We are excited to announce that we have a Wisconsin CCLS, Susan “Boon” Murray, deploying with Children’s Disaster Services in Oroville, CA! Please keep those displaced and affected by the flooding, as well as all the emergency responders and disaster volunteers in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to navigate this disaster.
IMMEDIATE NEED: Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has been asked by the American Red Cross to have two teams of volunteers ready to go to Oroville, CA, if needed to help assist as evacuations are underway. Residents are being evacuated after the spillway on a major dam began to break over the weekend. The Red Cross …
Today was our last day in the LAC. Lake Isabella, Kernville, Squirrel Valley and South Lake will forever hold a place close to my heart. These towns have such a strong sense of community and I will always be thankful for my time spent there. The LAC had so many different resources present to provide to …
I have been so fortunate to have heard so many of these children’s “stories”. Some children come running into the center and yell, “Stupid Fire!” And then immediately engage in play. Some children express minor details of the fire during dramatic play and then quickly state, “And that’s the end of that story.” While other children sit …
This is such a common phrase used in the field of Child Life. We have been seeing significantly low numbers here in the Local Assistance Center (LAC) since setting up, however, I don’t think that has anything to say in relation to the quality of interventions provided. Almost all of the children we have seen …
We celebrated the 4th of July a little different than I usually do…(no fireworks). The children that we did see lost everything, their entire home. Their mother was present attempting to organize the final details of them transitioning to their new home. I think the photo below captures a lot more then words can explain. Patty …
I can honestly say now that I have a completely different perspective on what happens when a disaster strikes. I have been trying to put into words what this first day has been like and I am having a much more challenging time than anticipated. I think all I want to say right now is …
Tomorrow I head off to Kernville, CA to provide support to the children and families affected by the Erskine fires. I have been feeling a range of different emotions since I finally received confirmation of my travel plans; (excited, eager, nervous, honored, and extremely grateful that I have this opportunity). I’ve already figured out that …
Minnesota Child Life Specialist Deploying to CA Wildfires Read More »
I’m really glad I went and it was so evident how impactful my child life education and skills were. My team was made up of wonderful retired elementary teachers, special education teachers, preschool teachers, etc. I could see how the education and experience in critical settings that we get as Child Life Specialists was unmatched …