Email from Alliance For Children Summer is HERE! Clay Shoot was a BLAST! Thanks to all who joined us at our 7th annual Sporting Clay Tournament last month! No matter how you shot, your participation and support allow us to continue our tailormade, life-changing, free programs and services for Tarrant County's child abuse victims. With around 200 in attendance, we netted over $80,500 for our kiddos due to this fun day of shooting clay! Congratulations to Saginaw Police Department, for taking home our coveted First Responder trophy! Resiliency from the Eyes of a Therapist The below was written by one of our fabulous Clinicians. Our hope in sharing this first-hand experience with one of our child clients is to not only give you insight into some of the emotions our children navigate due to their trauma, but that everyone's road to healing and closure looks a little different. Oftentimes, our cases can take years to go through the legal system, leading to retraumatization and the potential need to re-enter our Clincial Program as these children may have to face their perpetrator for the first time since allegations arose. We are so proud of not only our staff and their tailored, tireless work for every child victim, but the resiliency that these children own when given the chance to heal. “I met [my] client in 2022. She entered our services at 8 years of age having experienced multiple incidences of sexual abuse by her mother’s paramour. When she entered the therapy room, she was riddled with anxiety, eyes wide and nodding in response to questions. She was incredibly guarded and looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. I began by building rapport, approaching in a trauma-informed manner, gaining the much-needed trust to do our work. We began to form connection, and I began to see her open up more and more. In the therapy room she was able to say that she had been abused, she was able to talk about grooming that took place, she was able to speak her feelings aloud. Each time she would speak about the abuse, she would cry, and I would sit by her side teaching her to regulate and reminding her of her power. She worked through a trauma narrative and became louder and louder in the therapy room. And then she graduated from services. As the trial approached [recently], I received a subpoena and then I was contacted by her mother stating she had requested to see me again. This time our focus was on court preparation. We began our work together again and we focused on court logistics but also on relaxation and a focus on her strengths. The goal was to empower her to continue to use her voice amid having to see her abuser again and state her abuse aloud to a courtroom. The trial was pushed back four times, and I remained by the family’s side helping them to cope and move forward. As the trial approached each time, my client would exhibit severe anxiety and panic attacks. I would work on relaxation with her, walking her through meditations and grounding exercises, celebrating her resilience, and engaging her in goofy activities that made her laugh, that offered distraction. During this time, she drew the therapy room as her safe place. Days before the final court date, the perpetrator in the case decided to sign a plea deal and receive 15 years of jail time with a lifetime protective order. This was justice for this family, a true closure to this case. I was able to close out with this family after this decision, giving the family a hug, reminding them of their strength, and wishing them well as they begin the next chapter of their lives.” Upon graduation from our Clinical Services, each child has the opportunity to leave their handprint on our "Healing Trees". Our hope in them doing so is not only to celebrate the brave work they have accomplished, but to serve as a visual reminder for the next child that they are not alone in what they have experienced. Think back on your Summers as a kid... Hot dogs on the grill, going for a swim, exploring area activities or playing with neighbors in the street, sun-filled days, and overall, just enjoying the simplicities that childhood offered most of us. For many of the kids Alliance For Children serves, the experience that has brought them to us has often robbed them of those simple joys. Created for kids ages 6 to 14 who have almost, or recently completed the Clinical Program at Alliance For Children, Camp B.L.U.E. (Building. Learning. Understanding. Empowering.) is an opportunity for these kids and teens to simply be a kid again, unclouded by the trauma or abuse they experienced. Camp will take place next week (June 9-13), and we have a fun, full schedule including: field trips to an interactive adventure park and Fossil Rim, special visits from various Fort Worth Police units and the Fort Worth Fire Department, arts & crafts, games, kid yoga, ukulele lessons, and MORE! If you would like to support Camp, click the link below to help make it the most memorable week ever for our kids! Support Camp B.L.U.E. Upcoming Community Education Classes Are you interested in learning how you can keep children in your life and the community safe? Register for our upcoming prevention awareness classes at no cost. Responsible Internet Safety for Kids (R.I.S.K.) (English) - Saturday, June 28 from 9 am - 10 am via Zoom Child Abuse Prevention 101 for Youth Serving Professionals (English) - Saturday, July 19 from 9 am - 10:30 am via Zoom Safe Sleep for Babies (English) - Saturday, August 23 from 9 am - 10 am via Zoom Register for Classes Share your Heart & Hands Want to make a difference in the life of a Tarrant County child? Sign up to become a volunteer and find the perfect fit for your time and talents to best support our mission and the kids we serve. Volunteer Opportunities can include assisting with:  Room Makeover Projects, Agency Fundraising Events, Lobby Support, Camp B.L.U.E., and more! Volunteer Opportunities To find the right fit for you and to take next steps, please contact Antoinette Oliver at [email protected]. Don't Cook... Support our Kids Instead! For the week of June 15-21, support our mission and make healing a reality simply by eating out! Visit the Euless or Arlington locations of Lazy Dog Restaurant and 15% of your entire purchase goes back to Alliance For Children! All you have to do is mention us and you're supporting our kiddos! Want to do takeout instead or need to have a meal catered? You can still give back to our mission. Simply enter "28A4C" when you "check out" to make sure your donation is applied. Upcoming Office Closures While we are always on call for Tarrant County's child abuse victims, our offices will be closed in observation of Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19) and Independence Day (Friday, July 4).   Visit our website Donate Alliance For Children | 3609 Marquita Drive | Fort Worth, TX 76116 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice