Survivors Healing Center (SHC), a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been serving Santa Cruz County since l987. SHC provides education, information, referrals, quality services, and support to survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their allies. Our primary goals are to empower those victimized by sexual abuse through a healing process and to prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.
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During the 1970's Ellen Bass was leading creative writing workshops called "Writing About our Lives" for women. The classes were structured to provide encouragement and feedback to women who were interested in creative writing. The atmosphere was safe, supportive, non-judgmental and accepting. The women participating in the classes began to write about various life experiences including being sexually abused as children. Through the writings of other women in her classes Ellen first learned of childhood sexual abuse.
Stunned and deeply moved by the pain the women had experienced and enlightened from her own ignorance, Ellen wanted to get the word out. She solicited stories from women throughout the United States about their experiences with childhood sexual abuse. With Louise Thorton, Jude Brister, Grace Hammond, and two other women, Ellen created the anthology, "I Never Told Anyone" which was published in 1982. The anthology offered women the most essential elements of healing the pain of abuse - it broke the silence, negated feelings of blame, provided a way for others to be outraged on behalf of those abused, provided others who have been sexually abused with the knowledge they are not alone, broke the isolation, and provided a community that was sensitive and supportive to the feelings of anger and loss.
Over the next five years Ellen led "I Never Told Anyone" workshops throughout the country. In 1985 Amy Pine began facilitating "I Never Told Anyone" workshops in Santa Cruz. Amy and Ellen wanted there to be more resources available to people who wanted help in healing from childhood sexual abuse.
Together with Laura Davis, Ellen published "The Courage to Heal" in 1988 as a way to provide information that would help women understand how sexual abuse impacts their lives as well as to inform therapists, educators, clergy, and other professionals about issues related to sexual abuse.
Because of her experience as a therapist Amy wanted there to be more services for victims of sexual abuse. Out of this vision, Amy and Ellen created "Survivors Healing Center" in 1987.
From 1987 to 1996, Survivors Healing Center provided weekly therapy groups and intensive therapy retreats for survivors of childhood sexual abuse; training and education for therapists and other professionals who work with individuals who have experienced abuse; information and referrals nationwide; scholarships for survivors who are low-income; and greater community awareness of issues related to childhood sexual abuse.
In November of 1996, the Center hired its first long term permanent staff member and opened the doors on its first physical site. Since then we have expanded the programs offered, instituted a bi-annual speaker series, created a lending library of current books and tapes, developed educational materials that are available in both English and Spanish, offer group therapy to Latina women, provide educational presentations, and opened our doors as a community center for survivors to use when they need a safe place.
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Dottie Jakobsen, President; Finance/Fund Development Committee
Dottie Jakobsen joined the board in December 2006 with an extensive background in Banking, Marketing and Sales. Dottie is a mortgage loan officer for a major national bank, and has also worked as a professional photographer. Dottie graduated from UCSC with a degree in Environmental Studies.
Jean Sumner, Treasurer; Chair: Finance/Fund Development Committee
Controller
Jean Sumner has an extensive education and background in finance. Currently a controller for a major agricultural firm on the Central Coast, Ms. Sumner offers her expertise in finance and accounting to this well-deserving organization. Santa Cruz County is quite fortunate to have the services of Survivors Healing Center available to victims of childhood sexual abuse. Ms. Sumner looks forward to working with SHC to continue to grow the organization to reach as many survivors as possible. No voice should go unheard.
Amy Pine, Co-Founder; Board Development Committee, Program Committee
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Amy Pine, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and expressive arts therapist who has been working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma for over 20 years. Ms. Pine is the co-founder of Survivors Healing Center and continues to be involved as a member of the Board of Directors. She works with individuals, couples and leads groups and therapy retreats in her private practice.
Kathy Riley, Finance/Fund Development Committee
Self Employed, Finance/Market Research
Kathy Riley has volunteered with SHC for the past 15 years. She believes strongly both that services should be available to help survivors heal and in ending the sexual abuse of children. In 2002, Kathy was a finalist for the San Francisco 49ers Community Quarterback award.
Diana Mercer, Realtor at David Lyng Real Estate
Diana has been a realtor for the past 20 years here in Santa Cruz County with an extensive background in sales, marketing, negotiating and great people skills. Diana was educated at San Jose State University and is very interested in fund raising for Survivors Healing Center.
Duffy McGinn
Duffy is an internet entrepreneur with 20 years experience in software and services. A Santa Cruz resident, he grew up on the central coast and graduated from San Francisco State University. His interest is in extending Survivor's Healing Center's reach to help as many as possible. He started on the board in January, 2009.
Moriah Fey
Canadian born, Moriah Fey, counseled individuals for 20 years in the areas of childhood abuse recovery, domestic violence, substance abuse and childhood sexual abuse. Presently, Moriah is an inspirational speaker and talks about our ability to heal and choose happiness. She produces and hosts a weekly show on Santa Cruz Community Television on which she interviews and showcases healers in Santa Cruz County. Moriah?s first book titled, LOOKING WITH LOVE: THE SIMPLE TRUTH, describes her spiritual journey of healing from incest. Her second, soon to be published book, titled, A GIRL FROM THE ROUGH, is a compilation of her many articles regarding happiness attainment. Moriah knows that healing and the inevitable happiness that brings to us, is Our Choice, Our Power and Our Capability.
The Advisory Board consists of individuals who are allied with the mission and goals of Survivors Healing Center. They contribute their skills and represent the Center in the community on an as-needed basis. These individuals have committed to assist in fundraising efforts yearly. We greatly appreciate their support!
Jeffery Vezzolo
Jeffery Vezzolo is a Monterey, CA native, and a
life-long resident of the Monterey Bay Area. Jeff has always had a strong
affinity for our community. As a believer in community involvement, he has
served our society through several non-profit agencies. Jeff currently
assists in the management of a recycling/demolition company in Castroville.
Clay Kempf
Clay Kempf is the Executive Director of the Seniors Council/Area Agency
on Aging of Santa Cruz & San Benito Counties. With 15 years experience
in non-profit management, Clay is active on a variety of local
commissions and state committees, including serving as chair of the
Tri-County Regional Diabetes Collaborative, and is also the past
president of the Human Care Alliance, a collaborative of over 60
community non-profit agencies working together to maximize the
coordination and delivery of services in Santa Cruz County.
MariaElena de la Garza
Director of Program Development and Quality Assurance
Mexican American Community Services Agency, Inc.
(MACSA)
She gives service to the SHC because she believes that every child should be safe and every survivor should be heard. SHC is healing the community.
Cynthia RileyCynthia Riley received her B.S. in Business from Lehigh University. She worked in high tech for over 15 years as a manager and project leader before leaving to earn her certificate in Personal Financial Planning from the UCSC extension. She is currently is an instructor in the same program. She also volunteers teaching financial literacy to emancipated foster youth in the Connected by 25 Program in Santa Clara County. She has been a mentor for abused and troubled youth through Eastfield Ming Quong (previously Giaretto Institute) since 1997. Her desire is to support the board with her project management skills and financial knowledge in order to enable the organization to achieve their mission.
Elisa Breton
Elisa Breton is a physician and Medical Director of the
Santa Cruz Women's Health Center. She has served on the board of
directors of Survivors Healing Center for 4 years. In her work as a
physician, she has always been struck at the high number of patients who
have been victims of childhood sexual abuse. We are extremely fortunate
in Santa Cruz county to have Survivors Healing Center services
available. She has referred dozens of patients over the years and is
honored to serve on the board of directors of this organization.
Barbara Wilkie
Barbara Wilkie has been an elementary school teacher for the past 9 years. She received her B.A. degree in Child Development from SJSU. Working with children, she has realized the extent of child sexual abuse and the effects of it on adult survivors and on the community. She has also found there to be limited resources for survivors. The crucial services available through the Survivors Healing Center are greatly needed now, and will continue to be needed by many people.
Jim Wilkie
Jim has 29 years of experience in the electrical field and as a small business owner. He is currently a project manager for a large construction company. As such, he contributes his diverse knowledge and skills in computers, accounting, office, and project management to the continuing work of the Survivors Healing Center. He joined the board to support its cause and his community.
Suzanne DiNubile
Suzanne served on the Board of directors of Survivors Healing Center for 2 years. She has been practicing law for 14 years and maintains a private law practice in San Francisco. Her true passion is with issues that effect children and she represents commercial clients with business law matters. Her practice has included child sex abuse as well as victims' rights work. She has advocated to protect children from sexual predators and was instrumental in helping to get the mandated registration and notification requirements of Megan's Law on the Internet in California.
Bettina Aptheker
Bettina is a professor of Feminist Studies at the University
of California, Santa Cruz. Her most recent book is a memoir, Intimate Politics: How I Grew Up Red, Fought for Free Speech and Became A Feminist Rebel (2006). An activist for peace and social justice since the 1960s, Bettina continues her activist commitments especially in countering violence against women and children.
Kathy Riley
Interim Executive Director
Kathy Riley has served on the Survivors Healing Center Board of Directors since 2003, serving as Board President from 2003 to 2008. She has been a volunteer with the center for the past 20 years. In addition to serving as Interim Executive Director, she is the committee chair for the Finance and Fund Development Committee. Ms. Riley graduated from Santa Clara University with a business degree in marketing, with honors, in 1987 and worked for ten years in high tech market research, as an analyst and in sales. For the past twelve years, Kathy has been self employed in the field of finance. She is an advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse and believes that everyone deserves the chance to heal and thrive.
Erin Wilkie
Administrative Coordinator
Erin is very excited to continue to be a part of Survivors Healing Center. Child sexual abuse is something that has affected her extended and immediate family in many ways. She is glad to be part of a place that wholeheartedly aids people in their healing process as well as makes tremendous efforts to educate our community. Together, we can end the occurrence of child sexual abuse for our future generations.
Rossi Polanco
Administrative & Outreach Specialist
If you are interested in scheduling an inservice or presentation, please contact us.
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Amy Pine
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Amy Pine, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and expressive arts therapist who has been working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma for over 20 years. Ms. Pine is the co-founder of Survivors Healing Center and continues to be involved as a member of the Board of Directors. She works with individuals, couples and leads groups and therapy retreats in her private practice.
Ama Delevett, LMFT
Ama Delevett, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, received her training at JFKU, Family Services and Esalen Institute. She has four years of experience working as a psychotherapist in the community. She uses body-centered psychotherapy, Gestalt Awareness Practice, Somatic and Expressive Arts exercises in her practice.
Anna Paganelli
Anna Paganelli, Anna is a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice near downtown Santa Cruz. Anna helped launch the Rainbow Counseling program at Family Service Agency, a project which trains interns and trainees to work with lesbian, gay, transgender, and intersex clients. She is on the board of directors of the Santa Cruz chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Marga Vaquer
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Marga Vaquer is a bilingual, bicultural psychotherapist with private practices in Santa Cruz and Watsonville. A native of Spain, she has worked with Latino therapy clients in California since 2001. Marga facilitates healing from a holistic perspective, integrating Hakomi body-oriented psychotherapy (www.hakomiinstitute.com), an experiential method based on mindfulness and non-violence.
Stephanie Soto
LMFT Intern
Stephanie Soto is training to become a Marriage and Family Therapist and Art Therapist. Her graduate work is being completed at Notre Dame University. She received her BA from Stanford University in Psychology- health and development with a minor in studio art. She faciliates the Expressive Art group for women and an expressive arts group for girls. Stephanie brings creativity and bilingual/multicultural experience to our team.
Michael Leimbach
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Michael received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University. His experience includes a year working for Community Social Services with the dual diagnosis population (significant mental disorders and substance abuse). He also has 7 years with Youth Services where he has facilitated numerous groups and worked with families and adolescents as well as school based counseling including substance abuse treatment. Additionally, Michael has worked for Family Services for 4 years where he has provided psychotherapy for individuals, families, and couples experiencing various psychological conditions and diagnoses.
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Through their contributions to Survivors Healing Center, our supporters take a positive step towards creating safer, healthier communities.
We deeply appreciate our sponsors and use this as an opportunity to recognize the tremendous impact of their contributions. By contributing to Survivors Healing Center, they connect their name with a program that:
- Promotes the health and well-being of children and families
- Helps stop the cycle of abuse
- Builds self-confidence
- Educates the community
- Trains service providers
- Provides sliding scale and free of cost services
Corporate Supporters
Action Symphony
Baskin and Grant LLP
Beckman's Bakery
Betsy's Flowers
Birkana Consulting
Black China Bakery
Boardwalk Internet
Bosso, Williams, Sachs, Atack & Gallagher
Brad Wiles Attorney
Burton Volkman & Schmal, LLP
California Endowment
Cartwright Scruggs Fulton & Walter
Cathleen Chandler Eckhardt and Terry Eckhardt Fund
Citnix Systems, Inc.
City of Capitola
City of Santa Cruz
Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz
Costco Wholesale
County of Santa Cruz
Falconer Foundation
Florabunda
Garden of Memories
Gemma Shoes
Gigi's Bakery
Granite Construction Company
Granite Rock
Guadalajara Bakery
Herz Family Foundation
Inner Light Ministries
Inner Solutions
Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona
Kelly's French Bakery
L & M Auto Repair
Las Lomas Market
The Lunch Box
Lee Road Ranch
MagicStyx
Martinelli's and Company
Master Car Wash
Mo Painting
Mattress Factory (In memory of Bear and Woody)
Nelson and Plumlee's Flowers
New Leaf Natural Foods
Nicholson Family Foundation
Noah's Bagels
Nob Hill Foods
Odwalla Juices
Pilot Printing
Pacific Cookie Company
Page, Salisbury and Dudley
Pajaro Valley Chevron
Palace Art and Office Supply
Paradise Party
Paul Newman Charitable Giving
Peg Jackson Photography
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
Plantronics
Pure Valley Water
Reiter Berry Farms, Inc.
Roaring Camp Railroads
Rochdale Investment Management
Rock Solid Engineering
Safeway Stores (Aptos)
Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation Department
Santa Cruz Women's Health Center
Seaclear
Shopper's Corner
Sigma Alpha of Omega Nu
Staff of Life Natural Foods
Starbucks (Capitola)
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The Bagelry
Thomas N Griffin
Tiffany's Flowers
Timan and Walsh LLP
Trader Joe's
UCSC Women's Center
Wells Fargo Bank (Capitola)
Government Supporters
City of Capitola
City of Santa Cruz
City of Watsonville
Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women
County of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation Department "Girls Task Force"
Foundations
California Endowment Foundation
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz
Falconer Foundation
Herz Family Foundation
Jewish Community Foundation
Nicholson Family Foundation
Paul Newman Charitable Giving
United Way of Santa Cruz
Professionals
Kathy Runyon
Cathy Curtis, LCSW
Sandy Polakoff, LMFT
Dennis St. Peter, M.D.
Anina Van Alstine
Cathy Williams
Dana Scruggs
Connie Batten, LMFT
Ellen Bass
Eva Rider
Ellen McCauley, CMT
Ama Delevett, LMFT
Peg Jackson Photography
Tricia Valene, M.A., LMFT
Individuals
A heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of individuals and families who have supported us through the years. (In respect of our individual donors' confidentiality, they will remain unlisted.)
For information on how to support the important work Survivors Healing Center is undertaking, please contact us.