Sacramento Commercial Bank supports the efforts of UC Davis Children’s Hospital to reduce child abuse

Sacramento Commercial Bank launched the "Banking on Change for Children" initiative today with a check for $50,000 to the UC Davis CAARE Center. The initiative funds the center's work with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, an intervention proven to turn around the lives of abusive families. Pictured above (from left to right) are: Randall Reynoso, president and COO of Sacramento Commercial Bank; Marilyn Peterson, director of the CAARE Center; Anthony Urquiza, director of CAARE Center Mental Health Services; and Sandra Smoley, a member of the Children's Hospital executive board of advisors and an officer of Sacramento Commercial Bank.

Sacramento Commercial Bank and UC Davis Children’s Hospital have combined forces to help reduce child abuse by launching the “Banking on Change for Children” initiative to fund expansion of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a proven method of improving family relationships and reducing repeated reports to Child Protective Services.

Offered through the UC Davis CAARE Center, the therapy provides parents with specific and lasting skills for interacting with children in positive ways yet still achieve discipline and compliance with parental goals. The success of the approach is based on a therapist observing a parent and child as they play or work together. Without being seen by the child, the therapist provides guidance to the parent through an unobtrusive electronic “bug” – or hearing-aid-type device – worn in his/her ear. Skills for getting children to behave appropriately without resorting to anger are continually practiced until they become a natural part of the relationship. Eventually, parents replace “no” and “don’t” commands with PRIDE – an acronym for praise, reflection, imitation, description and enthusiasm.

“For the first time, success in treating abuse in families is possible,” said Anthony Urquiza, a UC Davis child psychologist, specialist in child maltreatment and leader in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. “I have worked with hundreds of parents who quickly can reach a point of frustration that is dangerous to their children, and this is the only intervention I’ve used that has been shown to turn that type of behavior around on a long-term basis.”

Randall Reynoso, the bank’s president and COO, became intrigued by the therapy when looking for community efforts to support it. “I believe that ultimate success depends on the ability to effectively empower people with fundamental skills to make good decisions. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy will revolutionize child abuse therapy by giving parents a newfound confidence in their ability to positively shape their children’s lives. The program not only bestows obvious benefits to the child, but indirectly benefits our society in a multitude of ways,” he said.

One local mom, a survivor of domestic violence, is particularly honored for the changes she has been able to make in her life following PCIT. Beverly Lloyd at one point was facing many challenges. In addition, her youngest son was defiant and constantly being sent home from school for behavioral issues. She eventually lost her children to the care of her parents and was referred for PCIT combined with one-on-one therapy. Since then, she has worked hard to put her family – and her life – back together.

“My life was chaos,” Lloyd said. “PCIT was the start of many good changes for me. It gave me strategies for dealing with my kids that I didn’t even know were options. Now, I have my health. I have my children with me. I have a career. I’m a happier person. More important, my son rarely has behavioral problems and truly enjoys life.”

Another aspect of PCIT that intrigued Reynoso was that the CAARE Center is actively sharing the intervention with agencies throughout the nation. “I appreciated that the center is not keeping this therapy a secret, but making sure that other communities benefit as well,” he said. Lloyd, in fact, received the treatment from an agency that the CAARE Center trained in the approach. Urquiza will travel throughout California, to more than five other states and to two other countries in the coming year to transfer his expertise to human and social services agencies.

Reynoso today gave the CAARE Center $50,000 to start “Banking on Change for Children” and challenged other members of the business community to join him. “I encourage all of my business colleagues in the region to consider supporting this important effort. Children in Sacramento need us – even if we are competitors in business – to be united on their behalf,” Reynoso said.