Bait Al Hayat / House of Life

Children's Trauma Treatment Center

A project to establish a children's trauma treatment center
in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine
to assist children suffering from trauma due to war and violence

~ See below for how you can help make this project a reality
through tax deductible contributions ~

A collaboration with local human service workers to establish and operate the first children's trauma treatment center in Nablus and the northern region of the West Bank. This center will provide critically needed trauma recovery services to large numbers of children and their families suffering from psychological and emotional trauma due to war and violence, and who are going untreated. The long term goal is to increase the capacity of local services and relief workers in providing desperately needed direct intervention and treatment to victims of trauma where huge portions of the population have been impacted. The project is designed to address both immediate and long term treatment needs and to build close working relationships with local service and aid organizations, as well as linking them with international professional mental health organizations for support. Local staff will also provide public education in self-help skills and resources to victim populations and their community. An added benefit is the invaluable investment in future health services in general for the region.

Need

On the ground needs assessments reveal a critical level of serious, debilitating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among a large portion of children of all ages in the region. Local human service professionals report a very high incidence of:
Children frequently being presented by parents to medical centers for
    severe symptoms that are thought to be medical but are instead clearly
    psychological in nature.
Children being kept secluded at home due to an inability to deal with
    public situations,
Children exhibiting regressive behaviors, frequent panic attacks,
    uncontrolled crying, hypersensitivity to sounds and visual stimulus,
    hyper-vigilance to new situations and strangers, poor impulse control,
    and low threshold for stress in general that triggers aggressiveness and
    violence.

Due to the continuing level of violence and traumatic experiences in daily life, including violence done to them and viewing the violence and death of others - many of who are family members and neighbors, victims are re-traumatized on a regular basis. This is particularly devastating for children who have increasingly less ability and psychological resources to cope with this heightened level of danger, stress, and loss.

Current State Of Existing Indigenous Services

Currently there are no mental health services available in the northern region of the West Bank to treat psychological trauma, and most particularly for children of all ages suffering from debilitating symptoms. In general, there is a serious lack of adequate mental health services in these regions, while the need for such services has critically expanded far beyond the local capacity to cope with it, and continues to grow. The center will be a landmark service for the entire region.

Local Support

Local community leaders and a number of local human service and aid organizations are in support of establishing the center and are available to collaborate with our organizations. The center will be operated by local counseling professionals that CBI will train in both direct clinical services and center operations. CBI will remain involved in supporting the center indefinitely.

Current Status of Project

To date the following project elements are in place:
   Currently a physical site has been donated by the Women Union Hospital.
   Local treatment and support staffing have been selected to receive clinical
      and operational training.
   Najah National University has pledged to provide an ongoing supply of
      university student interns to provide additional support to the staff in
      operating the center. This pool of students is also seen as a natural source
      of future professional mental health staffing for the center.
   The trauma treatment training program is created and ready to be
      implemented (including assessment, intervention methods, individual and
      family counseling, setting up a phone crisis-line, and operating a clinic),
      and our team of expert trainers is prepared to provide the initial trainings,
      as well as ongoing clinical consultation and advanced training.
   A portion of the professional treatment materials needed has been acquired.

What remains to acquire:
   Operational funding to allow for a 1 year pilot program operation, during
      which we will be seeking continuation funding from a number of local,
      regional, and international sources.
   The remaining necessary professional resources and materials needed for
      direct treatment and assessment.

Clinical and Historical Basis For Need

Profound psychological and emotional injuries may be the most enduring effects of war and violence, yet historically they are the least addressed in terms of rebuilding a society and preventing future violence. Large-scale recovery efforts commonly focus on more visible needs such as food, shelter, clothing, physical health, and economic aid. However, the effects of deep psychological trauma on individuals, their families, and ultimately their communities is typically overlooked or minimized, and seldom truly resolved. This invariably leads to it becoming imbedded as part of the psyche of a society that extends the wounds into future generations where it is too often played out in further violence. In this way the cycle of violence and the cycle of trauma directly contribute to each other.

Whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, in modern times or the past, regardless of the original motivation of conflict, unresolved communal psychological wounds are one of the most powerful fuels of war and violent conflicts. Efforts at maintaining peace and avoiding war are seriously handicapped if they do not address such current and historical wounds, as well as create the means to prevent future traumas.

The pervasive presence of a large segment of traumatized members in all areas of Palestinian society poses one of the most formidable barrier to peace in this region. Without these urgently needed services it is expected the trauma and it's impact on future generations will continue. It is imperative to not only the present but to the future that particularly the children are assisted in healing and recovering from their tragic experiences. True recovery can then contribute to lasting peace.

How to Help

YOUR Financial Support is CRITICAL

Particularly in the midst of the current wave of turmoil that is creating only more need, we invite you to consider supporting this humanitarian effort with your donations and help in easing the pain and suffering for children caught up in it. If you, your family, friends, or colleagues are drawn to an opportunity for concrete action with a clear impact on the present and future of these conflicts, we encourage you to lend your support.

Donations can be sent to Common Bond Institute at the address below. Donations of any size are appreciated.*

* Tax Deductible Contributions can be made payable to: "International Humanistic Psychology Association" a 501(c)3 federal non-profit organization, with a note indicating "Bait Al Hayat / House of Life" and can be made by check, money order, or cashiers check. Credit card contributions are available as well. For credit card or wiring instructions please contact CBI directly at the phone number below.

Please Send Contributions to:
International Humanistic Psychology Association
c/o Common Bond Institute
12170 South Pine Ayr Drive, Climax, Michigan 49034 USA
Phone/Fax: (269) 665-9393 
Email: SOlweean@aol.com