Longer days and warmer temperatures are here, perfect for a big scoop on what’s been happening over the last few months at Safe Shores. From Pack2School drives to well-earned honors for our executive director, scroll down for a sprinkle-ing of news!
It’s time to drop off your filled backpacks for Pack2School!
It’s Pack2School time, and we need your help to get #Pack2It!
If you signed up to sponsor a backpack (or a few) the time to shop and drop those off is upon us! Between July 26th and August 6th drop off your filled backpack at any DC area Ace Hardware stores.
If you didn’t sign up to sponsor a backpack, there’s still time to help with Pack2School 2023! Make a monetary donation in support of the drive. No donation is too small, and every gift helps Safe Shores equip our clients with some of the tools they need for the school year ahead.
At Safe Shores, we are constantly adding to our personal lists of what to watch, read, and listen to in the spirit of continued learning. Below, you’ll find a few recommendations to add to your own summer learning lists, featuring our Safe Shores team!
What the World Needs Now: Intentional Parenting
A Conversation With
Dr. Stacey Patton and Destiny Bennett
During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Safe Shores had the privilege of hosting two incredible speakers for a conversation on gentle and intentional parenting. Dr. Stacey Patton, a nationally recognized child advocate, and Destiny Bennett, a well-known parenting expert, joined Safe Shores’ Executive Director Michele Booth Cole to discuss what “gentle parenting” means, and what research shows about its impact on children.
If you weren’t able to catch this educational and enlightening conversation when it was live, the full video recording has now been released on our website!
Want a few more things to watch, listen to, and read this summer? Take a look at these recommendations featuring Safe Shores staff!
The Washington Informer’s Feature on Safe Shores
Safe Shores Executive Director Michele Booth Cole sat down with Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes and Producer Shevry Lassiter to talk through the crucial work of Safe Shores and to give a look at The Clothing Closet and sand tray therapy room.
Community DC Podcast Episode on Child Abuse Prevention
The Community DC podcast hosted Michele Booth Cole along with Dr. Melissa Merrick, PCAA’s Executive Director, for a conversation about child abuse prevention. Michele and Melissa stressed why and how adults must be aware, engaged and involved in prevention work to better protect all children, worldwide.
Tales of a Black Therapist by Staff Member Christopher Gamble
Christopher Gamble, Safe Shores child advocate, has his first novel Tales of a Black Therapist available for pre-order now! The book focuses on Drew Gaines, an experienced therapist, as he mentors young Black men pursuing mental health careers and shares his stories with Amir, an eager student.
Safe Shores Staff Appreciation
This month, Safe Shores staff gathered for the annual Staff Appreciation event in a beautiful outdoor space, thanks to board member Shana Glickfield and her public affairs firm Beekeeper Group.
Staff enjoyed delicious food, drinks, games, a caricature artist and great conversation with board members and each other! Mike Takes on Science brought back our child-like learning as he showed us how to make “elephant toothpaste” (shown here), circuits, and dry ice science.
Then, staff were able to plant their own pothos and learn how to best care for their new, green plants from ReWild. Staff left feeling rested and renewed; their cups filled and ready to better help the children we serve!
Evaluation of the School-based Healthy Relationships Project
In fiscal year 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a grant to fund a rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of The Healthy Relationships Project©, a school-based program for children in Pre-K through 5th grade. Developed by Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, The Healthy Relationships Project© is a primary prevention intervention that is deployed within school systems to prevent child sexual abuse. Over a two-year period, Safe Shores will lead the implementation of the program at 16 DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools in wards 4-8 across Washington, DC, and provide outcome data for this scientific evaluation.
Read more about Safe Shores’ involvement in this project here.
Bianca Ejiofoh (right), Safe Shores Healthy Relationships Project (HRP) Prevention Specialist, poses with Kimberly Fuller (left), Principal of Center City Shaw at an HRP appreciation event. Center City Shaw is the pilot school for the project and study.
MDT Summer Bash
The MDT Advancement and Support Team at Safe Shores put on an epic summer party to celebrate all of the members of the MDT! From summer games to an exciting raffle (with seasonal prizes like beach chairs and towels!), members of the MDT were able to gather together for a brief afternoon to connect with one another. They were even able to visit with Pepper, the therapy pup! The delicious cherry on top was a visit from Captain Cookie, an ice cream truck that specializes in ice cream sandwiches.
Thank you MDT Advancement and Support team for the incredible event! Taking time to make connections with our MDT team members helps us all better serve the children and families we see each day.
Honoring Michele Booth Cole –
20 Years Serving as Safe Shores Executive Director
June 2023 marked 20 years of servant leadership by Michele Booth Cole, Executive Director of Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center. As the longest-serving Black child advocacy center (CAC) leader ever and one of just four Black directors of the 1000+ CAC’s in the country, Michele attests that the work of advocating for children is a marathon and not a sprint. In her words, “The children and families we serve are VIPs, very important people, and they need and deserve VIPs — very intentional people — doing the vital work of providing intervention, hope, and healing.”
Michele Booth Cole Named Among Top 50 Women Leaders of DC
Michele Booth Cole, was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of DC for 2023 by Women We Admire.
Michele was brought on in 2003 with the challenge of moving DC’s CAC from a 3,400-square-foot space to the vibrant and child-friendly 40,000-square-foot Bundy Building that houses Safe Shores today! Under Michele’s direction, Safe Shores has grown to better meet the needs of child victims and their families in DC, including expanding services and adding additional programs dedicated to intervention, hope, healing, and prevention.
Read the article in Women We Admire – Michele is at spot number 42 on the list!
Michele Booth Cole Awarded NCA’s 2023 DEI Leadership Award
Michele Booth Cole, was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of DC for 2023 by Women We Admire.
Michele was brought on in 2003 with the challenge of moving DC’s CAC from a 3,400-square-foot space to the vibrant and child-friendly 40,000-square-foot Bundy Building that houses Safe Shores today! Under Michele’s direction, Safe Shores has grown to better meet the needs of child victims and their families in DC, including expanding services and adding additional programs dedicated to intervention, hope, healing, and prevention.
Watch Michele’s acceptance speech here:
Safe Shores Staff Spotlight
There have been a number of new faces brought on board within the past year! Get to know our most recent hires in our Clinical Services program below.
Samina Khawaja
Clinical Services Director
Samina Khawaja earned her Psychology degree from the University of Virginia and her Masters in Community Counseling from Argosy University.
She has 15 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of human service settings, and is passionate about promoting systemic change, collective wisdom, and the cultivation of individual and community healing.
Haley Hasen
Child & Adolescent Therapist, Emphasis on Art Therapy
Haley earned her Masters of Art Therapy from George Washington University and her Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona.
Haley brings a strong interest and background in healthy sexual education and is an accomplished photographer.
