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S - The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, June 27,2000 karonslioworshop cou ~?~4~7I..aurerke~ ~Ctjnmpwn Coi 'Mu' lu Trauma centre eases damagedsouls By HOWARD MOZEL Special to The Champion T he Halton Trauma Centre has survived for 17 years on a shoestring budget, but like those damaged souls to whom it min- isters, survival alone simply isn't enough, said its executive director. After ail, said Paul Bennett, children possess the expectasion that adults will protect them and so morally and cthically the entire community is obligated to do so. Fortunately, centre staff go above and beyond help survivors of ail ages with next to no funding. "There are a lot of challenges but there is a lot of commîtment," said Mr. Bennett. K~sown since 1983 as the Halton Centre for Childhood Sexual Abuse, the centre launched ils new name and mandate in 1999 to expand ser- vices to include physical, emotional and psycho- logical abuse plus child maltreatment snd neglect. AIl are equslly traumatic, said Mr. Bennett, causing devsatating, long-terni damage. "We're looking at Ibis through the clients' eyes," said Mr. Bennett. "Abuse is abuse, trauma is trauma." For 17 years the centre bas provided skillcd and effective trealment to individusîs and fami- lies who have been touchesi by child sexual abuse, past or present. The new mandate will sllow centre staff to offer their knowlcdge ansi akilîs to a larger population. The major barrier to msking an even bigger impact, however, is money. The centres annual budget of $300,OO0 is lean by any standard, especially considering the need that exista throughout the region. 'That imposes real limita on what we cao do," said Mr. Bennett, whose tiny office is proof the money is spent on services, not overhead. "We can't keep running this agency without proper funding." For example, the centre has neyer been able to provide individual therapy, something which Mr. Bennett deseribed as a "real gap." "We need 10 find the revenue to support that," he saisi. "If it sounda like we'oe putting our hand out, we damn well are." Approximstely 52 per cent of the centre's bud- get comes from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, 17 per cent to 20 per cent from Haltons four Unitesi Way agencies with the remainder raised by staff. Sometimes, said Mr. Bennett, they juat go ahead with projecta even wben funding isn't available. "We have a history of reaching out ansi not let- Photo by BARRIE EASKINE Mike DeGroote (lotI), preaident of Waatbury international Corporation, praaents a S20,000 donation b Paul Bennett, executive diracor of 1h. Halton Trauma Centra. Fac.d with iimited financiai resourcea for programa, Mr. Bennett waa happy to acc.pt the gifi. ting Uic money stop us," he aaid. Fortunatcly, the centre receivesi s wclcomc $20,OOO donation reccntly from Wcstbury International Corporation president Michacl H. DeGroote, son of Laidlaw founder Michael DeGroole. A Burlington resident, he remains involvcd with propertica and charitica in Oakvillc - none more worthwhilc, he said, Uian Uiose involving cbildren. "Evcryonc should have the anme chance," said Mr. DeGroote. "'Ibis was a great tic-m to help kida have an equal opportunity." With a paltry budget to work with, Mr. Bcnnett is delighted by Mr. DcGroote's gen- crosity. "Hopcfully Uiis donation will bu Uie kick-off to finding asiditional benefactors," bu said. The money will bu funnelcd toward Uic cen- tre'a thrce-membcr Trauma Treatmcnt Team, which works with entire families coping with physical, verbal and sexual abuse and neglect. Like soldicra rctuming from war, victima of abuse deserve 10 be taken seriously and treated appropriatcly, said Mr. Bennett. Forty per cent of survivors of childhood sexu- ai abuse suffered their trauma when only six montha to five ycars of age, a fact which Mr. Bcnnett saisi underseores why Uieir payches are 50 damagcd. This la cspecially bcart-breaking whcn one conaiders thalmoat abuse takes place in Uic home, notas Uic result of strangers. "It atrikes at Uic very heait of what wc think about families," saisi Bennett, who cxplaincd Uiat offenders arc also counselesi. The rooney and time apent now is a "profound invealment" in the future of not only victima, aaid Bennett, but also society aI large whcn one considera the enormous funda spent on every- thing from asidiction to social assistance. "We lose billions apent dealing with the symp- toms but flot Uic reasons why the symptoma are there," said Mr. Bennett. The focua on sexual abuse for the majonty of Uic centres existence has allowed staff to devel- op an in-depth knowledge of the issue, a proceas of leaening that Mr. Bennett said is ongoing. Now that the centre has "re-designcd" ilself, Mr. Bcnnett said he sees 1983 to 1999 as thc firat chapter, the new mandate as Uic second. "Wc are constantly leaming and upgrading," he ssid. "I'm quite proud of what we'vc donc." Those secklng Uic centre's services shoulsi caîl 825-3242. Anyone wishing to donate is encour- aged te contact Susan Coyne at 825-5024. ~iiPf~P~ COGECO i4 Programmîng Schedule - June 27th, 2000 - JuIy 3rd, 2000 * S lOastlasdho P~edhi 1OuIImndloe Ptdk~ tOasStatNoa Pl~Jdk~ tant Isas tr~soe q,~4 jD<êi& 5Y~63~,1Jf$n ~ 5 .6~t?~ ~UP~' 5~,t~,7~tts PAgedIri HOça SaasStnae î~s C~.leC~uu' ~ fl~Lac~S.a 1~O~i T~sLo~Soes 7~Op~ Sw~1*Ls~ WWW.o@g 8OO~ KsHlhCoscI& 8~a CgaSprts Acton Àiiet~5 lwttralçee tOIts Kioe~5~C5iti 21 Mas Streat NarOS >it2lst Actai, ON L7J 1V9 519653-1270 or 853-4700 Feature tht. week: "Cogeco Sports: Fiamboro Sp.edway" - Wedmusday, Spm