Not a Special Case: Club Creates Safe Place for Victim of Trauma

Thank you all for your generous donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Your support provides a year-long membership to fourteen children in need. The story of Gabriel, one of the children who you supported, is particularly touching.

Self-reserved, Gabriel quietly skips around the Renton/Skyway Boys & Girls Club, talking to staff and playing on the computer. “The City of Renway,” as the Club is locally known, simulates a miniature city, replete with leadership, businesses, laws and social codes. The Club’s driving program, MicroSociety, helps to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty by incorporating business skills into all aspects of programming. But for Club staff, success for Gabriel is not just about business. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, the second grader was released from a six month stay in a therapeutic treatment facility.

Gabriel first starting attending the Club in 2010 for summer camp, then transitioned into attending the after-school program. Though he often did not want to leave when his grandparents came to pick him up, Gabriel often got in trouble and had to be sent home. He rarely interacted with other children, and when conflict did arise, he often shut-down and withdrew. Because he did not communicate with staff, who didn’t push and ask what was going on at home, they were often not sure what spurred his incidents.

After a few months, Gabriel stopped coming, and the boy’s grandfather came to them, upset. Gabriel had been placed in a facility for therapeutic care, and they were not able to see him for awhile. He came by to tell Renway that he and his wife had saved a poster the Club made of the boy and it hung in his room.

Dorina, the Club Director, told the boy’s grandfather to come back when Gabriel was out, and there would be a place for him. ‘We didn’t want him to leave the program and go into remission,’ said Elana Sims, Child Care Director. Dorina’s promise was not an easy one though.

In the fall of 2011, Gabriel returned to an alternative school, which gets out at 2 pm. His grandparents, who gained custody of Gabriel and his two younger brothers, work full-time and cannot be home with him that early. Though the elementary program does start until 3:20, their small staff of six people got together to make sure Gabriel would have company. At least two staff are always there to greet Gabriel at 2:15. Though uncertain the first few days back, surrounded just by adults, he has now found a second home.

Though they did not entirely know the depth of their service at the time, the Club was providing exactly what Gabriel needed for recovery. He was abused and neglected the first five years of his life. His grandparents adopted Gabriel and his two younger siblings to give them a safe home, but because of the adoption, Gabriel’s DSHS subsidy was cut. Now, his grandparents work full-time to support their family.

The Club has provided a full scholarship for Gabriel’s fees, which amounts to $4,250, including the Club’s 9-week summer program. Their steady commitment to creating a home for Gabriel helps him to feel valued and safe. Thank you, MSAF, Marylou, Krishna, and Christine, for supporting Gabriel and giving him a safe space!