PROJECT SAFE HAVEN

   The Nevada State Elks Association designated Project Safe Haven, a statewide emergency shelter care program for abused and neglected children, as its State Major Project in 1990. It was initiated as a joint project between the Nevada State Elks Association and the State of Nevada, Department of Human Resources - Division of Child and Family Services. Its sole purpose is to provide the funding for a statewide emergency shelter care program for abused and neglected children. The money we donate is used to support about 150 Safe Haven Homes for the care that these abused and neglected kids need when they are removed from harm's way and placed into Safe Haven foster care homes. Not a one penny is used for salaries or administration. All of the Safe Haven Emergency Shelter Care Homes are nonprofit foster homes and are required to be licensed by Nevada Revised Statute and that means they undergo very stringent inspections and investigation before being licensed. Often the Safe Haven Homes are called upon in the middle of the night, weekend and holidays to provide a nurturing and supportive home for children, who are traumatized as a result of abuse and neglect.

   The Nevada Child protection Services agencies now annually receive in excess of 22,000 reports of child abuse and neglect that they must investigate. Fortunately about 40% of these turn out to be unsubstantiated, but you do the math - some 60% of the cases are substantiated. There are no counties that have a zero case rate although Eureka County certainly has the lowest case rate.

   The Elks ongoing commitment to this project has been vital to the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services efforts to serve abused and neglected children in Nevada. The financial support for the program has been outstanding. With annual donations of $60,000, the total donated has now exceeded ¾ of a million dollars since the program's inception in 1990; however, it is the spirit of the Elks commitment that has made the program successful. The same spirit of dedication and commitment is continued in those families who serve as Safe Haven Homes. A coin a day makes a safe place to stay - so take up the challenge and fill those Blue Piggy Banks - turn them in - then fill them again. Together we have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community. And, a special thank you comes from the Administration of the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services - "On behalf of all Nevada's foster children, we thank the Nevada Elks ongoing efforts in the Safe Haven - State Major Project".

CAMP TO BELONG

   At our 2010 Annual Convention the State Major Project Trustees decided to go to the convention floor with a motion to expand our SMP to include sponsoring children to CAMP TO BELONG, (CTB), on a continuing basis. It was agreed to kick off this program with a donation of $5,000.00 for the first year. Camp To Belong founded in Las Vegas by Lynn Price, herself a former youth-in-care, to offer siblings in foster care and other out of home care the opportunity to create lifetime memories. Siblings may not have the opportunity to read bedtime stories together at night, have breakfast together, cheer for each other at school functions or share precious holidays - all the things that typical siblings get to do each day. Siblings are often taken for granted. Yet, the sibling relationship can be our longest relationship in life. Camp To Belong's slogan: Dedicated to reuniting siblings placed in separate foster homes or other out-of-home care... clearly states the organization's goal.

   Since Camp To Belong’s grass roots beginning, Southern Nevada youth have benefited. It was 1995 and Lynn Price’s first sibling reunion camp took place at UNLV…how unconventional! There were 32 campers the first year and 54 the second. They were all from Southern Nevada. When Lynn relocated, she had the opportunity to host CTB in the Colorado Rockies and she invited Nevada’s kids. In time, Lynn began accepting applications for campers and volunteer counselors from all over the country, but she never stopped hosting Southern Nevada’s youth. For this, our local child welfare community is forever grateful.

   In 2004 Child Focus sent two volunteers to CTB Colorado along with 18 campers. With the cost and space limitations of Nevada’s kids going to Colorado, Lynn and the volunteers were committed to bringing the CTB program back to Nevada. Lynn had proven replication was possible and she eagerly assisted in every step of the way. In 2005, Las Vegas residents Cristine Lindholm (now Child Focus President) and Betsey Husted attended Price's flagship camp session in Colorado as volunteer counselors. Collectively they decided it was time to bring the program back to Nevada. Their leadership efforts included a campsite search, the recruitment of volunteer camp counselors and a fundraising campaign. In 2006, with a campsite partner secured in California (www.pathfinderranch.com), CTB Nevada had a very successful launch. Nearly 70 kids were reunited that summer as compared to only fifteen in 2005.

   The most notable success of our 2006 launch was this: two of the campers from the original camp in 1995 were now veteran volunteer counselors, Brian and JJ. Now as adults, they wanted to give back. They were accompanied by their 13 year old sister Brandi, a camper who provided inspiration for the kids and counselors involved. Brandi has only lived with her brothers once she was about five and for less than two years. She credits CTB and Lynn Price for giving her the opportunity to really get to know her brothers, something she would not have otherwise had.

   CTB Nevada could not have had this incredible rebirth were it not for Child Focus who provided funding, administrative support, and volunteer referrals. In February 2008 they officially became the CTB Nevada camp operator. As an organization who serves children living in foster care in multiple ways, CTB is a harmonious fit. Clinical psychologist and founder of Child Focus, Dr. Stephanie Holland says, “It is truly an honor to be a member of an organization that has perfected a program with so much impact for these separated siblings. As a member of CTB, Child Focus is in the company of other organizations who all believe that systemic change is possible and we are each doing something about it!”

   Camp To Belong's flagship events are their Summer Camp Programs during which they reunite brothers and sisters in a safe, neutral, week-long camp environment to create childhood memories together that they would not have otherwise due to living in separate homes. Each Summer Camp Program provides international programming designed to strengthen sibling connection through their Signature Programs, including Art Activities, Sibling Enhancement, Life Seminar, and the Birthday Party Event.

   The Camp To Belong Summer Camp Program is approaching it's 16th camp season and has reunited over 2,900 siblings at camps and reunions since 1995. Nevada State Elks Association is proud to partner with the Camp To Belong Nevada Family and Child Focus in this outstanding program. Click here to view a 3-1/2 minute film clip on Camp To Belong.

REMEMBER: If we don't save the children....We can't save ourselves.

For more information, contact Ted Balash, Executive Director, 400 Pheasant Drive, Fallon, NV 89406
Tel: (775) 770-8810 or email: f105g313@charter.net

Elected Trustees: Ted Lipka, Jr., PER - Roger Brotherton, PDD - Lee Butts, PDD
Appointed Trustees: President Elect Jim Smolenski, PDD - Vice President Bill Cooke, PDD - Jim Shirkey, PSP, PGE - Marlin Hosely, PSP

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