It's for the children

Healing the whole family is key to Child Haven’s success

Child Haven, Inc. celebrated its 25th year in January with a big birthday gift to itself: “a monster RV unit!” Executive Director Jane Johnson says with delight. The nonprofit organization has a home office in downtown Fairfield, but the RV—nicknamed the PCIT Mobile Unit—serves a specific purpose: to reach even more Solano County residents.
For 25 years, Child Haven has provided therapeutic services for children who suffer from the trauma of child abuse or neglect, as well as those experiencing disorders such as autism, Down syndrome or developmental delays. It also provides intensive parenting and family education and support. “It’s about healing the whole family, so it has to be a family solution,” Johnson says.

The PCIT Mobile Unit helps Child Haven serve more communities.

    Formed when individuals in the community recognized a need to address the issue of children’s mental health, Johnson adds that the nonprofit fortunately found a champion in Solano County, which saw the same need. “It was a grass-roots movement with the emphasis that the county would be part of it.”
The PCIT in the RV’s nickname refers to parent-child interaction therapy, one of two forms of therapy protocols recognized by the federal Office for Victims of Crime for treating the trauma of child abuse. Child Haven is the only children’s mental health agency in Solano County certified to provide PCIT, in which a therapist in one room observes and guides the interactions of a parent and child in another room.
    “We have two therapy rooms designed especially for PCIT at our Empire Street facility,” Johnson says. “But one of the problems [for many clients] is transportation. For people in Vallejo to get to Fairfield by bus, for example, takes a long time.” The RV, purchased through a grant and retrofitted for the specialized therapy, currently provides services on Mondays at Elsa Widenmann Elementary School in Vallejo, and on Wednesdays at Paden Elementary School in Vacaville. “We have the ability to expand to community centers, churches and other community locations, but we’re currently in the early stages and have just committed to the two sites at this point.”
    Johnson applauds Solano County’s “wonderful network for mental health issues” as well as Child Haven’s partner agencies, but admits that—particularly as services are provided free to clients—budget constraints keep them walking a tightrope. Client referrals are made in a number of ways: from schools, the county, the state, Child Protective Services, NorthBay Healthcare or even as self-referrals. “We take the cases that are the most difficult, the most challenging,” Johnson says. “Our goal is to not turn away any children. Unfortunately, we have more need for the program than we can actually deliver. We need to strengthen the foundation so that our program continues to provide excellent service.”

Child Haven, 801 Empire St., Fairfield. For more information, or to find out about material or cash donations (especially needed to help offset gasoline prices) call (707) 425-5744 or visit child-haven.org. 

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