MONTICELLO — REACH-A-Child, an organization focused on helping children after traumatic events, was started by a Wisconsin couple in their garage 11 years ago.
Since then, the Madison-based nonprofit has grown into a statewide organization, providing first responders with drawstring backpacks and books, and on Wednesday, another local group of emergency workers received the helpful supplies.
REACH-A-Child donated 10 backpacks to Monticello first responders. Two went to the Monticello Police Department and eight were provided to the village fire department. The backpacks are put in first response vehicles and go with the first responders on every call.
Monticello first responders also received 150 extra books to use for community events and in non-crisis situations.
Police Chief Conway said the department hopes to use the bags and additional books not only to distract children in crisis situations, but also to share with the community. Conway applied for the bags earlier this year and was excited to hear that Monticello would be receiving them.
“It’s just another tool for critical incidences,” Conway said. “REACH-A-Child directs the child’s attention away from chaos around them by positively impacting the memory of an event.”
While in the past, many departments had used stuffed animals to comfort children in times of trauma, REACH-A-Child promotes the use of books to distract a child from the experience instead. The use of a distraction such as books can help reduce the risk of PTSD or lifelong trauma, according to a study by Marquette University.
REACH-A-Child works to help first responders comfort children who have been in accidents, are victims of domestic disturbance or are experiencing temporary homelessness by providing books meant to distract. The reading materials allow children to focus on something other than the trauma they are facing.
The organization has provided backpacks with books to every state patrol vehicle and over 100 departments throughout the state, according to the REACH-A-Child website.
While REACH-A-Child has had requests for donations from surrounding states and places as far as California and Australia, the organization focuses on providing to Wisconsin departments first. REACH-A-CHILD Executive Director Curt Fuszard said the organization hopes to someday have donations in every emergency and first response department in the state.
The donation to Monticello comes about a year after Green County EMS received REACH-A-Child donations and one month after New Glarus first responders received supplies as well.
“When Chief Conway put that backpack into his vehicle, that was really special,” Fuszard said. “Now we know that the children in Monticello will be comforted with the power of a book.”
The donations are made possible through local businesses and groups, and REACH-A-Child returns to each first response department every six months to refill the donations and provide additional books and bags.