News
2023
Thriving Families to hold Family Fun Fair for Child Abuse Prevention Month
The Thriving Families Alliance will hold a Family Fun Fair from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 1 at the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus, 815 N. 16th St.The free annual event — which has been around for at least 15 years, according to Jessica Rayment, community impact coordinator — is held in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month. The fun fair will include a fire truck, games, crafts, food and resources, she said. Attendees can have hotdogs, chips, fruit and water free of charge, as well as popcorn and cotton candy. There will be a balloon artist, face painter, strolling magician, balloon brigade, and duct tape activities, Rayment said. Bikers Against Child Abuse will have a duck pond and game. “It’s a little more geared for younger kids,” she said. For the grown-ups, there will be a car seat check and 21 local organizations with booths and information, Rayment said. At 1 p.m., there will be a Dad Rally inside The Salvation Army building on the campus. “They’re going to have a panel of dads with a judge to talk about being a father,” Rayment said. There will also be a raffle and prize drawings, she said. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved into the gym in the Salvation Army/Boys & Girls Club building, Rayment said. For the link to the original Nonpareil story click here.
'The Lisa Project' hopes to raise awareness of child abuse
An immersive audiovisual exhibit that allows visitors to experience the reality of child abuse is returning to Council Bluffs for a one day showing at The Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus on Monday. “The Lisa Project” allows the visitor to hear, see and experience the reality of the world of child abuse. Through audio narration from a child’s perspective, visitors are guided room by room through scenarios depicting abuse. This experience is meant to immerse visitors into the world that these children face on a daily basis. “We want to build awareness around child abuse and neglect, what’s going on in our community and help people kind of become a little more educated and understanding,” said Jessica Rayment, community impact coordinator for Thriving Families Alliance. When “The Lisa Project” last came to town in 2020, visitors were left moved by the experience, but unsure of what steps they could take to help support children who have been abused. Thriving Families Alliance created a complementary workshop to help visitors identify ways to support abused children. “What I really want people to leave with is, yes, these terrible things are happening in our community, but we all have a role and we all can do things to help support children,” Rayment said. “That’s what I want people to leave with, ‘what is my part in this?’” The workshop is based on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program called, ”WE CAN — Work to End Child Abuse and Neglect,” which is designed to offer simple, positive actions that can be taken to support families experiencing child abuse and neglect. “There are images and graphics that are already developed as part of that campaign, and then we’ve added interactive exhibits, things that help people find where they can find support, how they can best support families and children and, again, thinking more about their role in things,” Rayment said. “The Lisa Project” will be located at The Salvation Army of Council Bluffs, 715 N. 16th St., on Monday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and again from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public and registration is not required. Workshops will be held throughout the day, and visitors are invited to stop by at any time. The workshops will focus on what we all can do to help support children and families in our community. They will be held at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information about “The Lisa Project,” visit thelisaproject.org. For the link to the original Nonpareil story click here.
2022
I Support the Girls
“I Support the Girls' gives dignity to homeless women, girls through feminine hygiene products. Some women are faced with a choice: food or feminine hygiene products. "You never picture yourself to be in this situation. You wake up one day and find it's a horrific situation," said April Mrowczynski. he left an abusive relationship has been staying at the Micah House in Council Bluffs. "Whatever little bit that could be done for us to help us through this situation is good," she said. The Lakin Campus became an affiliate of, "I Support the Girls." "With all the services the campus already offers, I thought a great opportunity to expand on some of those services and there wasn't an affiliate anywhere in the area," said campus coordinator, Clarrissa Newman. The program provides basic necessities of feminine hygiene products and bras. "We've had stories of women using paper towels or anything they can find," she said. "They soil garments and then toss them and they don't have anymore after that, so what do you do at that point?" Newman said bras can be expensive too. "When you are going out for those job interviews, having a good bra is one of those things that is important and makes you feel better about yourself," she said. By word of mouth only, they've already received 1,300 bras and 19,000 feminine hygiene products since October. Mrowczynski said not having to worry about buying bras and hygiene products takes away some of the stress of an already stressful situation. "It makes me feel better about myself," she said. Micah House said many groups and students have organized donation drives and is always accepting donations. Donations are distributed to Council Buffs and Omaha women's shelters. If you are interested in participating or learning more please contact Clarrissa Newman at clarrissa.newman@lakincampus or 712-323-4416 ex. 2104
Find the link to the KETV story here.
Visit our I Support the Girls Council Bluffs/Omaha Facebook page.
The Lisa Project
February 21-22. Some Secrets should be told. The Lisa Project is a unique multi-sensory exhibit experience allowing the visitor to hear, see and experience the reality of the world of child abuse. Through audio narration from a child’s perspective visitors are guided room by room through scenarios depicting abuse. This experience is fully immersing each guest into the world that these children face on a daily basis.The result of this experience is a community that is made more aware with positive and helpful steps given at the end of the tour to protect children and strengthen families. PG13
The Lisa Project - Official Website
The Lisa Project display at The Salvation Army teaches about the effects of child abuse - The Daily Nonpareil
Exhibit brings awareness to what abused children suffer - Fox 42 News
Woman turns own experience with childhood sexual assault into a passion for prevention
2019
I find us on Facebook under Support the girls council bluffs/omaha
On October 22, the Campus became an official Affiliate of the global nonprofit I Support the Girls. I Support the Girls believes that a woman should not have to choose between feeding herself and her personal health.
“In June, I came across a Facebook page called I Support the Girls, and after seeing what the organization was accomplishing around the country, I instantly wanted to become involved,” said Clarrissa Newman, Campus Coordinator for the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus. “As Campus Coordinator, I decided this was a great fit for the Campus. We already support many of these individuals on Campus, and this also gives us the opportunity to support partners we collaborate with in the Council Bluffs/Omaha metro area by filling a need. We are super excited to be an official Affiliate of I Support the Girls and look forward to helping those right here in our community.
“I Support the Girls (ISTG) began with one community collecting and distributing products,” said Dana Marlowe, Founder and Executive Director of I Support The Girls. “We have now established 54 national and 4 international Affiliate locations, collecting locally and donating locally in their cities and countries. It just takes the efforts of one community to make a difference, which is why we are so thrilled to add the Council Bluffs/Omaha Metro Area as another location we serve. We can’t wait to see the impact you will have on the women and girls in your communities through these generous donations.”