Childhaven Inc. and Farmington Police Department will host the “Save Jane” spring fundraiser from 4 to 5 p.m. April 28 at Orchard Park in Farmington. The event will honor the stories of those who are abused and promote advocacy and awareness within the community.
Andrea Peña, chief development officer for Childhaven, said the event will gather agencies that provide vital services for those in need. Peña said the event is part of their spring fundraiser and seeks to bring about greater community awareness of child abuse.
The fundraising goal is $50,000, to go toward serving children in crisis. The Anderson Charitable Foundation will match new or additional donations up to $35,000.
“We learned of this event specifically from another agency based out of Dallas, the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center … and we heard of Albuquerque doing it previously,” Peña said. “With April being national Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month, we thought it was such a great way to recognize the issues in our community.”
Peña said that Childhaven has 32 beds and serves children ranging in age from infant to 17 years old. The organization strives to place children in private placements until guardianship is in place.
Peña added that if there are circumstances where a single parent needs a safe place for temporary situations, such as a pregnancy and delivery, their services are available.
“Child Protective Services doesn't need to be involved … it's a safe place for their kids, but … a lot of the family situations are complex,” Peña said.
“We've had a mom recently reach out to us. She is in a domestic violence situation, but she's about to have a baby, and there is no one here to watch her kid. She may have the children stay at the shelter while she has the baby,” Peña said.
Such services remove the fear of Child Protective Services stepping in. There is a federal push to have children go in to a family home first and then into foster homes if needed.
“We are increasing our initiative there to recruit more foster parents,” Peña said.
According to Peña, the organization has seen an escalation in the severity of child abuse cases since the COVID-19 pandemic. “They have been much more violent,” she said.
“There's so many situations where we are directly involved with saving these kids lives, and it's just also hard to see the cycle of abuse continue,” she said.
According to Peña, Childhaven’s goal is to help children heal and to provide a support system while achieving justice in their cases.
“So that when they become the next generation of parents, they have more hope,” she said.
For more information on Childhaven’s services or on becoming a foster parent, contact Peña at (505) 325-5358, ext. 210, or at andreap@childhavennm.org.
Donations may be made to Childhaven Inc. through Childhaven Foundation.
