Therapy business raises $16K to offer services to Oxford kids, families
Sanctuary Services wasted no time raising money to offer therapy services to those directly affected by the school-shooting tragedy in Oxford.
The Royal Oak-based business provides therapy for children and families suffering from traumatic experiences that include neglect, domestic violence, death, loss and medical trauma.
Through a partnership with Abide Ministries, it is raising scholarship funds with an enhanced focus on Oxford. The scholarships are granted to individuals and families with extreme barriers to trauma therapy — including the uninsured, not having insurance for specialized treatment, having limited or no transportation, or being unable to meet deductibles for coverage. “The aftermath of the Oxford shooting tragedy will undoubtedly result in traumatic symptoms and experiences across our communities for quite some time. Healing the brain through evidencebased therapies is absolutely possible with clinical guidance,” said Laura Azoni, owner and lead clinician of Sanctuary Services. “There is a valuable village of trauma therapists with collective resources standing by for Oxford, to engage both direct and secondary survivors in therapy. Until then, we honorably hold a sacred space, as students, families, staff and school partners continue to mourn.”
The Oxford-based effort was set up and went live
Wednesday, Dec. 1, immediately after the shooting occurred. As of Friday morning, $15,759.27 had been raised for Oxford-specific funding.
Azoni said some donors have requested to continue giving each month. The initiative can be live as long as the students and their community need help and are utilizing the funds therapeutically.
“With a primary focus on students and their families, donated funds will support any gaps in trauma therapy coverage for Oxford community members, including staff, first responders and others with connection to the shooting and present symptoms of traumatic stress, grief and loss,” she said.
Standard treatment plans are typically reviewed every 90 days at a minimum, she added, and the initiative will be reviewed
by the Sanctuary Services development team and its board of directors with respect to monthly donors.
Oxford Community Schools administration and staff, including principals and social workers, have been made aware of this funding resource. Three area churches — Kensington Community Church, Woodside Bible Church and Bridgewood Church — have already referred families for services. The Oakland Community Coalition has listed services for crisis response.
“Once school is back in session in various formats, we will partner further for consistent services for any kids we are seeing to aid parents in scheduling their kids’ sessions, sometimes possibly during the school day,” Azoni said.
For more information visit sanctuaryservices. org/Oxford.