Embrace Treatment Foster Care received more than 150 pieces of luggage during its May 2016 luggage drive.
“More times than not, when a child is removed from their home because of abuse or neglect their few personal belongings are placed in a large black garbage bag,” said Gretchen Rusden,
Treatment Foster Care recruitment coordinator. “Because of the generosity of the community, we are able to provide multiple pieces of luggage for each child currently in care, and store extra pieces for future children placed with our agency.”
Donations of new or gently used luggage were collected locally at Massad Family YMCA and Ron Rosner Family YMCA.
“A piece of luggage seems like something so simple to many of us, but watching these kids light up at the opportunity to pick their own luggage shows just how important it is,” Rusden said. “Thank you to everyone who made a donation, and those who helped to collect and organize the donations.”
Treatment foster care, also called therapeutic foster care, involves placement of children with foster families who have been specially trained to care for children with medical or behavioral needs. “The kids have emotional and behavioral/habit issues because of abuse and neglect,” Rusden said. “The trauma has often caused a need for therapy, psychology, medication and other services,” she said.
National Counseling Group, of which Embrace Treatment Foster Care is a part, is the largest provider of community-based behavioral health services in the Virginia. The behavioral health care agency provides services for crisis situations, outpatient services and in home therapy, along with treatment foster care.
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