The next time you wonder “Where do my donations go when I give to Morrison?” think of Gina (name changed to protect confidentiality).  She’s a 14-year-old girl, a client in Morrison’s Family Sexual Abuse Treatment (FSAT) program. Her life was being destroyed by flashbacks to the sexual abuse she suffered as a young child. But her flashbacks have nearly vanished, thanks to a recreation program paid for with donor dollars. 

Support from individuals and corporations is crucial to giving Morrison’s kids the opportunity to participate in a summer recreation program. The FSAT activity demonstrates the significant role a recreation program can play in a child’s treatment.

Family Sexual Abuse Treatment (FSAT) provides group treatment for sexually abused children, ages 4 - 18 years, and their non-offending parents and siblings.  Managers from the FSAT program wanted to offer their 13-to-17-year-old female clients the opportunity to study with mind-body teachers who understand how to help trauma victims release some of the chronic stress they suffer as a result of abuse. The therapists and FSAT managers developed a summer-session curriculum of disciplines such as yoga, visualization, deep breathing and deep muscle relaxation designed to teach the girls natural ways to reduce and avoid stress in their daily lives.

As the sessions progressed, Gina found that her debilitating flashbacks had begun to occur less frequently. By the end of the sessions, one of her counselors reported, “She is hardly having any flashbacks anymore. That’s pretty incredible for eight weeks’ time.” The folks at FSAT are excited about building on last summer’s successes. They’re already working on their mind-body program for the summer of 2006. If you want to experience making a difference in the lives of some very special children, please include Morrison in your charitable giving plans.

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