Earlier this year, the Lakes Crisis and Resource Center began its Children's Service Program after receiving a one-year grant. Next month, the organization is hosting its second annual Children's Breakfast to raise money to support the service program.
"The purpose (of the breakfast) is to support the child program that became a reality here March 2007," Executive Director Jan Logan affirmed.
Logan's goal is to raise $75,000 in the next two years to keep the program up and running. The Dakota Medical Foundation has agreed to match individual donations of $250 minimum. Donations should be made payable to Dakota Medical Foundation.
"We've been awarded sufficient funds for one year for one child services coordinator. We need a minimum of two people because of demand," she said.
Children's Services offers help to all ages of kids. One area is teens, with support groups in Lake Park-Audubon, Detroit Lakes, Frazee-Vergas and the Alternative Learning Center. Topics range from anger and control to dating violence, suicide to self-esteem. Logan said the crisis center plans to get support groups going in Ogema, Frazee and Lake Park-Audubon elementary schools as well.
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"Our goal is to be in all schools in Becker County," she said.
"LCRC advocates provides the opportunity for children to talk about their feelings and needs and to provide positive direction and support through support groups and one-to-one interaction," Doreen Richter, Detroit Lakes high School counselor, said in a handout for the agency,
She added that the school is happy to partner with LCRC on this program.
Logan said that because of an increase in meth, other drugs and alcohol use by adults, the number of children needing the support has grown, and continues to grow.
"Child abuse and neglect has devastating effects on children, our future for tomorrow," she said.
At this year's Children's Breakfast -- scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in Holiday Inn -- featured speaker is Debra Luptak.
Luptak, a child abuse survivor herself, is an author and motivational speaker. According to her Web site ( www.stopchildabusetoday.com ), "her presentation style is guaranteed to be to-the-point, informative, energetic, challenging and fun."
Also at the breakfast will be members of the Detroit Lakes Fall Musical "Beauty and the Beast" to perform selected songs.
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With the Children's Services Program, LCRC has helped 171 children since March.
Tickets for the breakfast can be purchased at the LCRC at 847-7446. Cost is $40 for individual tickets -- which buys a child one hour of service at LCRC. There are also sponsorship categories for $150, $300, $500 and over.
"The impact of victimization can last a lifetime and often does if no intervention services are provided," Richter said.
