By Mary Headley

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Blue Sky Bridge, a Boulder County agency that uses a multi-disciplinary approach to helping individuals in child abuse situations. 

This Niwot-based agency brings together a diverse group of professionals to provide a comprehensive approach for the intervention in and prevention and treatment of childhood abuse. It resulted from the blending of Boulder County Childhood Sexual Abuse Task Force and the Child Advocacy Center Committee in 1995. 

The agency is also known for its expertise in sexual assault cases. According to Executive Director Carolyn French, it serves 11 local cities and towns, including unincorporated Boulder County. Its goal is to ensure that victims, families and survivors have access to support services in a safe and compassionate environment.

"What really makes our agency different from others is our strong emphasis on education," said Community Education Specialist Kitty Sargent. "Education is written into our mission statement — to eliminate child abuse through social change. This can only be done through better education." 

Blue Sky Bridge offers free, informative presentations to community groups such as schools, day care centers and churches. The presentations range in length from 15 minutes to two hours, and are tailored to the audience. 

The agency also offers six to eight lectures by well-known professionals in child abuse. The lectures, which are co-sponsored by the Mental Health Center of Boulder County, offer continuing education credits for physicians and mental health workers. 

"Mandatory reporting training is an important part of what we do," Sargent stated, since people who work in daycare or in education are required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse. "The mandatory reporting law, which is a Class 3 misdemeanor if violated, effectively means that these people are always ‘on duty.’ For example, if a teacher in the supermarket sees someone who appears to be abusing a child, that teacher is supposed to report it."

Sargent also acknowledged the key role of volunteers on its Prevention, Information and Education (PIE) committee in furthering the agency’s education goals. The PIE Committee currently consists of Sargent, Giny Fink, Sara Mayer, Barbara Miller, Karen Thompson, Pat Tyson, Diane Woodard and Gunbarrel resident Linda Woods. It meets monthly to discuss ideas and plans for lecture topics and speakers, in addition to the annual fund-raising conference. 

Since many committee members are active in related fields, their suggestions are a tremendous asset, observed Sargent. The committee was instrumental in selecting noted educator Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, of the Boston University School of Medicine, for the day-long conference this past January. 

Volunteers also keep the Blue Sky Bridge’s office running smoothly, aiding in administration and data entry tasks. Sandi Specht and Gunbarrel resident Terry Feldmann help one morning a week, while continuing to manage full-time jobs. 

Specht began volunteering with the agency as a child advocate over two years ago, and gradually started entering case notes into the computer. "I’ve always done volunteer work," she said, "but before it was for my kids’ organizations. Once they grew up, I had to find my own." 

After reading an article about the agency, she came in for an interview and has been a regular volunteer ever since. "It’s great that there is a place like this where kids can come and feel safe," Specht continued. "Kids have actually told me they want to come back." 

Statements like these are a real tribute to the agency, which has worked hard to create an ambiance where children would be unafraid to talk to strangers about abuse. Feldmann echoed these sentiments. "The whole atmosphere here is so friendly and calming for both kids and parents." 

Feldmann met Carolyn French while volunteering for the Boulder Rape Crisis Team. "I just love Carolyn’s energy and sense of commitment," Feldmann stated. She started volunteering shortly after French assumed the helm at Blue Sky Bridge. "I just felt like I wanted to give something back to the community," she explained, "and one of my new year’s goals was to do something worthwhile with the extra time I have now that my children are grown." 

Volunteers and donations help in numerous ways from those who donate stuffed animals and quilts on the walls to an underwater mural painted in the children’s playroom by former Boulder police officer John Eller. Blue Sky Bridge could not accomplish its goals without these volunteers.

Volunteers also do child advocacy work, where they train with Case Manager Marcie Howell. Typically, these volunteers are doing an internship as part of their education with the University of Colorado or the Naropa Institute, noted Howell.

Statistics show that child abuse is one of the most significant causes of childhood death and disability in the United States. In Boulder County last year there were approximately 3,500 abuse and neglect cases reported. 

French said, "Many different pieces — professionals, staff, volunteers, board members and contributors — come together to meet the needs of the community, the children and families" so that Blue Sky Bridge can ease the journey for abused children and adults. 

For more information about volunteering, organizing a presentation or requesting a catalog of upcoming lectures, call 303-652-0744.

Blue Sky Bridge currently needs volunteers to help with computer networking or teaching Microsoft Office 2000, especially Access. There is no minimum time requirement other than the monthly hour-long meetings for PIE Committee members — just a sincere desire to help with a real problem. 

Sargent notes that PIE Committee volunteers ideally should have a related background, since the agency currently does not offer training. All committee candidates must agree to a routine police background check.