Alone in a dark room, a young girl pulled out a meager handful of scraps she’d squirrelled away. It wasn’t much, just enough to sustain her one more miserable day.
A thousand miles away, a boy not even 10 years her senior cried himself to sleep. That was the last time, he promised himself, knowing all too well another cruel beating would come tomorrow.
Those of us who grew up blessed — to a degree we often fail to realize — sometimes miss the profound impact that a sense of safety, imparted by our parents, grandparents or other caregivers, has upon our lives.
But, what is safety?
It’s a basic concept, something we all know when we see it, yet safety is deeply personal, its meaning drawing upon each person’s life experience.
So, what definition captures the core meaning of this feeling, safety?
Many of the children Cal Farley’s serves faced very real dangers at home. Jake, who you’ll meet in this issue, spent his formative years without hot food and a warm bed each night. Nato, on the other hand, faced immediate peril in the form of an unsafe neighborhood made downright deadly by a raging hurricane.
It’s easy to look at those situations and identify that a child lacks safety. But, what about the mind’s power to perceive a lack of safety even when the environment poses no discernible risk? Is a child truly safe if he or she is not physically in danger, yet feels utter terror? And, how do we as a society restore a sense of safety to this developing mind after it’s been stripped away?
Cal Farley’s has defined six universal needs — safety, belonging, achievement, power, purpose and adventure — that inform and guide our work with young people and their families to do just that. While these six values are not a linear progression, safety is undeniably foundational to everything we do at Boys Ranch.
Before we can inspire a child to have dreams about his or her future, he or she must first understand there’s no need …
… to hoard food away — in our care, she will have plenty.
… to hide in a corner — here at Boys Ranch, no one will hit him — ever.
… to fear the unknown — we’ll inspire them to dream, and reach for the stars!
As these children realize, through their own experiences and intentional interactions with our caring staff, that they are indeed safe, a solid bedrock takes shape. It’s a bedrock that underpins every other important work we accomplish together in their lives. Feeling safe, they are freed to emotionally commit to their placement and the goals they and their families set for their time with us.
It’s a powerful moment that unleashes the near-limitless potential our youth possess! Yet, it’s never enough. Cal Farley’s is constantly improving, leading our industry to improve the quality of care for young people who desperately need it.
At Cal Farley’s, youth are accepted. They are loved. They are helped.
They are safe.
