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Day 12 of Asher's Journey

Weekend Recap and Monday's Details

In this installment we share how Asher & Mom's weekend went, as well as Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement's encounters with Dad on Monday.


We're also including a new picture of our Asher (Victim Advocate, Alexa's pup) because he's always here to help us through the heavy stuff.

OVER THE WEEKEND (Weekend #2)

SATURDAY

SATURDAY CONSIDERATIIONS

THERE ARE MANY DADS WHO ARE RAD


Not all dads are offenders, sometimes moms are offenders and many dads are AMAZING. The Amani Center has many AMAZING dads that we have connected with in our work. Many of our board members, community partners and volunteers are amazing Dads. Our Development Manager’s Dad comes and helps us with odd jobs around the Center. Thank you Jim Tupper for volunteering your time to come drill holes and install countertops!


Responsible involved Fathers can bring many positive benefits to children’s lives and their development and long-term success and health outcomes.

DIVERSE DADS


As a society we often have negative views of Dads and Fatherhood, particularly for dads from minority groups. However, studies from the CDC have shown that African American Dads are the most actively involved with their children on a daily basis and Hispanic Dads are more likely to live with all of their children than any other group. Both are positive strengths in fatherhood.


The Amani Center has seen many strong and caring Dads be the source of support their children need through difficult times.

SUNDAY - CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ASHER & MOM

SUNDAY CONSIDERATIONS

MENTAL HEALTH EXPANSION


Though disclosure through the forensic assessment process is incredibly important, for many children it is only the beginning of their path to healing. The healing journey needs to continue in the safe context of therapy. The Amani Center is in the process of building a therapy program but have not been able to sustain in-house therapy in recent years. We have relied on our partners at Columbia Community Mental Health and other community mental health providers to collaborate with us and provide the care needed. However, child trauma requires unique treatment interventions and different techniques than traditional therapy. We are on track to launch a therapy program in 2023 but there is such a high need for therapy services in our community that there will still be critical need to sustain partnerships to ensure we are able to meet the needs of all the children we serve.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC RESOURCES


In addition to traditional therapy, some of the best help for children on the journey to healing is support for Alternative Therapeutic Activities. Many activities can contribute significantly to the healing and resilience for children. Things like karate and dance classes, participating in sports, arts camps, yoga taught by trauma informed instructors such at April at Yoga Younion, or therapeutic horsemanship training like that available through Sande School of Horsemanship support kids where traditional therapies might not be as effective.


The Amani Center has a list of these types of resources to help refer children and families to, when they may be seeking an alternative. As cost is sometimes a barrier, we are always searching for funding or sponsors to be able to help families access these resources. This is one of the hardest things for us to find funding for and for families to access.


If you are a provider of these types of services and want to arrange to donate a membership or a course or sponsor a child to participate in the activity please contact the Amani Center for more information. If you know of a program in our community that sounds like one of these resources, please email us at info@amanicenter.org and we can reach out to the provider to learn more.

MONDAY DETAILS - DEALING WITH DAD

MONDAY MORNING - INTERVIEWING DAD


Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services are finally able to speak with Dad about what happened. They go out together to the family home and meet with Dad. Dad talks about how hard work has been lately and that the family has been under financial strain, but says that everything has been fine in the home. He admits that he argues with his wife and says that it is because she “doesn’t do what she is supposed to.” But he denies any violence and says that Asher is always in their room when it happens. 


Dad says that he only hits Asher when discipline is needed and that he is trying to ensure that Asher grows up right. He admits that last week he did grab Asher’s arm but that it “wasn’t that hard” and that Asher was “acting like a baby” saying that it hurt, but that Asher needed to toughen up. 

MONDAY AFTERNOON - MAKING AN ARREST


Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services finish their interviews Dad. During the interviews Dad learned about Asher's broken clavicle from when he pulled Asher's arm in anger. Based on this injury, as well as Asher's disclosures at the Amani Center, there is evidence of Child Physical Abuse.


Law Enforcement tell Dad that they will placing him under arrest based on his involvement with Asher's injury.

MONDAY CONSIDERATIONS - OBTAINING ARRESTS and LEAVING ABUSE

For the purpose of this story we are sharing a situation that involves our partners in Law Enforcement being able to make an arrest. But Law Enforcement work isn’t always that clear or easy.


Law Enforcement may not be able to make an arrest right away. They may need to gather more evidence, or work with the District Attorney to bring charges against someone and secure a warrant for arrest. 


These things can take time. Often in cases of child abuse, there can barriers to holding perpetrators criminally accountable or making an arrest, for example, if the child is unable to disclose, if there are no injuries, if there is no physical evidence, or if it can’t be proven that abuse occurred or that a specific person perpetrated the abuse. 


Today, for Asher and Mom’s sake, for this narrative, we are going to assume that they have all the evidence they need to make an arrest and keep Asher, Mom and our community safe.

Leaving a domestic violence relationship can often be the most dangerous time for a person or family.


75% of domestic violence related homicides occur upon separation and there is a 75% increase of violence upon separation for at least two years.


Click here to learn more about barriers to leaving a domestic violence situation:

https://stoprelationshipabuse.org/educated/barriers-to-leaving-an-abusive-relationship/


Our local Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Agency SAFE of Columbia County is able to help.


In this scenario, Mom and Asher are able to stay safe, but if Mom had to leave on her own or seek a restraining order to protect her and Asher, they may have been put more at risk.

If you have questions about our program, please don't hesitate to reach out to Beth or Amelia at info@amanicenter.org. We are happy to discuss what the Amani Center does for the children in our community.