Peace Place Gives Hope to Families of Special Needs Children

Photo credit Louisa Libertelli-Dunn Peace Place was established approximately 12 years ago at First Presbyterian Church as a ministry aimed at providing respite to parents with medically fragile children and those with developmental disabilities. Initially, the program offered one session per week for a few hours. Over time, it has expanded to provide services for young children, now offering sessions for three hours each day, five days a week. In 2019, through grant funding, Peace Place initiated an after-school program tailored for school-age children, operating three hours a day, five days a week. “Our whole mission is to give hope to families with children who have a medical. Neuro diverse or developmental need,” explained Louisa Libertelli-Dunn, commonly known as Miss Lou. “We have purpose-driven childcare caregivers with important specialized training so that our risk kids can be safer, and their families may thrive.” Parents of children with special needs frequently experience overwhelming pressures and sleep deprivation, which can adversely affect cognitive function and decision-making abilities. Peace Place strives to provide these families with several hours of care each day at no cost. This structure enables the children to engage with trained staff focused on social and emotional regulation while simultaneously enjoying their time. As children prepare to enter kindergarten, Peace Place also offers a regulation-focused program resembling preschool, wherein the emphasis is placed on developing social and emotional skills rather than purely academic instruction. For school-age children, Peace Place serves as a safe environment after school, allowing them to decompress and express themselves freely. On a community level, Peace Place fosters parental support through workshops, training sessions, and group interactions, thereby creating a network of mutual support. Additionally, Peace Place specializes in implementing positive behavioral strategies for children and provides training for other daycare providers and early childhood educators. This ensures children can remain in their familiar care environments while receiving necessary support. Peace Place extends its reach as far as Haver to train daycare providers, responding to increased challenges in accessing in-person trainers due to budget constraints. With the assistance of grant funding, Peace Place is positioned to travel to these locations to offer practical coaching and education on topics such as autism, neurodiversity, medical issues, and the effects of trauma on children. Importantly, all services provided by Peace Place are offered to families entirely free of charge. This year, Peace Place aims to provide at least six weeks of full-time summer camp for school-age children. This would represent the first full-time special needs camp in the region. Peace Place operates within a supportive community. They consistently seek donations, new partnerships, and opportunities to enhance community awareness. While they do not engage in traditional fundraising campaigns, they do maintain an ongoing approach to generating support. For more information about Peace Place, please contact Louisa Libertelli-Dunn at louisa@peaceplacegf.com or find them on Facebook. Photo credit Louisa Libertelli-Dunn