Rebound Of Whatcom County

TO CONNECT, EMPOWER, AND RESTORE VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

OUR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM OF ROOTS FAMILY ENRICHMENT PROVIDES FREE PARENT TRAINING BASED ON BRAIN SCIENCE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH WHAT WE TEACH THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE. WHILE THE PARENTS ARE LEARNING HOW TO RECOGNIZE, ADDRESS, AND PREVENT ANGRY OUTBURSTS AND TRIGGERS, THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN CHILDCARE LEARNING THE SAME ABILITIES IN A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAY. THE ROOTS PROGRAM CREATES A COMMUNITY OF PEER SUPPORT AND ACCEPTANCE WHICH WE BELIEVE IS VITAL. LOCAL CHURCHES, CORPORATIONS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL, IN-KIND, AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO. IN 2022, REBOUND HOSTED 2 SESSIONS OF ROOTS, REACHING 50 FAMILIES AND OVER 75 CHILDREN. IN 2023, WE WILL PARTNER WITH ENGEDI TO HELP FAMILIES LEARN HOW TO PREVENT ONLINE PREDATORS AND SEX TRAFFICKING, ONELOVEFOUNDATION.ORG TO TRAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HOW TO RECOGNIZE MANIPULATIVE AND UNHEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS, AS WELL AS REBOUND RISE, AN ADULT LITERACY COURSE TO BE HOSTED IN OUR OFFICES.

RAY OF HOPE IS THE CORNERSTONE SUMMER CAMP THAT CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN (AGES 5-12). RAY OF HOPE WAS CLOSED IN 2022 DUE TO COVID-19 REPERCUSSIONS. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER RAY OF HOPE THE SUMMER OF 2023, BUT THIS WILL DEPEND UPON OUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY. HISTORICALLY, RAY OF HOPE SUMMER CAMP HOSTS UP TO 120 CHILDREN WITH A STAFF OF 30. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE A 1 TO 4 ADULT/CHILD RATIO AS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN ARE HIGH. RAY OF HOPE IS A 5-WEEK CAMP, LICENSED AS A CHILD CARE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES. OUR CAMP IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, HAVE SUFFERED PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT, GENERATIONAL POVERTY OR NEGLECT, CYCLICAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, INCARCERATION, AND/OR HOMELESSNESS. THESE CHILDREN HAVE OFTEN BEEN RECOMMENDED TO US BY EDUCATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, OR WORD OF MOUTH. STAFF PARTICIPATE IN AN INTENSIVE TWO-WEEK TRAINING ON HOW TO SERVE THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION, COMPLETING TRAINING IN CPR, TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES, CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE, ETC. RAY OF HOPE OFFERS DAILY MEALS FOR ALL CHILDREN AND IS M-F, 8:30-5:30. WE OFFER SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AWARENESS LESSONS IN THE MORNING THAT INCLUDES HOW TO DISAGREE PEACEFULLY, HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND MANAGE BIG EMOTIONS, AND HOW TO BE A SAFE FRIEND. IN THE AFTERNOON, WE STRIVE TO GIVE THE CHILDREN A SUMMER TO REMEMBER WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MAKING ICE CREAM, PICKING BERRIES, PLAYING AT LAKE WHATCOM, AND GOING ON SIMPLE FIELDTRIPS.

OUR FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM HELPS MEET THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. IN 2022, REBOUND BEGAN TO RETURN TO THIS MUCH NEEDED PART OF OUR PROGRAMS. TRAINED REBOUND STAFF ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITHIN THE COURT AND LEGAL SYSTEM, IN SCHOOLS, WITH PROPERTY MANAGERS, ETC. WE CONNECT FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES, INCLUDING DIRECTING REQUESTS TO OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS WHO CAN HELP. WE HAVE HELPED FAMILIES FIND DIAPERS, BABY BLANKETS, FURNITURE, KITCHEN SUPPLIES, AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. REBOUND, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER NONPROFITS, COLLECTS HEALTH AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND DISTRIBUTES THESE AT OUR ROOTS FAMILY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS WHENEVER WE ARE CONTACTED.