OUR BRAND STORY
Helping Children Dream Again THE CHILDREN’S CENTER
Children are the true heroes.
The children we serve battle
their pain and fears everyday.
Why it matters The future of our city is in our children’s stories. While many begin in heartbreak, that’s only the first chapter. At The Children’s Center, we help children rewrite their future, transforming their hurt into healing, despair into courage, trauma into triumph. Their stories are success stories.
KINITA’S STORY
Two babies at 16 is heartbreaking. So is knowing your stepfather is the dad. My stepfather molested me for years. He got me pregnant once, and one year later, it happened again. My mom didn’t believe me. She was angry with me and blamed me when he was sent to prison. She kept yelling, “Who’s going to pay my bills now?” She kicked me and my babies out of the house. My relatives turned me away, too. They liked my stepfather. And yet, they knew what he was doing. They also blamed me when he was sent to prison. No one wanted anything to do with me or my babies. I felt hopeless, ashamed, and unloved. I didn’t know what to do.
Then someone told me about The Children’s Center. I took my babies there, and they said they could help us. It was the happiest day of my life. I knew right then and there, we were going to be OK. They helped me overcome the trauma. They taught me how to feed my babies the right way. They helped me get back into school and found me a tutor. They even taught me how to budget my money and pay my bills. With a part-time job, I graduated from Catherine Ferguson High School. The Children’s Center then helped me apply to several universities. I was accepted by seven! I’m now pursuing a degree in criminal justice, so that I can fight for the rights of children someday.
“I felt hopeless, ashamed and unloved.” KINITA, EARLY BEHAVIORAL CHILDHOOD & YOUNG ADULT SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
OUR HOUSE This painting was created by a mother and her adolescent daughter, who at the time, were experiencing conflict in their relationship. This was largely due to the mother pressuring her daughter to dress provocatively. They were given a blank canvas and paint with the instruction to create a painting together. Initially, the daughter led the process by painting a bright sunshine, but soon, her mother began controlling the experience, telling her daughter what to paint and how to do it. Eventually the daughter lost interest and her mother became quite involved — painting a vibrant red house and detailed chimney, which can be indicators of sexual abuse. The lack of a walkway and exaggerated doorknob suggest the mother guarding herself by shutting out those around her. After a discussion with a therapist, the mother revealed that she had been sexually abused as an adolescent. She explored how her unresolved trauma was affecting her feelings and interactions with her daughter in a negative manner.
COTY'S STORY
Drugs almost ruined my life. I was only 4 years old. My mom used drugs while she was pregnant with me. While I was growing up, she and my dad let me play video games all day and night. They never played with me or read me books. I was alone a lot, and hungry. Child Protective Services took me from my parents in the middle of the night. They threw the few clothes I had into a garbage bag. Some were wet with pee. I was adopted by these really cool people. I could tell they cared a lot. I still took out all of my anger on them and everyone else. I hit other kids. I broke lots of my new parents’ stuff.
“KIDNAPPED,” PAINTED BY COTY, AGE 12
The doctor said I had post-traumatic stress disorder. Must have been the drugs and always feeling unloved. My new parents didn’t know what to do about my anger and bad behavior. They were very scared and worried. So, they took me to The Children’s Center for help. The clinicians told my mom I was going to be fine. They said they could help me heal. My mom was so happy, she cried, a lot.
I’m much better now. I don’t get as angry anymore. My new dad and I paint a lot. He’s really cool. I still play video games. But, I like painting and reading with my dad more.
“We’ve finally found a place that’s going to help our kids.” TIFFANY BROCKER, COTY’S MOTHER, FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENT
BRUISED This painting was created by two teenage siblings who have experienced abuse. The art depicts the emotional and physical bruises they’ve suffered, as well as their view of the future. They explained that the color white is what they are traveling toward in their future, but they do not know what it contains.
VICTORIA’S STORY
Victoria hadn’t spoken a single word since birth. She should have been a chatterbox at age three. I could never understand anything Victoria would try to communicate to me. At my wits’ end, I had no clue what to do. I was on the border of severe depression. Victoria was non-verbal, sad, wasn’t eating, and was very frustrated. Then, I learned about The Children’s Center.
They prepared a treatment plan for Victoria’s autism spectrum disorder. They taught us how to communicate with one another using picture cards. It was as if the heavens opened up. I could finally understand what Victoria needed. The Children’s Center was giving her the critical help she needed.
It’s my hope that Victoria will speak someday.
“I had no clue what to do. I was on the border of severe depression.” COURTNEY, VICTORIA’S MOTHER, AUTISM SERVICES PARENT
THE STORM IS OVER This painting was created by a young artist who was going through a transition in his life. He explained the meaning of the painting in his own words: “The red represents how life was in my younger years. I went through some tough times; being physically and sexually abused and unfairly treated. The blue with red dots represents being in foster care and dealing with the sadness and anger I felt about my situation. The yellow represents my life getting better as I learned to deal with my hurt and anger. The blue again was a time when I was struggling in school. And finally, the sunny yellow is me happy because I am moving in with my biological aunt, and moving on in my life.�
Our Roots We were born from the compassionate vision and dream of Senator James Couzens. Following the great stock market crash of 1929, record numbers of children were abandoned, suffering hopelessly with a seemingly bleak future.
James Couzens chose not to look away, but to look deeper. He inspired other leaders to do the same. Those who saw children not as they were, but for what they could become. Almost a century later, James Couzens’ vision has become a movement shared by many who are joined in a common resolve. A resolve to make life work for children, so they may grow into the amazing people they were born to be, regardless of their circumstances, mental health, or behavioral challenges. Here’s to the possibility that life can not only work for children — but that children can dream again.
I CAN, I WILL Our children face unthinkable challenges. At The Children’s Center, they’re empowered to celebrate the possibilities within them.
Brand Essence
Key Pillars
1 2 3
Believe in a holistic approach to care Making each child a strong, thriving individual.
Advocate for children in need By respecting their struggles and supporting their rights.
Heal with advanced expertise By relentlessly seeking, researching and applying the most impactful practices.
NOTHING’S IMPOSSIBLE Our children are resilient, brave and strong. They are survivors of their own life stories, embracing the will to begin again.
Consumer Insight The donors, board, clinical therapists, volunteers, and staff of The Children’s Center believe that: “There are two things we should give our children: one is strong roots, the other is wings.”
HAPPINESS IS MY RIGHT Every child deserves the chance to experience the pure joy of being a kid. We strive to give kids a break from their circumstances, a fun, accepting home away from home.
“The Children’s Center has become the family we chose, versus the family we were born into.” MONICA, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARENT
Brand Promise Helping children dream again.
WATCH ME BLOOM Our children are brilliant at turning their difficult pasts into promising tomorrows. We are amazed by what they can do and more importantly, who they become.
Helping children dream again.
Brand Manifesto There’s a place that stands for family, for healing and for hope. A place that provides a healthy safe haven for children to overcome their challenges and grow into strong, healthy, productive adults. A place that strives to celebrate life. Not just fix life’s problems. That place is The Children’s Center in Detroit. Where every child deserves the chance to dream again. To be accepted and not judged. And to be welcomed with wide-open arms.
At The Children’s Center, we rebuild hope for children who struggle with unimaginable difficulties. The pain of mental abuse. The scars of poverty. The burden of neglect. We do it with compassion, dedication, and by applying the time-tested knowledge of our never-say-never staff. We help children by looking at more than a single issue. We treat the whole child. We examine the barriers in the home, school or community. We work with the family who raises them. And we bring all our learnings together to support their healing and get them on the road to a happier, more fulfilling childhood.
We do all of this by practicing evidence-based care. That means care that’s been tried and tested, proven to be effective to help children thrive. To empower their voices. And learn to selfadvocate once they’re outside the comfort of our walls. We do this for one reason — we’re passionate about healing children. Because we know when you lift a child’s spirit, you ultimately lift an entire community.
NO FRIENDS AT ALL This painting is a self-portrait by a boy who experienced bullying because of his appearance. In therapy, he cries and expresses that he doesn’t feel good enough. He says his dream is to find a true friend one day. But until then, he has no friends at all.
Mission We put children and families at the center of all we do. We strive to help them shape their own futures, and carve out a path that’s brighter than even they imagine.
“Mine is just one story. There are thousands of kids still out there locked in closets, eating off floors, fighting for their lives — thinking it’s their fault and desperately wanting to be loved. They need The Children’s Center.” FREDDIE, FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
Beliefs We believe in treating and healing the whole child and family. We believe in advancing care through the use of evidencebased treatments. We believe in respecting our children’s struggles and advocating for their rights. And most of all, we believe in building bigger dreams and brighter futures.
ANGRY M&MS This painting was created by a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. He has difficulty expressing his emotions and forming bonds with others. He says this painting depicts all of the things he feels on the inside – feelings he wishes other people would understand.
Values Respect for individuals Passion for healing children Holistic treatment Trustworthy Compassionate Empowerment Optimistic
THERE’S MORE HEALING TO BE DONE We’ve shared the stories of just three children. There are thousands more we serve each year. But what about the 100,000 or more vulnerable children in Detroit who have yet to walk through our doors? What about their stories? They need help too.
#HealChildrenHealDetroit
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