UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Children may become scared and traumatized while in the middle of domestic disputes, medical emergencies, or other difficult or time-consuming situations. In an effort to help, WPSU is collaborating with community organizations to create "Cozy Corners," welcoming and playful engagement spaces located in lobbies of health and social service settings and on-the-go mobile units that can be dispatched to the location of those who need it.
Carol Leonard, first contact practitioner manager for Blair County Child Advocates-Blair County Head Start, shared how the mobile Cozy Corner assisted one family when a child was injured during a domestic dispute.
“The child was scared, and it was not easy for first responders to convince him to go into the hospital, or let anyone look at his injury,” Leonard said. “Then they told him about the portable caterpillar chair, which is part of the mobile Cozy Corner. That it was just for him, and it was just his size. He calmed down and went in and sat in the chair and allowed the medical team to tend to his injury. When he was scheduled to go back for a checkup, he said, 'You are going to have my chair there, right?’ It made all the difference to the child, the parent and the team assisting the family to be able to build trust and a safe space for this child at this time.”
More than 750 families benefit annually from Cozy Corner locations or mobile units in locations in Blair, Clearfield, Clinton, Clarion and Mifflin Counties. WPSU is collaborating with Child Advocates of Blair County-Blair County Head Start in Altoona, Clarion Community Learning Workshop and Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 in Clarion, CenClear in Clearfield, PA CareerLink of Mifflin County in Lewistown, and three new locations at the Clinton County Housing Authority and Clinton County Housing Coalition in Lock Haven and CenClear in Philipsburg.
Denise Moore, senior clinical officer for CenClear, said the Cozy Corners in the Philipsburg and Clearfield offices provide a safe space for children and their parents to interact together while they are waiting to see a doctor or therapist.
“This can be an anxiety-provoking situation and the activities in the Cozy Corner help to take their mind off the visit, easing anxiety. This is also an opportunity to increase parental involvement with their child through engagement of the activities present,” said Moore. “The Cozy Corner helps to put the child at ease, making therapy sessions and doctor appointments flow in a smoother manner.”
Funding for Cozy Corners comes from multiple sources. The CenClear location in Philipsburg was provided by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Ready to Learn program. The Clinton County Housing Authority and Clinton County Housing Coalition offices in Lock Haven were funded through the KFC Foundation Kentucky Fried Wishes program.
"At the KFC Foundation, we believe in the power of education and community support to transform lives. Supporting projects like Cozy Corners not only enriches the lives of children and families in Clinton County but also strengthens the community as a whole,” said Emily Horn, executive director for the KFC Foundation. “We are committed to funding initiatives that create lasting, positive impacts, and Cozy Corners is a shining example of how local efforts can make a big difference."
Sarah Hamilton, education program manager for WPSU, said Cozy Corners work because they can be tailored for many different spaces and situations.
“It is a unique program because we’ve really been able to customize each Cozy Corner to meet the interests of that specific location and community,” said Hamilton. “It’s also been a great way for us to continue to engage in communities throughout our service area by remaining present and open to continued opportunities to collaborate and support these invaluable agencies.”
For more information about Cozy Corners and other WPSU programs, visit the website.
WPSU is a service of Penn State Outreach. WPSU-TV, a Pennsylvania Public Service (PBS) member station, serves 24 counties in central Pennsylvania and reaches 515,000 households, and WPSU-FM is accessible to more than 450,000 listeners in 13 counties. The public media station also includes WPSU Digital Studios, which offers original web series that explore science, arts, and culture.
Presented by the KFC Foundation, Kentucky Fried Wishes is a charitable program that empowers KFC restaurant teams to give back to their communities. KFC restaurant teams can nominate their favorite local non-profit organization for a $10,000 grant to fund a project on their wish list.
Editor's note: The contents of this article were developed under a Ready To Learn grant [PR/Award No. S295A200004, CFDA No. 84.295A] provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed.