by Colleen Smith Armstrong

and Mandi Johnson

Sounder stafft

When Orcas foster parent Kim Ihlenfeldt wrote a guest column for the Islands’ Sounder last month, one paragraph jumped out to readers:

“Last April, alone, there were 10 Orcas Island children removed from their homes. A handful of them were taken in by island relatives and family friends, also knows as fictive-kin. The others were sent off island, stripped from everything familiar to them and from our community, and sent away.”

In a small community, it can come as a shock when “big city” problems like domestic violence, drug use and child neglect come into view. But for professionals in social services, they say those issues are alive and well on Orcas Island.

“All of the children I know who have been removed from their homes on Orcas, it’s because their parents used meth, alcohol, heroin or pills,” said Ihlenfeldt. “For the kids last spring, it was a build up of struggles for many years combined with a lack of Child Protective Services involvement.”

She says that moving San Juan County from the Whidbey Island jurisdiction to Mt. Vernon resulted in new case workers and renewed interest in the islands.

Erin O’Dell, director for Orcas Family Connections, said it was a “big shock” to the community when CPS took decisive action. She says social workers are much more attentive to Orcas families now.

How does CPS get involved?

Many of the calls that come into CPS are made by mandated reporters: people who work with kids on a regular basis and are trained to recognize signs of problems at home. They are required by law to report reasonable suspicions of neglect or abuse. Most children aren’t aware they are living in abusive situations, so they don’t advocate for themselves.

“Teachers are our eyes and ears,” O’Dell said.

All Orcas school teachers receive mandatory reporter training. For middle and high schoolers in need of assistance, there are counselor Nancy Wrightsman and Student and Family Empowerment Advocate Julie Pinardi.

Pinardi oversees the teen tutoring and parent groups and is the coordinator of the district’s mental health program, which matches students in need with local mental health counselors. These services are provided through the county’s Community Wellness Program, which is funded by the 1/10th of 1 percent mental health sales tax implemented in 2008. The program provides short-term counseling services for individuals, couples, families and children. At the elementary school, students are served by social worker Sandra Burt and Margie Sabine, coordinator of Student and Family Empowerment and the Primary Intervention Program and homeless liaison for the district.

For the past year, the district has been working with the county, Compass Health and North Sound Mental Health Administration to have a mental health provider on campus two days a week. The process is culminating in interviews with candidates this week.

“It is our goal to eliminate all barriers that might prevent students from getting the support that they need,” said Superintendent Eric Webb. “This is a wonderful example of cooperation and alignment of resources among multi-agencies to support the students on Orcas. This program is also funded by 1/10 funds as well as Medicaid.”

Ihlenfeldt, who works for Orcas Island Park and Rec District, says it’s also important for kids to be enrolled in after-school programs so they have additional access to responsible adults.

“Otherwise children rely on family and friends to speak up,” she said.

The Funhouse Commons and OIPRD offer physical activities as well as programs like the homework club and mentor program, which is always in need of more volunteers. Neither organization will turn a kid away due to lack of funds.

Child abuse and neglect are legally defined as injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health, welfare and safety is harmed. Abuse and neglect does not include the physical discipline of a child. For information about common signs of abuse, go to www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/child-safety-and-protection. The CPS hotline is 1-800-ENDHARM.

Sometimes it’s community members who see something questionable – a child who looks malnourished, has bruises or wears the same clothing day after day. For those who aren’t mandated reporters, the next step can be daunting.

“In a small community people can be reluctant to call CPS,” O’Dell said. “If you have questions or want help, you can come to Orcas Family Connections. I can go over CPS abuse and neglect guidelines and sit with with you while you make the phone call.”

A child will not be removed from a home without ample evidence. CPS may offer parents optional enrollment in its Family Assessment Response program where social workers can go into the home, make an assessment and then offer help in finding counseling or enrolling in chemical dependency services at Compass Health, which is in Friday Harbor.

“It’s a great model but we don’t always have the services available on Orcas,” O’Dell said.

She says the biggest hurdles for struggling families are finding quality housing and access to help for mental health issues or drug addiction. For families on state insurance, counseling or chemical dependency assistance can only be found in Friday Harbor or the mainland.

“When parents are ready for help, sometimes it takes a long time for them to get enrolled in a program,” O’Dell said.

For Ihlenfeldt, there is a direct correlation between substance abuse and kids being neglected. She said it’s important to note that “not all people who use meth have sores or look unhealthy.” Drug use can go undetected within the community for a long time.

Ihlenfeldt and O’Dell say parents are usually motivated to seek help by the desire to keep custody of their children, but having to wait for enrollment or travel long distances decreases their chance of success.

Education and outreach

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of the San Juans will be offering a “Restorative Parenting” class from February 22 to April 4 in Eastsound. The class will be facilitated by two members of DVSAS, Eve Batchelder, a community outreach advocate and Stephanie Claus, in-house therapist.

“In order for families to be successful and thrive, parents need to feel empowered and supported in their decision making, the children need to feel listened to and given opportunities for self-growth and independence, and the family unit as a whole needs to feel a sense of belonging to a community that believes in them and their contributions to the world,” said Batchelder. “Healthy relationships prevent violence and abuse from spreading, and raise awareness to help stop the cycle of abuse that is so widely perpetuated in our society.”

The class is free and healthy snacks and drinks will be available. Organizers request that attendees wear comfortable clothing as there will be movement involved. It is requested that participants come ready to learn, share have fun and feel empowered in the decisions everyone makes as parents. However, due to limited space and resources, childcare will not be included.

Batchelder teaches prevention education and healthy relationships skills classes at the public school and is also involved in outdoor education groups at the Funhouse. She has a background in yoga, art and movement therapy, and somatic training. Additionally, has also worked as a peer advocate with Hispanic migrant families through WA state social service programs, Catholic Community Services and Compass Health.

Claus has worked as a therapist since 1992. She worked at an outpatient community mental health center for 6-12 year olds of low-income, at-risk families. She has run groups for boys and girls and also has experience offering family, couples, and individual therapy. She continues to run support groups at DVSAS and sees individual clients at our office. Additionally, she has two older teenage children and enjoys hosting youth groups at her house on weekends.

DVSAS is a service-based, advocacy-centered, non-profit organization. Its work revolves around the needs of the people that walk through their doors, and it also involves reaching out to the community and asking what they need. It has received overwhelming generosity and financial support in order to help people who may be in abusive or unhealthy relationship. DVSAS couldn’t exist as a non-profit organization without the help from the community. By offering free classes and support groups open to everyone—regardless of gender, socio-economic status, religion, or beliefs—it hopes to thank and give back to the community.

The class is based off of a curriculum called “Restorative Parenting,” from Global Violence Prevention based in Minnesota, and materials from Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. It will include both a skills-building discussion and practice of those skills in a safe environment. Families will be able to receive support from one another, and the co-facilitators, through sharing individual art reflections or stories. Additionally, Stephanie will be available to meet with individuals for complimentary “check-in” sessions, or to offer support about more specific family situations.

“It is important for families to receive as much support as possible to foster healthy relationships – within families, the community, and the world at large,” said Batchelder.

DVSAS has close professional bonds with organizations and institutions in the community. The Funhouse Commons, Orcas Community Resource Center and the schools have all been supportive of previous work and collaborations. DVSAS has received private grants and state funding to offer “healthy relationships” and violence prevention classes in the schools, as well as outdoor after-school programs with agencies such as the Funhouse.

DVSAS is becoming increasingly more involved with the children and young adults of the island. In the process, it has gotten to know parents, children, and families in the community, and has received suggestions to facilitate parent support groups and relationship classes.

“One of the most common statements we hear from parents is, ‘I never have enough time for myself anymore’” said Batchelder. “DVSAS believes that maintaining one’s health and well-being benefits most from a holistic approach that address the mind and the body through emotional, mental, and physical practices.”

While talking about feelings does help people to externally express themselves, DVSAS believes that incorporating the body through movement, or other non-verbal, non-linear processes, such as art or meditative reflections, delves deeper into the individual and creates “a deeper framework on which to grow and develop.”

That is why the class will be incorporating multiple learning styles, such as kinesthetic, aural, verbal, and visual, to address the needs of each unique individual, and encourage self-expression and self-study.

“When a parent is in-touch with who they are, how they feel inside, and can trust in their own personal power, they will have more energy and skills available to show up and remain present in the parenting process,” said Batchelder. “It is our intention that offering yoga, movement, and art therapy in our group will provide an opportunity to open up to the beauty that lies inherent in all of us.”