For the September cover of Exchange I just made a trip to HOT Arkansas to visit EOA Children’s House. Jo Ann Nalley from Arkansas State University Childhood Services was at the airport to greet me, an issue of Exchange tucked in her arms, and a welcoming smile on her face. Together we had dinner with Brenda Zedlitz, Director of Children’s Services, to begin hearing the story of Children’s House. And then with Marcy White we spend several hours with the children and staff, learning about their mission and history.

Children’s House was created over 30 years ago and is sustained today by a caring community committed to being there for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. The children, living with parents or relatives or foster families, are referred by the court system to Children’s House, where they receive care in the form of therapies, services, attention, food, love and kindness. This program can demonstrate the effectiveness of their strategies and will be sharing this part of their story in the magazine.

It’s heartrending to be in the midst of children at play and realize that each of them carries baggage into every experience of their lives. But with the staff and other children they are now able to spend their days in an environment of respect and gentleness. It’s an opportunity for them to find pathways to resilience and hope, as they are fed alternative ways of being and seeing the world.

One of the striking elements of the story is how it began–with people seeing these children and saying: “We can do something.” It continues because the spirit of “seeing and doing something” continues. The program’s history is peppered with volunteers who see needs and fill them, and leadership is adept at making needs visible to the greater community. “It’s all about relationships,” says Ben McClintock, Director of Development.

It was a great honor to spend time with all of these dedicated people who use their professional and personal power to deal with overwhelming issues and create places of safety and caring for traumatized children. Thank you Jo Ann, Marcy, Ben, Brenda, Terri Teters, Assistant Director of Children’s Services, and Michael Lanier, Executive Director EOA.

It occurs to me as I reflect on this experience, that all of us who work in early childhood encounter children who are abused and neglected–often without knowing of their pains. But we can learn from the model of EOA Children’s House as we work together to share this model of caring with all of you.