“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” – Dakota proverb

CDS Program Highlights

Our Child Development Services (CDS) team is a critical part of ChildSavers and through this program, our team of child development experts provide free or low-cost training, technical assistance, and resources for child care providers to deliver quality care. 

The CDS team has done some impressive work since July, and read below to see each program’s highlights!

Mental Health Services Program Highlight: Immediate Response

Earlier this year, 5-year-old Sarah’s** guardian called our Immediate Response helpline (804-305-2420) seeking urgent support after Sarah experienced sexual abuse from a family member. With the help of our staff, we were able to quickly enroll Sarah in our program within two weeks.

Sarah had a difficult time communicating her trauma. She was experiencing anger, hyperactivity, and an inability to self-regulate. In the early sessions, our clinician introduced play therapy to Sarah, allowing her to communicate trauma she experienced. This therapy helped guide Sarah to build resilience skills and empowered her to get back control of her narrative.

Early intervention, like Sarah's, makes the biggest difference. This critical care we provide to children in our community help them build a foundation of resiliency. Learn more about our Immediate Response program here.

Donor Spotlight: Kiwanis Club of Richmond

Nell Nutaitis, Vice President, Development & Communications and L. Robert Bolling, CEO of ChildSavers, receive a check presented by Kiwanis president-elect, Blake Eudaily,

and tournament chair, Chip Louthan.

After three years of postponement due to COVID-19, the Kiwanis Club of Richmond’s The Kiwanis Cup of Richmond 21^st Annual Reaves Louthan Memorial Invitational was held at The Dominion Club on October 17th.

100 golfers participated along with 24 businesses, three organizations, and ten individuals sponsored this year's tournament. We are humbled to be the beneficiaries once again, and this year we received (literally and figuratively) a BIG check--$21,387.41!

Jim Donahue, President of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond said, “After a three-year pandemic pause, the Kiwanis Cup of Richmond tournament resumed and was tremendously successful in raising significant funds for our long-time partner, ChildSavers.”

He noted that with this year’s golf proceeds Kiwanis Richmond has donated a total of $100,806 to ChildSavers since 2017. “The mental health and childhood trauma programs provided by Robert Bolling and his team are vital to our community. Their work embodies the mission of Kiwanis: to serve the children of the world. We are proud to be their supporters.”

Thank you to our long-time friends and their generosity over the years!

Children's Holiday Party

Guests at this year’s Children’s Holiday Party enjoy making crafts with

ChildSavers’ staff and volunteers.

We celebrated holidays around the world at our Children's Holiday Party on December 8th with our child care providers and our clients and their families!

A big thank you to the volunteers and our sponsors for sharing their time and resources to make this party happen: Richmond Christmas Mother Fund, Williams Mullen, The Mount Carmel Baptist Church - Richmond, Virginia, Troutman Pepper, Walmart Supercenter Powhatan, Walmart Midlothian - Midlothian Turnpike, Blue Edge Capital, Kathleen from Art on Wheels, and our face-painter Natasha from Moonhanded Tarot.

In addition, thank you to the countless individuals and organizations like Riverfront Investment Group, Starbucks Winterfield Crossing, and the Nate Love and Light Foundation for your in-kind gifts and support.

Resource Round-up

• Read: ChildSavers in the News

• Watch: Bob Nickles, LCSW on How Parents Can Handle Holiday Stress

• We have multiple free and fee-based Trauma and Resilience Training opportunities coming up. Register here!

• ChildSavers is hiring! Check out our open positions.