“You’ll be safe where I’m taking you,” he said softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. And no one will hurt you again. They’ll take good care of you until things can be straightened out.”

The patrol car turned off Highway 12 and pulled up in front of a newly constructed home-like building. As the officer opened his door, Johnny wiped his running nose and tears with his sleeve, still terrified. He clutched his teddy bear closer.

Suddenly the earlier scenes at home flooded back. His father had arrived with the heavy smell of alcohol that usually introduced “one of those nights.” His rage was leveled at Johnny’s mother this time. As Johnny cowered in the corner, the usual screaming march escalated to blows, which sent her crashing to the floor, followed by vicious kicks….

Unfortunately, this is the all too frequent beginning of a child’s arrival at the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home. The stories are legion:

Tommy, a 4 year old boy, arrived in a police car, having just seen his father murder his mother.

Erin and Michael, ages four and five, were being sexually abused in their parent’s home. The mother and father were now both in jail.

Maria, a 14 year old mother with a 10 month old infant, was brought by the police who feared for their safety after they were assaulted by Maria’s mother.

The Valley of the Moon Children’s Home is Sonoma County’s only shelter for these at risk children 0-18 years of age. Three sisters, ages 15, 12, and 10, were brought there when they came to live with their father after the death of their mother. The father had been sexually assaulting both older girls for months….

And so the stories go. Tales of children, all victims, all in crisis, their lives turning into sudden disaster, and their families shattered. All finding their way to the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home, Sonoma County’s only shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

next... The Problem