“It is a safe, loving and caring environment for children while their parents or guardians are involved in Court proceedings,” said Lasko. “They can play, watch a movie and have a snack while being sheltered from difficulties between their parents. The center provides information to parents concerning child care, WIC, parenting classes and other available resources in our community. It warms to my heart to go downstairs and see little ones playing or being cuddled or read to by one of the staff.”
Trauma Healing Center
The center’s site supervisor and Kingston Ward 4 alderwoman Shirley Whitlock feels devastated for what the reduction of services will mean to the children involved. “Kids are already living this situation,” said Whitlock. “The last thing these kids need is to listen to those moms and dads argue.” In the three years of Whitlock’s employment there, she has heard it all. “One little girl said to her mom, ‘Don’t go in there lying to the judge like you do everyone else’.” Whitlock said that each child gets a gift—usually a book and quite often a toy as well, and the goal is to make their short stay as fun as possible. “This is traumatic,” she said. “There’s cussing, screaming in the hallways. I try to defuse it. Sometimes I hold them. Other kids will entertain themselves. We have snacks, movies.”
Many of the kids come from the middle of raging and terrifying feuds, and are deeply affected. Whitlock and daycare volunteer Amy Landerway both described one little girl who stood and cried hysterically, refusing to let anyone comfort or even touch her. “The little girl actually fell asleep standing up,” said Landerway. Whitlock said the most intense, gut-wrenching scenes she regularly witnesses in the court house are removals — kids come in with their mom or one set of parents and leave with someone else— sometimes even a stranger or a social worker. Whitlock says those scenes are so painful to behold that she goes into the closet and cries when they’re over.
“I want to plead to people to find the funding to get this place open full-time,” said Whitlock. “It’s a definite need.”
A fundraising luncheon and silent auction is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24 at Frank Guido’s Little Italy to honor several residents and agencies devoted to children, with the Commissioner of Social Services Michael Iapoce as a guest speaker. Tickets are $25. For more information on the fundraiser contact the YWCA of Ulster County at (845) 338-0714.
Its unfortunate that they have slashed the budget. The innocent children have done no wrong to go through the long processes. Also, they are a bit of distraction for parents as well as the court room.
Please consider attending the fundraiser and silent auction to raise funds to expand center hours. Tickets are available by calling YWCA.
As a single mother who’s been involved in the Family Court system in UC for almost 5 years, I can attest to the incredible and profound effects that the daycare has made on my children. They actually LIKE going to family court.
As I read through this article (quite late), I am noticing a major trend: those with the power to implement, continue, and defend this program for the emotional and physical safety of children and families are almost all women.
Thank you, Carrie, for giving a voice to those who haven’t one. As Sartre said: “Words wreak havoc when they find a name for had up to then been lived namelessly.”
Misquoting Sartre! What a sin! “Words wreak havoc when they find a name for WHAT had up to then been lived namelessly.”