The last Manna Connect graduation ceremony was on a frigid fall evening. I arrived cold, hungry, and tired due to a busy day at work and long drive in rush hour traffic. Within moments, however, I was greeted warmly, welcomed into a bright and cheerful space, and offered a fantastic taco dinner. The extended kinship of connection is just one way that Manna Connect and the community came together to celebrate its Fall 2019 class of graduates. And it was inspirational.
There is always light amidst all the uncertainty and fear that bubbles amongst children who reside at Tennyson, and the staff who care for them while carrying their own fears and anxieties.
Because the coronavirus is not only changing our lives but also making us look over our shoulders, wondering where it awaits us…
Despite all this we celebrated last night.
We maintain traditions and keep focused on our core mission, especially in our COVID-19 world.
And I am celebrating, as a kiddo who has been in Tennyson’s residential program is going home.
“New challenges have emerged with elderly caregivers. This is a particularly relevant issue right now because of the vulnerability of this population as well as their inability to access and utilize technology as easily.
My team has been working very hard to set them up for success.”
Trauma does not take a break, but we need to retool so that the support they need is available. Just not as much in person as we would have liked.
Kids at Tennyson thrive on connections. And that, for all the reasons we all know now, is being restricted.
“I have so many treasured memories over more than 60 years of loving the kids, the staff, the board members, and the mission of Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home.” - Sandra Hergenreder, Donor
The work our direct care staff does every day is unbelievably challenging, and it is an honor to help support the life changing work that happens at this organization. I feel incredibly lucky to work with a team that knows we have the responsibility to be there for every child, no matter what.
Children smile as they retell stories that recall happy times with mom or dad. These stories are unprompted, but so close to the surface that they burst out. One child told me recently of a fairy who accomplished amazing feats of bravery, and miraculously carried the storyteller’s name. She finished by saying “that was my mom’s favorite story” as she slowly gazes off.
Studies show that mindfulness is effective in helping children who have been abused or neglected by reducing stress and anxiety, hostility, suicidal thoughts and self-harm among other benefits. Clinicians at Tennyson Center for Children teach mindfulness techniques to children to help them learn calm, cope and reduce their anxiety.
“Give us those families, the ones that you are heartbroken you are turning away,” Breslin said. “Our hope is you never see them again. Child welfare is always going to be needed, but it shouldn’t be at this level.”
There are many ways to support Tennyson’s kids this holiday season, from Giving Tuesday to Colorado Gives Day, peer-to-peer social fundraising and more.
On the last day of his life, Ron told Kathy that he hoped that in all the years of his ministry, he had “made a difference” along the way. After he passed, many people told Kathy and their children, David and Kristin, about the difference Ron had made in their lives. The family decided to “pay this difference forward” to the incredible staff at Tennyson Center who are changing the lives of children every single day.
Tennyson will always provide care and treatment to those who need it, without falter. However, we are also working to prove earlier, targeted, and creative interventions and partnerships to help families sooner. Healthy families mean thriving communities and fewer children entering the child welfare system…Instead of waiting until everyone needs the “hospital” interventions, we can provide full-strength preventative care “vaccines” earlier to the kids in Colorado.
When I need a moment to pause, a moment to collect myself and search for some hope and optimism, I head into my office and gaze at my walls. It is filled with paintings from children aged 5-17 years old whose journeys through child welfare, while bumpy, just might be trending upwards.
Through Operation Santa, our donors help us provide holiday magic to the kids and families of Tennyson Center. Their involvement enables us to provide a meaningful Christmas. We also rely on many volunteers to help with Operation Santa.
The goal of Tennyson’s Life Skills Program is to set students up for success prior to discharging from Tennyson. Students aged 12 years and up are given the opportunity to earn an internship on campus; internships range from helping the marketing team to collecting recycling around the building to preparing meals for meetings.
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The 2018 law, called the Family First Prevention Services Act, is based on a simple premise: It’s healthier for children to live with relatives or in families than in what’s called “congregate care.”
“…our brave guest paused and, with sadness mixed with a touch of anger, said she spends every waking moment ‘trying to shed the shackles of the child welfare system. Every. Day.’”
The depth of trauma each child has experienced is significant. The abuse is profound and their case files are not easy to read. I meet many of these children and see the pain on their faces, in their eyes, in their mannerisms and in their behaviors — which range literally across the spectrum from angry and violent to meek and silent.
What troubles me the most are the missed opportunities along each child’s bumpy path prior to becoming child welfare involved; moments in time where alternatives could have been explored.
“They handed him his diploma, and it broke him,” Marlene said. “He told me, ‘Mom, I did it.’”
Gilbert graduated from high school through the Adaptive Skills for People with Emotional Needs (ASPEN) Program at the Tennyson Center for Children, making him the first to earn a diploma from the 115-year-old organization.
Tennyson Center for Children - Rewiring Child Welfare
On March 13th, Tennyson Center CEO, Ned Breslin, was asked to testify to the Colorado General Assembly regarding the opioid crisis and the effects we see on the children and families we serve at Tennyson Center.
At Tennyson Center, our staff maintains engaging and effective programming through the summer months to address this challenge. We employ trauma-informed, experiential learning techniques such as our “Challenge by Choice” initiative that combines therapeutic support with Outward Bound-style adventures; horticulture through our healing garden and theme-based instruction like sports, electronics and others. Our Acute Skills for People with Emotional Needs (ASPEN) program also maintains meaningful programming in the summer for kids with autism spectrum and intellectual/developmental disorders.
Imagine your child has been struggling for months. Perhaps aggression, perhaps suicidal ideation, perhaps defiance or depression. He is in trouble at school, fighting with siblings, causing stress on your marriage and on the whole family. On top of that, you’re in danger of losing your job from having to take off work to help with crises all the time. You don’t have many supports and the bills are piling up. Finally you get referred for therapy services- only to find out that first you will have to wait 6-8 weeks on a waitlist. You know there is no way you and your child will be able to maintain for that long. The way things have been going, your child may end up in the hospital or in police custody soon, or you may lose your job. You simply cannot wait…
There aren’t any cookie-cutter kids. Join us in refusing to give them cookie-cutter services. Read our guest blog post on CO4Kids
Since last spring, students have participated in growing their own food by planting, watering, and weeding the garden. As we embark on a new school year, we will continue to use this space as a laboratory for hands-on learning.
I imagine there are too many kids in trouble still hiding under beds, trying to disappear into their covers or closets, not sleeping for fear that someone will walk in on them at night as happened before, and whose terror level rises as their parents enter darker alcohol and drug induced mindsets that truly put kids’ lives and wellbeing at risk.
I did my best to prepare myself for the emotions I would feel on that Saturday, but nothing can prepare you for the emotion you feel when the buses arrive. The energy was positive and powerful. People were excited and ready to work. They asked questions of our programs and services, wanting to know about our kiddos and the positive impact they would be making.