Since age 17, Shemik Sellars has cared for countless children at different points in their life journeys. She opened her first registered child care business, Legacy House, in September 2020 with the help of community allies like ChildSavers. Though she was terrified to open her business (and home) during COVID-19, Shemik pressed on to create …
Rising sixth grader, Jonathan*, waited eagerly for his first virtual group therapy session to start. He glanced at the calendar on his grandma’s wall and sighed as he read June 2020. This school year was hard. He missed his friends and mourned the unsung, epic ending of his elementary school years. His eyes darted back to the screen and his heart rushed as he entered the Zoom session. Multiple friendly faces appeared, including two ChildSavers therapists. Everyone waved and the kids giggled. Jonathan was happy …
Eight-year-old Charlotte* was referred to ChildSavers after a classmate touched her inappropriately. After learning she had also been abused outside of school, Charlotte was paired with school-based therapist, Katy Reynolds, LPC. She struggled to open up during her school therapy sessions. But when Charlotte and Katy started drawing on the whiteboard, things changed. Charlotte first …
With 45 years of child care experience, Ms. B.* runs a family day home in Petersburg, VA. In addition to watching the granddaughter of a former student, she cares for eight other children Monday through Friday. Ms. B. was first informed of ChildSavers and our trauma-informed Child Development Services eight years ago. She needed guidance …
In January, John’s* sixth-grade teacher called ChildSavers’ Immediate Response team after he expressed thoughts of ending his own life. Within thirty minutes, John was met by a ChildSavers therapist in the principal’s office. They talked about coloring and art as a way to feel better. Then, they tried breathing exercises and reflected on how it …
ChildSavers is at the nexus of two central issues – a dire need for both child therapy amidst a growing mental health crisis and access to quality child care and education so parents and caregivers can return to work. Jordan* is one of twenty-six students in his fourth grade class beginning virtual learning for the …
Family day home provider, Tonya* closed her small child care business in mid-March when COVID-19 struck in Richmond, VA. She didn’t know when, or if, she’d be able to open her doors. This terrified her, as her child care business was her only source of income, as well as that of her three employees. She …
Providing Child Care During COVID-19: Tanya’s Story Read More »
13-year-old Izzy* spent half of her life in El Salvador before moving to Richmond. She was introduced to ChildSavers through a school counselor last year, in the middle of 7th grade. She was being bullied at school and unknowingly had a learning disability that she could not shake. These issues in addition to English being …
Seven year old Isaiah had not been allowed to see his father for a very long time because Dad had a substance abuse problem and needed help. Isaiah finally got to visit his father and soon after was allowed to spend the night at his Dad’s house. When Isaiah woke up the next morning, his …
Barbara, married and the mother of a school-aged son, moved to Richmond from a small town in the late 1990s. With the birth of her second child, she was forced to quit her job due to the family’s inability to pay for child care. Starting with little more than a few used toys and the …
