Sonal Patel, LPC, RPT-S has provided outpatient treatment services for SCAN Child Advocacy Center (CAC) clients since 2014 and stepped into a new role this month as the Trauma-Focused Treatment (TFT) Services Coordinator. We are grateful for her commitment and leadership!

How did you first get involved with SCAN?

I was introduced to Lisa Wright, CAC Director, through Dr. Eliana Gil in 2014. At the time I was working as a trauma therapist at Eliana’s private practice in Fairfax and had come to the decision to move home to Richmond to be closer to family. Eliana told me no matter what I decided to do in the end, I needed to speak with Lisa (who had also worked with Eliana when she lived in Fairfax) before making any decisions about where I was going to work. After that conversation, I made a phone call to Lisa and that was all it took for me to know where my next career decision was going to lead me. I was working with Lisa as a clinician on the Trauma-Focused Treatment Team at the CAC within a couple of months and 10 years later, I’m honored  to say, I’m still working with Lisa at the CAC, but now it will be in a new capacity as the Trauma-Focused Treatment Team Services Coordinator.  I could not be more excited for opportunity to work more closely with her and the treatment team!

What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN? What is your current role?

I’ve been working with children and families as an outpatient therapist for almost 20 years! I’ve always been interested in a career working with youth, so after graduate school, I took my first job as a therapist in Fairfax, VA at a CSB on their Youth and Family Team. There I developed a specialization in early childhood treatment, which later developed into further specialization in trauma-informed treatment for children. I worked in community mental health for 10 years before I made the move to Richmond. So, joining the mission of SCAN’s CAC providing trauma-informed treatment and care to youth and families was a perfect fit for me. I’ve been a clinician and supervisor on the treatment team for the last 10 years and moving forward I will serve as the TFT Services Coordinator.

What inspires you to stay involved with your work at SCAN?

The families we serve and how much of a difference the work we do makes in their lives!

Is there anything you wish other people knew about SCAN?

I wish more people knew how much of a need there is for the work that is done at SCAN. We never have enough time or resources to serve all the families that are impacted by childhood trauma, and I wish there was more awareness around the work being done and the need.

What has been the best experience with SCAN so far?

Being part of such a compassionate, empathic and hardworking team!

What are any challenges you have faced in your work with SCAN?

Not having enough time each day, each week, to do what needs to be done!

Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year with SCAN? Is there anything coming up/happening in your work that you are excited about or want to share?

Yes! I have many goals and aspirations as I come into my new role as the TFT Coordinator. I’d like to make a bigger impact at SCAN and with the families we serve. I look forward to providing support, guidance and leadership to our TFT team, which is comprised of eight very talented clinicians . I’m incredibly excited to be able to support and partner with Lisa Wright on the amazing work she is already doing to lead the CAC as its Director!

Are you involved with any other community organizations, hobbies, or activities?

My favorite hobbies are cooking for my family and friends and working on landscaping projects around my home!

What might someone be surprised to learn about you?

I took my niece and nephew to Zurich, Switzerland this summer to experience the Eras Tour and unexpectedly became a Swiftie myself! Outside of my work as therapist, I am also passionate about restoring historic homes around RVA and have been lucky enough to do this work over the last 10 years with my brother and sister-in-law. Along the way, I got my real estate license!

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you wish I had?

I don’t think so! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and what excites me about the work we do at SCAN! 

Join us on October 9th

to learn more about

SCAN's Child Advocacy Centers

During the hour-long breakfast, our presentation will highlight

one of SCAN's 5 programs, Child Advocacy Centers (CAC).

SCAN’s Child Advocacy Centers (CAC's) help children who have experienced a potentially traumatizing event (such as sexual abuse, physical abuse and exposure to violence). Our goals are to provide a safe space for children to be interviewed, reduce the number of times a child is interviewed, provide assistance and support to caregivers and to provide therapy to help with healing after exposure to traumatic events.

 Although the breakfast is free, it is a fundraising event. At the end of the hour-long program, you will be given the opportunity to make a donation to SCAN. There is no minimum or maximum amount suggested and no obligation to give. 

We hope that you will be inspired by SCAN’s work and want to get involved. 

Please RSVP directly to SCAN or your table captain

by October 4th.

RSVP: Kbyrd@grscan.com

Surgeon General Advisory Highlights Critical Importance of Parents Mental Health and Well-Being

The recent Surgeon General Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents sheds light on a critical, yet often overlooked aspect of family and community health: the mental well-being of parents. The mental health of parents directly influences the emotional and psychological well-being of their children and families. This report could not come at a more important time, as the challenges facing parents today are more significant than ever.

Between the pressures of balancing work, family, and personal life, along with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents find themselves grappling with heightened stress, anxiety, and burnout. The Surgeon General’s advisory emphasizes the urgent need for greater resources and support systems to help parents navigate these overwhelming challenges.

At Greater Richmond SCAN, we see the impact of parental stress on children every day. When parents are overburdened and without the support they need, children’s mental and emotional health suffers. In these situations, the risk of child abuse and neglect increases, underscoring the need to prioritize parental mental health. The well-being of parents is a critical factor in the overall health of the family, and by extension, the community. Parenting is work, and though it is unpaid, it is one of the most important components of ensuring that we create a culture that values and cares for children. Taking care of parents and creating policies, practices, and systems that support responsive caregiving is one of the most important things we can do to promote positive outcomes for children. 

The Surgeon General's advisory echoes the core values of SCAN’s mission. It calls on communities to unite—bringing together community organizations, healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers—to create a robust network of resources that offer mental health care, parenting education, and social support. These efforts will allow parents to access the tools they need not just to survive but to thrive.

Here in Richmond, SCAN is deeply committed to this cause. Through our programs and partnerships, we aim to offer parents the support they need to navigate the pressures of modern parenthood. But we cannot do this alone. It will take collective action from all of us to build the supportive environments parents and caregivers need. By focusing on the mental health and well-being of parents, we are also investing in the future of our children and our broader community.

Get your office, team, or group involved in raising funds to support children right here in Richmond this November by joining ‘Staches for SCAN!

Sign up to join Greater Richmond SCAN’s Mustaches for Kids team this growing season! Your support will directly help children and families served by Greater Richmond SCAN.

Scared to grow a 'stache yourself?

You can also donate to the SCAN team here.

Find more information and details about how to join the SCAN team here.

Share this flyer with your friends, colleagues, and others to encourage

them to join the team too!

Questions? Contact Sarah Mersereau

Friday, October 25, 2024

Salisbury Country Club - Richmond

A one-day event for tennis and pickleball

players, with the common goal of

supporting Richmond's children.

All funds raised will benefit Greater Richmond SCAN.

Register Here

Space is limited.

Trunk registration is now open!

Trunk or Treat is a different spin on Trick-or Treating where local businesses/organizations and community members park and decorate the trunk of your car and pass out candy as kids “trunk or treat” from car-to-car. Trunk or Treat allows kids to have all the trick-or-treating fun without crossing streets or worrying about traffic.

In addition to trunk or treating, guests can enjoy family friendly fall activities, food trucks, and enter a raffle for a chance to win a few awesome prizes! Hardywood West Creek will be donating a portion of sales during the event to Greater Richmond SCAN.

Registration for each car is $15, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit Greater Richmond SCAN. 

Learn more and register your trunk today!

Thank you to our Protector's Circle Members

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible members of SCAN's Protector's Circle, which includes individuals making an annual fund gift of $1,000 or more. Your steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of children and families across Greater Richmond is truly inspiring. Through your generous contributions, SCAN continues to provide essential services and support, helping those impacted by trauma find healing and hope. Your support helps SCAN protect children, promote positive parenting, strengthen families, and create a community that values and cares for its children.

Thank you for being champions of this critical work!

Learn more about the Protector’s Circle and view the full list of members HERE

Henrico CAC Moves into New Space

SCAN's Henrico Child Advocacy recently moved into a new space.

SCAN staff worked hard to ensure the space was beautiful and welcoming for children and families. We are now conducting forensic interviews, providing family advocacy services, offering trauma focused treatment therapy services and

more in the new center. A special thank you to all the volunteers and supporters

who helped make this move possible!

A special thank you to Henrico County's Commonwealth Attorney's Office and Henrico County officials who helped the CAC program receive funding for new iRecord Forensic Interview equipment! The equipment was installed in late August and provides new features as well as improved picture quality.

Help bring the magic of the holidays to SCAN families this year! You can support SCAN's Holiday Shop by purchasing a physical gift card or donating funds (please note "holiday shop" in the comments section) to support children in SCAN's programs this holiday season. Holding a gift card drive at your office, church, school, or other group is another great way to get involved!

Contact Kasey Brach with questions or to coordinate a donation or giftcard drive

Give a Gift Through United Way 

When you join a United Way campaign, you have the opportunity to choose how your contribution is spent. You can have your gift distributed for you or you can give your gift to a specific organization.  

SCAN is eligible to receive donor designations through the

United Way campaigns.   

Our campaign codes are as follows:

United Way Campaign: #3343 (please also list SCAN)

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): #82607

Local Government & Schools (LGS): #166

Find the full list of upcoming SCAN trainings and register to attend HERE

Importance of Long-Lasting Relationships

September 25, 2024

10:00-11:30am ET via Zoom

Join Greater Richmond SCAN's Community Engagement Specialist, Tamika Daniel, for an interactive conversation based on her life experience with building the types of relationships that are supportive in accomplishing goals. The conversation will include challenges and barriers to supportive relationships and offer ways to overcome these.

Pushout (Film Screening)

October 1, 2024

2:00-4:00pm ET via Zoom

PUSHOUT is a feature length documentary that takes a close look at the educational, judicial, and societal disparities facing Black girls. Inspired by the groundbreaking book of the same name by renowned scholar, Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. The documentary confronts the ways in which the misunderstanding of Black girlhood has led to excessive punitive discipline, which in turn disrupts one of the most important factors in their lives, their education.

Stewards of Children (in-person)

October 2, 2024

1:30-4:00pm Gayton Library GA Meeting Room, 10600 Gayton Rd, Richmond, VA 23238

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, award-winning two and a half hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Through interviews with a very diverse group of people with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.

Trauma-Informed Strategies

October 10, 2024

11:00am-1:00pm ET via Zoom

This training will provide a brief review of trauma and its impacts as well as introduce the 6 Principles of a Trauma-Informed Approach. Using these principles, participants will learn strategies for creating physical & psychological safety, developing collaborative & supportive relationships, empowering others through voice & choice, and addressing systems of oppression.

Introduction to Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care

October 15, 2024

12:00-2:00pm ET via Zoom

This training provides a foundational learning experience around the topics of trauma and trauma-informed care. We will define trauma, discuss the many types of trauma/adversity, explore the impact of trauma on the brain and behavior, introduce resilience, and discuss SAMHSA’s 4 Rs of trauma-informed care. Throughout the presentation, we will share useful tools and techniques.

The Power of Play in Parenting

October 17, 2024

11:00am-12:00pm ET via Zoom

Play is the language of children and as parents we can increase our connection with children by joining them in it. Children of all ages experience greater confidence, fewer behavioral issues, and improved mental health when caregivers use the power of play in their daily interactions with them. Learn more about the importance of play and how to incorporate it in your interactions with children in this workshop.

Cultivating Authentic Community Engagement

October 24, 2024

10:00-11:30am ET via Zoom

Guided by her lived and professional experience, Community Engagement Specialist, Tamika Daniel, facilitates this supportive workshop for organizations to discuss how to engage community voice with authenticity and intentionality.

Overcoming Adversity & Building Resilience 

October 29, 2024

1:00-3:00pm ET via Zoom 

This training will provide a brief review of trauma and its impacts as well as introduce the 7 Cs of building resilience. Participants will learn about adverse and positive childhood experiences as well as strategies for building individual and community resilience.

Find the full list of SCAN Trainings and register to attend HERE

 *Some of these trainings are eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) from the National Association of Social Workers. Check SCAN's training page for details.