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Bait Al Hayat
/ House of Life
Children's
Trauma Treatment Center
A
project to establish a children's trauma treatment center
in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine to assist children
suffering from trauma due to war and violence
Sponsored by
Common Bond Institute
(CBI)
in cooperation with
International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)
and a consortium of professional organizations internationally
Underlying Concepts
*
Tax Deductible Donations
through
International
Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)
(see details under
How To Help below)
Purpose
A collaboration with local human service workers to establish and
operate the first children's trauma treatment center in Nablus and
the northern region of the West Bank. This center will provide critically
needed trauma recovery services to large numbers of children and
their families suffering from psychological and emotional trauma
due to war and violence, and who are going untreated. The long term
goal is to increase the capacity of local services and relief workers
in providing desperately needed direct intervention and treatment
to victims of trauma where huge portions of the population have
been impacted. The project is designed to address both immediate
and long term treatment needs and to build close working relationships
with local service and aid organizations, as well as linking them
with international professional mental health organizations for
support. Local staff will also provide public education in self-help
skills and resources to victim populations and their community.
An added benefit is the invaluable investment in future health services
in general for the region.
Need
On the ground needs assessments reveal a critical level
of serious, debilitating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
among a large portion of children of all ages in the region. Local
human service professionals report a very high incidence of:
Children frequently being presented by parents to medical centers
for severe symptoms that are thought to be medical
but are instead
clearly psychological in nature.
Children being kept secluded at home due to an inability to deal
with public situations,
Children exhibiting regressive behaviors, frequent panic attacks,
uncontrolled crying, hypersensitivity to sounds
and visual
stimulus, hyper-vigilance to new situations
and strangers, poor
impulse control, and low threshold for stress in
general that
triggers aggressiveness and violence.
Due to the continuing level of violence and traumatic
experiences in daily life, including violence done to them and viewing
the violence and death of others - many of who are family members
and neighbors, victims are re-traumatized on a regular basis. This
is particularly devastating for children who have increasingly less
ability and psychological resources to cope with this heightened level
of danger, stress, and loss.
Current State Of Existing Indigenous Services
Currently there are little or no mental health services
available in the northern region of the West Bank to treat psychological
trauma, and most particularly for children of all ages suffering from
debilitating symptoms. In general, there is a serious lack of adequate
mental health services in these regions, while the need for such services
has critically expanded far beyond the local capacity to cope with
it, and continues to grow. The center will be a landmark service for
the entire region.
Local Support
Local community leaders and a number of local human
service and aid organizations are in support of establishing the center
and are available to collaborate with our organizations. The center
will be operated by local counseling professionals that CBI will train
in both direct clinical services and center operations. CBI will remain
involved in supporting the center indefinitely.
Current Status of Project
To date the following project
elements are in place:
Currently a physical site has been donated by the Women Union
Hospital.
Local treatment and support staffing have been selected to receive
clinical and operational training.
Najah National University has pledged to provide an ongoing
supply of university student interns
to provide additional support
to the staff in operating the center.
This pool of students is also
seen as a natural source of future
professional mental health
staffing for the center.
The trauma treatment training program is created and ready to be
implemented (including assessment,
intervention methods,
individual and family counseling, setting
up a phone crisis-line,
and operating a clinic), and our team
of expert trainers is prepared
to provide the initial trainings, as
well as ongoing clinical
consultation and advanced training.
A portion of the professional treatment materials needed has been
acquired.
What remains to acquire:
Operational funding to allow for a 1 year pilot program operation,
during which we will be seeking continuation
funding from a
number of local, regional, and international
sources.
The
remaining necessary professional resources and materials
needed for direct treatment and assessment.
Clinical and Historical Basis For Need
Profound psychological and emotional injuries may be
the most enduring effects of war and violence, yet historically they
are the least addressed in terms of rebuilding a society and preventing
future violence. Large-scale recovery efforts commonly focus on more
visible needs such as food, shelter, clothing, physical health, and
economic aid. However, the effects of deep psychological trauma on
individuals, their families, and ultimately their communities is typically
overlooked or minimized, and seldom truly resolved. This invariably
leads to it becoming imbedded as part of the psyche of a society that
extends the wounds into future generations where it is too often played
out in further violence. In this way the cycle of violence and the
cycle of trauma directly contribute to each other.
Transgenerational
Trauma:
Whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, in modern times or the past,
regardless of the original motivation of conflict, unresolved communal
psychological wounds are one of the most powerful fuels of war and
violent conflicts. Efforts at maintaining peace and avoiding war are
seriously handicapped if they do not address such current and historical
wounds, as well as create the means to prevent future traumas.
The pervasive presence of a large segment of traumatized
members in all areas of Palestinian society poses one of the most
formidable barrier to peace in this region. Without these urgently
needed services it is expected the trauma and it's impact on future
generations will continue. It is imperative to not only the present
but to the future that particularly the children are assisted in healing
and recovering from their tragic experiences. True recovery can then
contribute to lasting peace.
How to Help
YOUR Tax Deductible Financial Support is CRITICAL
Particularly in the midst of the current wave of turmoil that is
creating only more need, we invite you to consider supporting this
humanitarian effort with your donations and help in easing
the pain and suffering for children caught up in it. If you, your
family, friends, or colleagues are drawn to an opportunity for concrete
action with a clear impact on the present and future of these conflicts,
we encourage you to lend your support.
*
Tax Deductible Donations can be made through our direct
partner organization, the International
Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA).
IHPA is a US Federal 501(c)3
Nonprofit organization and contributions
are tax deductible on US taxes.
Contributions can be made either on-line via PayPal
by credit card or bank withdrawl through the IHPA website
(http://ihpaworld.org).
Checks, money orders, or cashiers checks made out to IHPA can also
be mailed directly to the address below. For wiring instructions please
contact us directly at the phone number below.Donations
of any size are appreciated*
Additional assistance can be offered by actively
publicizing and promoting this need and encouraging funding support.
* Please address all Program Questions and
Inquiries to
Common Bond Institute
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