2014 Jannie L. Blackwell Humanitarian Award Recipient

We’re proud to announce that Council for Relationships’ received the Jannie L. Blackwell Humanitarian Award for our work with the homeless families at the Families Forward Philadelphia shelter on April 24, 2014.

Dorothy Thomas and two of our graduating Jefferson interns, Brianna Bilkins and Emmalee Bierly, who have been providing care at the shelter for the past 18 months, attended a dinner and were presented with the award. Dorothy accepted the award and spoke about the value of therapy after the trauma of losing one’s home and tolerating the demands of children in a difficult setting all the while trying to adhere to the rules and requirements of the shelter. We will continue to provide services at Families Forward with our Jefferson interns in the coming year, including:

• A parents’ support group each Monday
• A children’s therapeutic play group that coincides with the parents’ meeting
• Dedicated therapy space in the shelter building on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays for our 2nd year interns to meet with troubled families