Children’s Home of Reading Receives Sanctuary Certification

The Children’s Home of Reading (CHOR) was recently awarded Sanctuary certification by the Sanctuary Institute for successful implementation of this innovative trauma-informed approach throughout the organization. CHOR is one of the first in PA to be certified by the Institute.  The objective of the Sanctuary Institute is to help organizations, like CHOR, create and implement a trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive culture that promotes healing and recovery.

“The  Sanctuary Certification process took three years and truly brought our entire team together with the common goal of improving the quality of services and care provided to the children and families we serve”, Dr. Vince LaSorsa, CEO and President of CHOR.

The certification is a rigorous process that includes interviews, site observations, document reviews and focus groups.  Certification is contingent upon the agency’s ability to adhere to the standards described in the Sanctuary Implementation Standards Manual.
The Sanctuary Model is a blueprint for clinical and organizational change which promotes safety and recovery from adversity through the active creation of a trauma-informed community.  In an effort to create safe and healing environments for children, families and adults who have experienced chronic stress and adversity, the Sanctuary Model is being used in a wide range of settings, including: child welfare, residential treatment, juvenile justice, drug and alcohol treatment, school and community-based programs, partial hospitals, domestic violence and homeless shelters.
The model was developed by Dr. Sandra Bloom, a psychiatrist and founder of the Sanctuary Institute, which exists to help organizations implement the model’s trauma-informed, whole-system organizational approach.  Its mission is “to teach individuals and organizations the necessary skills for creating and sustaining nonviolent lives and nonviolent systems, and to keep believing in the possibilities of peace.”

The Children’s Home has been a pioneer in helping to restore the shattered lives of youth who have been abused or neglected, coping with behavior or emotional problems.  The Home is a not-for-profit organization that provides several community based, educational and residential programs to nearly 850 children from Berks and surrounding counties each year.  It was established in 1884 and has consistently responded to the ever-changing needs of the community.