The Badin Banner

The Service Leadership Board took a field trip to visit a new agency, Pause for Parents Play for Kids on November 15.

Members of the Board that attended were juniors Brendan Murphy, Patrick Ray, Megan Covey, JJ Even, Elizabeth Colonel, Lily Obserson, Mary Giffen, and Sydney Boomer and seniors Liz Feltner, Stephanie Hartkemeyer, Lauren Bierer, Ryleigh Clemmons and Olivia Grammel.

This agency supports families who have children ages 0-24 with developmental disabilities, mental/behavioral health challenges, chronic mental conditions, children with IEPs/504s and those in foster or kinship care. The care is available for their siblings as well.

Parents might need a break to recuperate and get some things done that otherwise would be difficult to do with kids in the house.

Special needs parents can spend an additional 34-40 hours a week in care alone of a child with complex needs. Most suffer from physical fatigue, emotional stress and/or emotional upset or guilt.

This program provides a break for the parents to sleep, clean, go to the grocery store, go on a date, etc. In order for kids to get the best care, parents need a break.

Some kids need extra attention so some volunteers would be buddies with one kid, whereas other volunteers would be small group leaders.

There are different rooms for specific things like a nursery, a S.T.E.M. room, a calm down room, a playroom, etc. Kids can go in the room that fits where their brain is mentally.

After a great tour by Sara Porter, the Board decided this place is full of opportunities for Badin students.

Senior Lauren Bierer said, “ I thought it was a really good environment for the kids and volunteers. It was a new opportunity and a new chance to look at other non profits in the community. I also think the meaning of pause is valuable to the community and it's a great place for Badin students to get involved.”

Pause will play an active role in Badin’s Service Program in the future based on the experience the Board had.