Kory’s Story

Emily Harper • September 4, 2020

Before beginning treatment at A Child’s Haven (ACH), Kory went through a lot in his first two years. His mother and father divorced, leaving Kory to live between two different houses with no sort of routine. During one of Kory’s wellness checks, he began having a meltdown which escalated to aggressive kicking toward the doctor. The pediatrician knew about the divorce and asked if Kory had these outbursts often. His mother, Tina, admitted that the tantrums had worsened over the last few months but she thought it was normal toddler behavior.

The pediatrician explained to Tina that some tantrums are normal, but not on this scale. She then told Kory’s mother about ACH and how our three core services could help their family. A few days later, Tina called ACH and set up an intake appointment. During the intake interview, Kory exhibited the same behaviors with the Child and Family Therapist. Tina told the therapist that Kory had been doing this for a few months and every time she tries to get him to stop, it gets worse. ACH staff reassured Tina that she was doing her best as a newly single parent and our team would help her and Kory grow and learn together. 

During Kory’s first month at ACH, when he became agitated the clinical team focused on redirecting him rather than getting him to stop the behavior. Kory went to another part of the room by himself, or with a treatment provider, taking him out of the upsetting situation so he could begin calming down.

At Tina and Kory’s first Family Therapy / Home Visit, their Child and Family Therapist told her about this technique and offered some extra strategies to try at home. Tina was skeptical but willing to try. She ended up calling the therapist later that week to share that Kory was still having some rough outbursts, but she was amazed that most of the time, she could calm Kory down before he became uncontrollable. 

After a year with ACH, Kory discharged from our facility to attend his local daycare. During their final assessment, Tina talked about how much Kory had changed and couldn’t believe he was the same child. She was looking forward to using the parenting skills she learned at ACH as they moved into the next chapter of their lives.

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** Names and a few details have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients .

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Lincoln and Jasmine's Story

By A Child's Haven • July 20, 2022
Twins, Lincoln and Jasmine, were three years old when referred to A Child’s Haven (ACH) by their Early Interventionist (EI) for speech delays and extreme separation anxiety. Lincoln and Jasmine’s mother, Jessica, shared with their EI that she was struggling with her husband’s death and needed help. Her EI had just attended a Lunch and Learn at ACH and knew Jessica and this family could benefit from our multigenerational treatment services. During their ACH intake, Jessica revealed Lincoln and Jasmine’s father passed away shortly after their second birthday. After their father’s death, the twins had very different reactions. Jasmine developed extreme separation anxiety, and Lincoln went from a boy full of personality to not talking at all. The first few weeks of drop offs were extremely tough for the twins. Emotions ran high, and you could feel the children’s despair and insecurity. Our clinical team showered them with patience and support, and Jessica’s Child and Family Therapist walked her through different ways to comfort and help Lincoln and Jasmine with this transition. Once the children became more comfortable with coming to ACH, a transformation began. Our clinical team helped Jasmine identify her anxiety and taught her healthy coping strategies. Lincoln learned other ways to communicate, starting with basic sign language, until he gained the confidence to speak simple words like, “Yes”, “No”, and “Thank you.” After several months, Lincoln was speaking in full sentences again. The twins weren’t the only ones making progress. Jessica had major breakthroughs during Family Therapy sessions with their Child and Family Therapist. She worked through a lot of her grief, learned better routines that would help their family at home, and practiced coping skills with her children. Lincoln and Jasmine are now five years old and getting ready for Kindergarten this fall. The whole family continues making progress each day. An investment in A Child’s Haven is an investment in a child and family’s mental health. Donate today.

Inaugural 4K Graduation

By A Child's Haven • June 7, 2022
A Child’s Haven (ACH) hosted its inaugural 4K graduation Friday, June 3, 2022 in collaboration with South Carolina First Steps (SCFS). Family members, ACH staff, community members, and Miss South Carolina USA, Meera Bhonsle, were all present for the celebration. ACH was the fourth SCFS 4K program in Greenville County and launched in August 2021. ACH also provides Therapeutic Child Care to young children suffering from trauma or abuse. The SCFS 4K program adds a traditional academic component and further ensures a child’s success when they enter a public-school classroom. ACH Program Director, Coraretta Smalls, leads the initiative with support from other clinical staff. The SCFS 4K Program enhances the ACH program as a model for Therapeutic Child Care in South Carolina. ACH Executive Director, Tanya Camunas, commented that, “We are thrilled to be graduating our first 4K class this year. Our children will enter public school having overcome their trauma and prepared to be great learners.” South Carolina First Steps is the state’s only dedicated, comprehensive early childhood initiative focused on getting children ready for school and life success. Martha M. Strickland, South Carolina First Steps 4K State Director said, “We are grateful to A Child’s Haven for partnering with First Steps 4K so that all students are fully prepared for kindergarten. SC First Steps 4K gives families the opportunity to enroll their eligible child in a free, high-quality 4K program of their choice as part of South Carolina’s Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP).” About A Childs Haven: Founded in 1992 by Eva P. Hunt, ACH is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides healing therapy for Greater Greenville’s developmentally challenged at-risk preschoolers, while fortifying vulnerable families and strengthening our community. It is one of only two Therapeutic Child Care service providers in the state. https://achildshaven.org/ About South Carolina First Steps: South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (SCFS) is both a nonprofit and state agency and is the only dedicated comprehensive early childhood agency in South Carolina focused on getting children ready for school and life success. We serve more than 30,000 children in 81 school districts across 46 counties. https://scfirststeps.org/

ACH Receives CARF Re-Accreditation for the Fourth Consecutive Time

By A Child's Haven • June 7, 2022
A Child’s Haven (ACH) recently earned our fourth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF). ACH is accredited until March 31, 2025 for Intense Family Based Services: Family Services (Children and Adolescent); with Board Governance Standards applied. CARF’s decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and demonstrates ACH’s conformance to CARF standards. The process involved a rigorous peer review by a team of surveyors during an on-site visit, and the outcome affirmed ACH’s commitment to offer programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. “CARF commends A Child’s Haven’s commitment and consistent efforts to improve the quality of tis programs and services and looks forward to working with the organization in its ongoing pursuit of excellence,” said President and CEO of CARF, Brian J. Boon, Ph.D. This achievement came as ACH celebrates their 30 th anniversary of providing healing therapy to children and families who have suffered from trauma. Executive Director, Tanya Camunas, said this about their recent accomplishment, “We are extremely proud of achieving the highest level of accreditation that CARF offers. This further distinguishes A Child’s Haven as an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of lives of children and families in our community.” Learn more about ACH’s services and how you can get involved at www.achildshaven.org About A Child’s Haven: Founded in 1992 by Eva P. Hunt, ACH is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides healing therapy for Greater Greenville’s developmentally challenged at-risk preschoolers, while fortifying vulnerable families and strengthening our community. It is one of only two Therapeutic Child Care service providers in South Carolina. https://achildshaven.org/ About CARF: CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org .
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