Sandra L., LMFT wrote to us to let us know:

“Chill & Spill’s therapeutic goals of reducing symptoms of trauma, building resilience and coping skills, and promoting good-decision making techniques are right on target for these youth who have often experienced trauma leading up to their out-of-home placement. Reducing their symptoms of trauma will help them heal from the circumstances that led them to out-of-home placement…

“For teens, which may be reluctant to engage in typical ‘talk therapy,’ we see Chill & Spill being a more effective way to work with them therapeutically. We are particularly excited about the value of using this curriculum in a group setting [because] it fosters a sense of belonging and community and fosters skills of interaction and communication that come from being part of a group… And serving this population through groups will allow us to reach more youth, more quickly.”

Casey Family Programs has underwritten this collaboration in order to help address the gap between the ever-growing number of foster care youth and age-appropriate mental health services and available practitioners.

Once the training is complete, Sandra’s staff will offer the “Chill & Spill” program in 8-week sessions on an ongoing basis, up to 6 times a year, helping up to 60 youth per year through the Auburn office.

Kelly H, LCSW, a hospice Social Worker & Bereavement Coordinator in Illinois wrote today to say:

“I just want to say thank you for the wonderful work you do, seriously fabulous. It warms my heart.”

Thank you Kelly! It warms our hearts to know the difference we are making! Thanks for writing!

Last year, Art with Heart was blessed by Barbara B., who is a professional in the film industry. She told her colleagues about Art with Heart and asked them to donate their time while she directed the shoot for our fundraising video.

Over a four month period, she and her crew followed us as we talked to youth who had gone through our programs, families who had been affected by our work, as well as professional mental health care workers who saw the value in our work.

She called today to let us know that the video won a Silver Telly Award in the fundraising video category — the highest award they grant. The Telly Awards receives over 13,000 entries annually from all over the world and annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, etc.

Special thanks also to the volunteer team who made it all possible: Neil B, along with Guido R., Mark A., Angie B., Christina R., Steve C., Bob M., David W., Vincent G., Mary Anne D., and the folks at Clatter & Din.

Wow!
Chill & Spill has made it to New Zealand! Check out this catalog (or “catalogue”) from Skylight, a national not-for-profit charitable trust that supports resources for children who have been affected by change, trauma, loss and grief.

They found us through an online search and are now our distributor for caregivers and other mental health professionals in New Zealand. This means we are helping children who are 7,230 miles away! Amazing…

We received this feedback in the mail today from a boy in Burlington, Washington, who received our Magnificent Marvelous Me! book from a therapist at Catholic Community Services (click on it to enlarge).

The book supports their work with children who are dealing with difficult family issues. The smiley face reflects how he felt after he finished the book!