Inside CARE House: Family Support Group Builds Community After Abuse

Mar 19

A dramatic analogy can help us understand what can happen within a family once child sexual abuse is revealed.

“It’s like when a grenade goes off. The shrapnel can affect everybody,” said Erin Paone, LMSW, lead clinical therapist at CARE House of Oakland County. “There’s no rulebook. No roadmap. Nobody could be prepared for this. The whole family needs help with navigation.”

CARE House created Family Support Group as a safe place for families to share experiences, gain comfort and cultivate a sense of community. This extends well beyond the child survivor of abuse because about 90% of victims know their abuser, often a family member or someone close to and trusted by the family. Caregivers can feel embarrassment or shame. When families come together, facilitated by trained professionals, they can support one another.

Paone has led these groups for more than 15 years and explained “We understand the dynamics that abuse affects families. We want to help with the healing process…we are trained to support you throughout this journey.”

Every non-offending family member is invited to be a part of the group, which meets for seven consecutive weeks, once a week, in several groups per year. Paone describes each group as “tight-knit, they build a rapport with each other.” Topics covered include how trauma affects families, coping and communication and self-awareness and self-care.

At the same time adult family members are meeting together at CARE House, there are specially-designed activities for children, and siblings in particular, grouped by age. These groups are staffed by professionals and volunteers who are committed to providing a fun and meaningful experience for kids, so childcare is not a concern for parents who want to be a part of the group.

All of this happens at no cost to families, including an optional dinner before the group meeting, so, for families, there is no cooking or cleaning that evening.

Paone said that her message to any family considering becoming a part of a Family Support Group is “You are not alone. You are not the only one. Avoidance can be such a big part of what you may experience. But it’s not the way to heal. Together, we validate feelings and instill hope. You come in in distress but you can leave laughing and happy, with new insights and connections.” The Family Support Group is available to families who have come through the CARE House Intervention Department for a Forensic Interview.

Because there is no expiration date on trauma, sometimes family members will want to be part of the group, even years later. If there is room, CARE House will accommodate those requests.

Paone added, “We could not do this without volunteer support.” Volunteers often bring in or cook dinner and work directly with kids while their parents participate in the Support Group. Also, CARE House welcomes donations of gift cards for craft stores or arts and craft supplies, and activities like board games, which benefit the kids of the families who participate.

For more information, visit

https://www.carehouse.org/volunteer

To provide a meal to the Family Support Group, visit

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA4AB23ABF4C07-61933671-family#/

Curious to learn more? Click the links below to read the rest of the Program Spotlights!

Inside CARE House: The First Rooms for Children

Inside CARE House: A Dedicated Interview Space

Inside CARE House: A Comfortable Place for Therapy

Inside CARE House: A CARE House “CASA” Helps Make Dreams Come True

Inside CARE House: On Human Trafficking

Inside CARE House: How Home Visits Can Prevent Abuse

Inside CARE House: Important Work Also Happens Outside Our Doors