Making A Difference in Your Community : Program Helps Children at Risk of Abuse

When Anita Hanna finishes her day’s work as an emergency room nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Panorama City, she can relax and be a “grandma.”

Hanna does not have grandchildren, but said a child started calling her that because she’s “nice” and has “grandma hair.”

The youngster is in the child-abuse prevention program COSTARS for which Hanna volunteers.

Hanna said her job as a nurse is “really high pressure and sometimes it’s really depressing.” She has been working at the hospital for 22 years.

Her COSTARS work offers a reprieve from the often-violent reality of everyday life. “It’s like being in a group of fun, nice little angels,” she said.

The weekly program, held on Tuesdays at Tujunga’s Pinewood Elementary School, is for children age 12 and younger from single-parent families.

The program is overseen by Bridge Focus a nonprofit Burbank agency that tries to keep children from becoming victims of abuse. Its Single Parent Connection program helps parents to deal with problems without resorting to violence. And at COSTARS, children are encouraged to express themselves to build self-esteem.

The result is a family better able to handle, and avoid, conflict, said volunteer coordinator Shelli Duby.

“We hope to prevent child abuse by showing the children alternative behaviors and problem-solving skills,” Duby said.

For example, fights may start as family members start blaming each other for problems. “Why aren’t you doing your homework?” or “Why aren’t you home?” are questions that can escalate into arguments if they are not handled appropriately.

In their 2 1/2-hour shifts, volunteers help children with projects that help them tap into feelings about themselves and their families.

“They have to be good listeners,” Duby said.

Hanna has seen the children change dramatically.

“Some nights I get off of work and I’m tired,” Hanna said.

“But I go every (Tuesday) night. After you leave there, you feel so good.”

For more information, call Duby at (818) 563-5509.

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Nursery Nature Walks, an environmental education organization for educators and families with children age 8 and younger, needs volunteers. Three training sessions are scheduled: Saturday at Temescal Canyon in the Pacific Palisades, Oct. 15 at Topanga State Park and Oct. 22 at Coldwater Canyon Park.

Volunteers pay $40--or less, depending on ability to pay--for the training. They must attend all three sessions to qualify as volunteer guides, although they can make up the course work later if they miss a class.

Volunteers lead walks throughout the Santa Monica Mountains and northern Los Angeles County.

The program conducts 40 to 50 walks a month, as well as three to four “outreach walks,” for inner-city children.

For more information, call Nursery Nature Walk director Judy Burns or Kathy Tardy at (310) 998-1151.

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Free, no-obligation training for prospective hospice volunteers is being offered at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City by the Olsten Kimberly Qualitycare Hospice.

Trainers include communications experts, social workers, bereavement counselors and medical personnel. Volunteers are needed to make friendly visits and phone calls to terminally ill patients and their families throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Training begins Oct. 29 at the hospital at 14850 Roscoe Blvd., Panorama City.

Preregistration is required. For more information, call volunteer services director Lucki Baxter at (310) 475-3442.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.