Virtual SUN Drive Launched
Local Kappa Deltas (KD) had planned to launch their inaugural SUN DRIVE (socks, underwear and necessities) to benefit F&CS’s Child Abuse and Trauma Services (CATS) children and their families to coincide with April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month; however, due to coronavirus precautions, the physical drive is now virtual.
KDs, and other supporters, can still assist the thousands of children and their families who are victims of sexual abuse or other traumatic experiences. The VIRTUAL SUN DRIVE is accepting monetary donations for SUN purchases. Items will be safely distributed to children and families.
What a ray of SUNshine!
Because the vast majority of CATS families are considered indigent or low income, they often lack the financial ability to consistently purchase basic needs items. Ongoing economic challenges often increase family stress and create barriers to treatment. Thankfully, we know that even relieving a portion of these challenges can help stabilize family environments and increase engagement in the evidence-based treatment CATS provides and continues to provide via teletherapy.
Now more than ever, there are profound effects from the stresses of this virus brought on by mass unemployment, food insecurity and illness. Any time there is increased stress, there is an increased risk of the abuse of children.
For too many children, it is difficult to be a child in Oklahoma. Oklahoma children continue to rank among the worst in the nation for children having experienced multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Research indicates that these experiences – including abuse, parental incarceration, economic hardship, mental illness, and witnessing domestic violence – harm children’s developing brains in a lasting and destructive way. ACEs produce toxic stress, which causes key parts of the brain to under-develop. This change puts children at greater risk of anxiety, learning delays, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, mental disorders, and risky behaviors. Untreated ACEs can lead to adult addiction, substance abuse, depression, chronic health problems, suicide, economic hardship, and even early death. Tragically, without treatment, child trauma can leave its mark on a child’s brain for life.
