Giva Salutes: A Home Within

At Giva we search for organizations, large and small, that are doing a great job of changing the world around them for the better; and we are pleased to salute them here!

At A Home Within, a community of trained volunteer therapists believe "relationships matter because relationships heal."

Founded in 1994, A Home Within is the nation's first organization to provide emotional assistance to foster youth. Approved by both the American Psychological Association and the Board of Behavioral Sciences, A Home Within provides free one-on-one therapy sessions "for as long as it takes" to assist emotionally-distressed children.

"A Home Within's model of creating long-term healthy relationships with foster care youth has contributed to the significant reduction of symptoms including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, peer relationship problems, sleep problems and dissociative states," Dr. Saralyn Ruff, Director of Foster Care Research at the University of San Francisco, reported.

First founded in San Francisco, A Home Within now has multiple chapters nationwide. National chapters are found here, and anyone interested in volunteering or receiving training can sign up.

In addition to free psychotherapy sessions, A Home Within also provides education tools for trauma-impacted youth, and trains clinicians and adults on how to temper the devastating effects of trauma and chronic loss. Online training is also available.

After twenty-one years of dedicated service, A Home Within remains the nation's leading advocacy group for foster youth in need of emotional resources. This organization has undoubtedly impacted the lives of many children. Heart-touching stories of this advocacy work for children and their families may be found online, and the organization's YouTube channel delves into more of these testimonies.