peter Singer, a dedicated expert in trauma-informed practice, will delve into the crucial subject of trauma within the context of faith communities.

Discussion Highlights

  • The biblical narrative: A journey through Scripture to understand the centrality of trauma.
  • Trauma and faith: Exploring the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual impacts of trauma, especially in cases of abuse and misuse of power within the Church.
  • The Church’s responsibility: Reflecting on how the Church has responded to survivors of abuse and the concept of retraumatization.
  • Trauma basics: A comprehensive look at trauma, prevalence, and the essential principles that guide trauma-informed practice.
  • SAMHSA’s Six Key Principles: Discover the core principles behind trauma-informed practice and their applicability in the Church.
  • The role of faith communities: How we can create safe, healing environments, support survivors, and prevent retraumatization.

We are committed to fostering safer and more compassionate communities. Pete Singer’s expertise and our partnership with faith leaders like you can help make this a reality. We encourage you to be part of this transformative discussion, as we believe that together, we can shape a more trauma-informed, caring, and supportive Church.

Why Attend

  • Gain insights into trauma within faith communities.
  • Understand the principles of trauma-informed practice.
  • Explore how Care in Action Minnesota and your faith community can collaborate to create safer, more supportive environments.
  • Network and exchange ideas with fellow church leaders.

We look forward to having you join us in this important conversation. Together, we can move toward a more trauma-informed Church and fulfill our calling to support and heal those who have been affected by trauma.

RSVP

https://bit.ly/TraumaInformedChurch

Let’s be the change we wish to see in our communities. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of survivors and create a more supportive, healing environment for all.

Blessings,
Katherine A. Sims-Delgado
Executive Director
Care in Action Minnesota

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Announcing Our New Logo & Look!

Big News! After fifteen years, we’re releasing an updated brand identity. You’ll see the new look anywhere we’re out in public, our website, Facebook and Twitter. 

This redesign was made possible by the generous support of Constitution Lending. Constitution partnered with us to contribute their staff time to the full redesign and implementation of these changes.

As a small grassroots organization we try to ensure all available funding and resources go directly towards the children and families we serve. Without the generosity of Constitution Lending, modernizing our look to keep us appealing to new donors and ultimately enabling us to serve more children & families would have been left on the back burner for years.

We wanted a design that speaks for kids by harnessing the magic of colors and rooted in a message of hope and love. And we’re excited to introduce the results.

As this change happens, services will continue uninterrupted. Our developing organizational identity continues to be fueled by the tenacity of our supporters.

While we may have a new logo and look, Care in Action Minnesota remains committed to a vision of a world with no family violence, where all children, youth, and families can operate at their full potential and have the resources and skills they need to live with hope and dignity.

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Introducing Care in Action Minnesota’s New Executive Director

Dear Friends of Care in Action Minnesota,

I am excited and honoured to begin a new chapter with Care in Action Minnesota as I serve in the role of Executive Director. This is an incredible opportunity to continue working for a leading organization focused on fostering equity and creating a world with no family violence, where all children, youth, and families in our community can operate at their full potential and have the resources and skills they need to live with hope and dignity. As I look to the future of Care in Action Minnesota and how we can grow to meet the needs of our neighbors, I do so through this lens.

For those of you who I have not been able to meet yet, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I bring experience in fundraising, community relations, marketing, and program development to Care in Action Minnesota, as well as a deep understanding of the mission and vision of Care in Action Minnesota. As I step out of my role as the Program Coordinator and transition into the role of Executive Director, one of my main priorities is to continue fostering meaningful working relationships and collaborations that make our work possible.  Our community faces innumerable pressures and challenges, but I am optimistic that we will continue to make a positive and lasting impact through our collective work.  

Minnesota is my home and I am passionate about making a difference in my community. I am confident that there is no better way to achieve this than working through Care in Action Minnesota alongside our dedicated volunteers and supporters. I am eager to apply my many personal and professional experiences to guide Care in Action Minnesota into the next phase of its evolution. As we grow and acclimate to an ever-changing world, we will continue to strive towards organizational sustainability, adaptability, and perseverance.  

I would like to take this time to thank my predecessor and the founder of Care in Action Minnesota, Pete Singer. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to get to know Pete and work closely with him this past year. I am grateful for his continued dedication to this organization and those we serve as well as for his role as a mentor to me. I also want to recognize the tremendous effort put forth by our board – an amazing group of talented people who make our organization what it is today.  Their collective skills and passion are unmatched and I appreciate their dedication to our work and look forward to leading the organization to a bright future alongside them.

I hope to have the opportunity to get to know each of you — our donors, volunteers, partners and neighbors.

I appreciate your continued support of Care in Action Minnesota and look forward to sharing our stories and news with you.

With humble gratitude,

Katherine A. Sims,

Executive Director,

Care in Action Minnesota

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Care in Action Minnesota Receives Grant from Sauer Family Foundation

Minnesota (December 28th, 2020) –Care in Action Minnesota (CIAM) is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Sauer Family Foundation. These funds will support us in our efforts as we work to enhance the quality of life of children who have experienced abuse or neglect, strengthen families, connect communities, and prevent childhood maltreatment, by providing timely crucial support that meets the basic needs of local families 

The community foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. In 2019, CIAM received its first crucial investment from the Sauer Family Foundation, which allowed us to hire our first staff person ever, after 15 years of fully volunteer run! Like Care in Action Minnesota, the Sauer Family Foundation believes “when children are abused or neglected, we need to attend to the child’s well-being and support their family.” In addition to this trauma informed response that focuses on family healing, we know preventing child maltreatment requires a focus on these protective factors within children and families that can reduce risks, build family capacity, and foster resilience. This focus is crucial to our work because abuse and neglect are often associated with factors and conditions causing families to experience toxic levels of stress; including: lack of access to basic resources, housing instability, poverty, mental health issues and social isolation. Conversely, access to these concrete resources and services can help meet families’ basic needs and support parents in their role.

While the pandemic created an array of unforeseen circumstances this past year, due to the critical investment we received from the Sauer Family Foundation, as well as, CIAM’s unique positioning, collaborative structure, and our established focus on assuring access to basic needs, while targeting a population at-risk to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, CIAM was poised to quickly and directly deploy resources in response to immediate emergency needs in our community. 

Looking ahead, with the continued generous support of the Sauer Family Foundation, CIAM’s positioning to address the growing issues surrounding childhood maltreatment is reinforced and strengthened. Care in Action Minnesota will continue to work to ensure access to immediate basic needs like groceries, housing and health-related services. Additionally, in an effort to combat COVID-19 learning loss and the digital divide, CIAM continues to work to provide technology and equipment to facilitate and enhance virtual learning opportunities, delivered directly to the child’s door. Ultimately, we hope to meet the urgent needs in our communities, support equitable long-term recovery, and fortify our ongoing efforts to strengthen families and prevent childhood maltreatment. 

About the Sauer Family Foundation

The mission of the Sauer Family Foundation is to invest in strengthening the well-being of children so they thrive in their families and communities. They work in settings that serve children who are at-risk or experiencing abuse or neglect, exposed to toxic stress/trauma, or have challenges developing reading, writing and math skills. 

About Care in Action Minnesota

Care in Action Minnesota (CIAM) was established in 2005 to further a vision of the world with no family violence, where all children, youth, and families in our community can operate at their full potential and have the resources and skills they need to live with hope and dignity.

Through a grassroots engagement model and community connections, CIAM has built a committed network of donors, crowdfunding critical goods and services that are identified by partnered County Social Worker’s, in cooperation with the families receiving relief. 

For more information or to learn how you can get involved, visit our website or contact Katherine Sims at katherine@careinactionmn.org

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The link between COVID-19 and Child Abuse, and what we can do about it

COVID-19 may not be killing children in the same numbers as adults, but the virus that has locked down the world for nearly 6 months, is having a grave and long-lasting impact on children. When life is disrupted by a natural disaster, research has shown that incidents of abuse have increased, and children in dangerous situations can fall through the cracks in the system. Abuse and neglect are often associated with factors and conditions causing families to experience toxic levels of stress; including: lack of access to basic resources, housing instability, poverty, mental health issues and social isolation. Conversely, access to these concrete resources and services can help meet families’ basic needs and support parents in their role. Child maltreatment prevention requires a focus on these protective factors within children and families that can reduce risks, build family capacity, and foster resilience.

Unfortunately, the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused increases in known risk factors, primarily: social isolation, parental stress, and economic strain. Many child protection professionals believe child abuse is likely to increase during the pandemic because most abusers are parents or siblings who now have more complete access to the child victim. In turn, the victim may no longer have school teachers, faith leaders or other mandated reporters they can access for help or who may detect a sign of abuse.

Here’s what we’re doing about it

Care in Action Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, that provides essential support and assures access to basic needs for foster youth, children and families impacted by abuse or neglect across Minnesota, since 2005. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, we work to promote the social, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of children, strengthen families, connect communities and prevent childhood maltreatment. We thrive to foster equity, trauma-informed healing, family stability, and self-sufficiency.

With a continuing need to social distance as more become sick, we’ve seen needs quickly mount like never before. Everything from basics, like food to emergency financial assistance to pay for things like rent is urgently needed as families continue to experience lost wages due to illness or business closures and layoffs. As the crisis continues to grow, so do the negative effects on peoples’ health and their financial well being. Making it even more important than ever to provide immediate financial assistance to these families.

Through Care in Action Minnesota COVID-19 Family Emergency Relief Fund, we’re raising $5,000 to provide direct support to over 100 struggling families in our community

Ultimately, we hope our efforts respond to immediate needs, support equitable recovery, and strengthen our ongoing efforts to support child well-being, strengthen families, connect communities and prevent childhood maltreatment.

During times of uncertainty and crisis, it’s imperative we come together as a community to support one another. Join us today by supporting and sharing this campaign with a friend!