We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Jarquin, LCSW. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

Eagles’ Haven is a wellness center established in response to the shooting that tragically occurred on 02.14.18 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool. As part of our programming, we offer various therapeutic classes such as yoga, meditation, sound healing, art, and support groups. One of the most impactful interventions we offer is pet therapy. The unconditional love and support offered by a furry friend is unmatched and there is nothing more rewarding than watching a human connect with a dog trained to work with trauma survivors.

Recently, our CEO, Sarah Franco, had the idea of training therapy dogs at Eagles’ Haven that would in turn give back to the victim’s families, survivors, and community members impacted by the shooting. We are lovingly funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward and with their help, we were able to develop a therapy dog training program with Certified Therapy Dog, Inc. The first day we began the program, 10 fluffy and curious dogs walked through our doors on the way to their first day of school! For the next 8 weeks, the canines and their owners showed up ready to learn the tools needed to serve trauma survivors. At the end of the 8 weeks, the dogs and their owners took their final exam and we watched all 10 dogs graduate complete with a cap and diploma!

Our program is still going strong and we have added many new graduates that are helping to heal our community that is reeling each time another mass shooting happens in our country. There is nothing more heartwarming than watching a person that is suffering smile while connecting to a loveable, patient, kind, and soft canine friend that is there to hold space without judgement. As the Program Director of Eagles’ Haven, I feel honored to work alongside these four-legged therapeutic helpers.

Rebecca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Rebecca Jarquin and I am a licensed clinical social worker. As the Program Director of Eagles’ Haven, I oversee a wellness center that offers intensive case management, crisis care, wellness programming, support groups, psychoeducational trainings, and suicide prevention to the community impacted by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool on 02.14.18. We are lovingly funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward along with grants from Parkland Cares and Baptist Health.

Although our team is comprised of clinicians, they are called navigators. Our navigators provide intensive case management while making certain clients are connected to resources and referrals in the community. Connections may include therapy, vocational assistance, and educational support. Eagles’ Haven is open 7 days a week and serves all crisis calls or walk-ins needing support. In addition to family strengthening and crisis services, Eagles’ Haven offers a wide range of wellness classes that are therapeutic in nature that include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, therapeutic art and crafts, sound healing, pet therapy, smoothie bike, and exercise classes. We also offer mind-body skills groups in addition to support groups that address self-care, coping skills, and trauma support.

I am most proud of the unique programming that we offer in a serene setting that envelopes our clients when they walk through the door. We provide a safe space where our community can stop in for a cup of coffee and stay for a class or get a higher level of support if needed. As mass shootings and violence remain a grim reality in communities across the country, our model of care is essential. We have been able to support and provide information to grieving communities that are in need of their own version of Eagles’ Haven following a mass shooting. I am grateful to our funders and JAFCO who powers Eagles’ Haven. Without their support, these services would not be available. Finally, I am proud to lead a team of talented clinicians that are passionate about serving our community. The work we are doing is critical and I am privileged to be a part of the solution.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Passion for your profession is vital especially in the field of mental health. Although passion is paramount, self-care is probably the most important practice for success as a mental health professional. Mental health professionals are at a high risk for compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. We spend much of our career being a witness to the suffering of others and are required to hold a space and exude safety for our clients. This can take a toll emotionally and physically when self-care practices are not purposefully and consistently practiced. A daily self-care plan is a requirement for all of our clinicians and staff at Eagles’ Haven. Without this in place, burnout is a reality and can often derail even the most seasoned mental health professional.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I look back on my life, I would not change anything. Every life lesson and previous job brought me to the field of social work and I would not have the internal fortitude to do this work without every experience. I was a teacher for many years although I dreamed about a career in social work. I always knew it was my calling and when the voice in my head could not be ignored, I took the steps to get my master’s degree and license in social work. I am grateful for my teaching experience because it provided me the skills to share knowledge with others. I thank every supervisor and leader that helped me to become who I am today. I am exactly where I am supposed be in my career and I would choose it all again.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eagleshaven.org
• Instagram: eagleshaven
• Facebook: eagleshaven
• Twitter: eagleshaven2