TAKING TIME FOR SOME TLC

(by Derek)

How would your current life be different if you had witnessed one act of domestic violence when you were a child? What if you observed domestic violence every day in your home? What if the violence had been directed at you? What if everyone else's parents in your neighborhood acted the same way?

Kids who live in Bolivian communities where Food for the Hungry works often suffer the trauma of watching their parents and relatives experience long-term domestic violence. Their young eyes are observing brokenness every day, and without specific, professional intervention, they are likely to develop into an entire generation of young adults who will repeat the same actions with their own growing families.

As an employee of Food for the Hungry Bolivia, but currently located in the U.S., I have been asked to support the goals of the organization in a variety of ways, including helping to create a set of guidelines for working with children and families who are experiencing domestic violence by doing research and development into this area of high need. As part of my research, I recently completed a training with an important resource organization called the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. (You can check out their website here: http://www.starrtraining.org/tlc)

Drawing on insights from becoming a certified TLC school specialist, I am now in the process of creating new guidelines to give the staff with FH Bolivia a better idea of how to work with and support families experiencing domestic violence. Would you be able to support us in prayer as we seek for God's will for this area of FH's work in Bolivia?