Homes and Havens provided the Children's Advocacy Center: The Emmy Haney House dens with a transformation.
The dens are a space at the CAC where caregivers meet with family advocates, therapists, case workers, and law enforcement. In this space caregivers ask questions about the investigative process and are provided with resources and referrals to meet their unique needs. This is done when their child is receiving a forensic interview, medical exam, or therapy session.
Homes & Havens creates healing spaces for people recovering from trauma using a unique, therapeutic approach to design called trauma-informed design. They have been serving women and children in the Chattanooga area for three years by furnishing and decorating their spaces using therapeutic design.
They are now extending their services to local organizations who work with individuals recovering from trauma to create spaces that calm and soothe both community servants and clients during intense experiences.
The families served by the CAC are experiencing the unimaginable as clients of the CAC are children who are alleged victims of child sexual abuse, often a very traumatic experience. The CAC's offices in the Family Justice Center are child focused and intentional. The dens are one of the places that caregivers meet with staff, and talk about their needs, concerns and experiences, and often are dealing with some of their own trauma.
Executive Director Kristen Pavlik McCallie said of the experience, "We are beyond thankful for the beautiful space that the team at Homes & Havens created in our space. We are privileged to be in Family Justice Center, and this is another wonderful addition to our space that makes it safe, warm, and welcoming for families we serve during a very difficult time."