As a mom with two young children, the goal of protecting children from abuse is one that is close to my heart. The statistics are startling, but nearly half of US children have experienced at least one type of childhood trauma including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, community or domestic violence, bullying, natural disaster devastation or bereavement (www.nationalchildrensalliance.org). It’s imperative for children and families to receive services and support to aid recovery and lessen long-term effects of trauma.
Sunlight Children’s Advocacy & Rights Foundation (SCARF) works primarily through Butler, Elk and Greenwood Counties to help protect children from abuse and neglect. Their mission is to provide resources and facilities that support and protect abused and neglected children and their families. This mission is accomplished via programs at Sunlight Child Advocacy Center and Sunshine Children’s Home. SCARF was formed in 2004, with the Sunlight Child Advocacy Center operating since 2007 and Sunshine Children’s Home operating since 2014.
Sunlight Child Advocacy Center
Located in El Dorado, the advocacy center (CAC) provides a multi-disciplinary team response when abuse or neglect is suspected. Working with community partners such as law enforcement, child protection services, mental health, and hospital staff, CAC provides a safe environment for the child and non-offending family throughout the investigation process, as well as support after leaving the facility. The CAC focuses on the best interests of the child, helping families navigate a process that can be confusing and traumatic. Community training is also offered for information about child abuse and prevention.
Sunlight Children’s Home
Sunshine Children’s Home, located in Andover, provides emergency shelter services to children who have been taken into temporary protective custody. “SCH is a temporary placement designed to allow sibling groups to remain together in a comfortable, home-like atmosphere until healthy reintegration or long-term placement can be made,” says Susan Uhlik, Residential Manager of SCH. Since opening in 2014, SCH has served over 2,000 Kansas children, ranging in age from newborns to teenagers. Uhlik described the great need for a home like SCH by stating, “We have the ability to work with children who have experienced extreme neglect and often visiting our home is the first time some of these children have eaten with utensils, slept in a real bed, had their hair combed, or celebrated a major holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. We accept children from across the state and from the most extreme situations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our doors are always open.”
How You Can Help
I asked this question of Dusty Buell, CEO of Sunlight Children’s Advocacy and Rights Foundation. He stated, “The best thing you can do is to report any suspected child abuse, to be a hero to a child that you may not know, but needs you. As a community, we need to open our hearts and minds to children that may just need someone to care. Someone to listen. Someone that won’t judge them. Someone that will help them change their situation. It doesn’t matter who you are, that someone could be YOU!” Buell explained that SCARF can always benefit from monetary and in-kind donations. Items such as hygiene kits for boys and girls, canned fruits and vegetables, ground beef, deer or chicken are welcomed. SCARF serves children of all ages so baby items, toys, craft kits, makeup, nail polish, hand held games or decks of cards are often needed; please email a contact at SCARF for a complete list of current needs. Volunteers working directly with children must be at least 21 years old and undergo a training process (opportunities for volunteers 16 and older may include gardening and service-oriented projects).
As CEO Dusty Buell said, “Every child has a story, and every child matters. We are here to help them begin the process of starting that next chapter to their story, and what we want more than anything is for them to be able to see the potential for a happy ending, even in their darkest times.”
Sunlight Children’s Advocacy & Rights Foundation
1918 N. Prairie Creek Rd.
Andover, KS 67002
Sunlight Child Advocacy Center
110 S. Gordy
El Dorado, KS 67042
Sunshine Children’s Home
1918 N. Prairie Creek Rd.
Andover, KS 67002
Make sure you never miss out on things to do in Wichita: subscribe to our weekly Wichita Moms Blog newsletter! Be the first to know about our exclusive events, special offers and discounts, neighborhood group activities and, of course, local resources and parenting voices powered by local Wichita moms!
