Grand Traverse Safe Harbor Volunteer Network

Musing on the word sustainable the image comes of being able to "keep something up" to "keep it going" in the face of odds to the contrary. That something could be individual health and the well-being of a community: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness enhanced and sustained as best we can in the midst of crisis and its aftermath. We live in various environments and with experiences, including loss and grief, that can erode our sense of balance, vitality, and ability to cope. Traditional medicine, holistic services, a church or fellowship, meditation and prayer groups, a neighbor giving a listening ear, individuals making creative, healing choices in the midst of dis-ease may all serve to sustain and heal a community as well as the individual.

When I moved here 13 years ago there was much talk of establishing a healing center, a place where individuals could seek services complementary to traditional medical care. Such a comprehensive center never developed, but the vision has taken a fresh turn with the establishment of the Grand Traverse Safe Harbor Volunteer Network. A non-profit organization since May, 1997, the organizing members are creating a network of holistic healing support for individuals and communities utilizing the existing network of health care professionals and skilled practitioners in the area.

Offering their services on a volunteer basis, members provide support and validation to those in need during times of crisis, as well as information and opportunities to experience services and self care modalities complementary to traditional medicine needed currently or in the future such as massage therapy, visualization, music, movement, breath awareness and inner listening. Safe Harbor also extends services to those in caregiving roles, professional and lay people, in need of an environment encouraging physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental regeneration.

Of primary importance is the support of those who can not afford these services, those who are often unaware of or feel excluded from utilizing low cost self care modalities, as well as to work cooperatively with other organizations and health care providers in the community. Safe Harbor members represent many professions working individually and in teams with physicians, traditional health care providers, hospice staff and patients, holistic service providers, ministers and spiritual directors, as well as members of the complementary healing arts community. Involvement maximizes member opportunity to educate the community in holistic health care, to promote effective use of the community health system, and provide resources for their own self care and that of their patients and clients.

In the initial formation of the Network caregiver burnout and dis-ease repeatedly surfaced for attention. Community health and well-being weakens when too few have the skills or time to continually sustain and educate others and they ultimately succumb to fatigue and resentment whether they are a family member exhausted in caring for a loved one, or a physician or minister overwhelmed by grief and frustration. It became apparent among the Safe Harbor members that it was important to create among ourselves what we wanted to create for our community. Over the past two years Safe Harbor Volunteer Network has sponsored monthly programs sharing health enhancing skills of members, speakers such as Katherine Roth, MD, head of the new department of Integrative Medicine at Munson Hospital, and group support for persons in personal or professional caregiving roles. An evening devoted to group support may begin with the group sitting quietly together one by one moving from person to person around the circle briefly sharing concerns and joys, how we are feeling that evening, what has happened during the week. Any participant can request more time at the completion of the initial sharing to explore their concern in greater depth and ask for what they want from the group be it feedback, suggestions, healing touch, or simply listening. Each person is validated and supported in their capacity to find solutions and use wisdom in self care. Being present for another, without judgement or the need to "fix" them, reaffirms this essential quality in the healing relationship with one's self, between persons and throughout a community.

Author and psychotherapist, Ram Dass, writes in the book How Can I Help:

Mutual support feels most right when it's like passing around helpings of food at the table. It's all very spontaneous. One gesture follows another. There's little self-consciousness about asking and offering. And everyone gets fed. Yet most of the time we're not all sitting around together passing out helpings. Circumstance prevents us from making it to the same table at the same time.

The Safe Harbor Volunteer Network recognizes that personal and community health is sustainable. That process is enhanced by the renewal and strengthening of the individual's capacity to make creative choices to restore and be responsible in sustaining their own well-being which in turn supports their larger community in restoring and sustaining well-being.

Suzanne Latta is a founding member of the Safe Harbor Network, a Trager Therapist, and hospice volunteer. Thanks to members Jackie Jeffreys and Lee Cheadle for their assistance with this article.

For further information call Suzanne Latta (616) 271-3382 or John Schneider (616) 223-9299

Return to the Index of Synapse 44, Summer 1998