Timeline

Palestinian children may have traumatic experiences on the way to school, in their neighborhoods, or during the walk to the Spafford Children’s Center (SCC). Through the SCC Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Program children share their experiences, in small groups or individually, with a trauma specialist. The children learn to cope by re-enacting the trauma through play, plus movement and relaxation techniques help the children acquire self-regulation skills when they experience frightening memories or overwhelming emotions. The program also provides opportunities for children to express emotions through art and writing stories.

SCC Early childhood development SCC is committed to helping infants and young children meet developmental milestones through a project that partners the Palestinian Ministries of Health, Education, and Social Welfare with a program designed by UNICEF to promote Early Childhood Development in Palestine. Children living in overcrowded conditions with stressed parents and children who experience trauma at tender ages can experience delays in their cognitive, physical, and emotional development. SCC programs help each child get off to a good start.

Medical clinic in Jerusalem closes For many years and over several generations families from Jerusalem and the surrounding areas came to the SCC for medical care. With the building of the Separation Wall families from the West Bank could not come to Jerusalem. Additionally, the census of Jerusalem patients decreased as Jerusalem ID holders could access the national health insurance. Therefore, the Jerusalem clinic was closed.

Renovation completed A building that is almost 130 years old requires constant maintenance and upgrading to meet the current needs of a thriving organization. Thanks to the Welfare Association the SCC infrastructure systems were modernized and beautiful architectural features like original stone floors were revitalized. The renovations spanned three years.

Supportive services added SCC adds psychosocial and supportive educational services to address the emotional and educational problems resulting from living under occupation.

SCC adjusts to local conditions After the 1967 war puts East Jerusalem and the area west of the Jordan valley inside Israel, the SCC decided that the needs of local families would best be served by focusing on preventive medicine through an outpatient clinic. The name is changed to the Spafford Children's Center.

Spafford serves all wounded After the war in 1948 divided the area and the city of Jerusalem between Israel and Jordan the Spafford hospital played a vital role in serving families of all faiths from the Old City, eastern Jerusalem, and the surrounding towns and villages.

Birth of the Spafford Baby Home Bertha Spafford Vester helps a Bedouin man who cannot care for his infant; she establishes the Spafford Baby Home to serve children in need.

American families arrive in Jerusalem The Spaffords and other families from Chicago travel to the Holy Land and establish a community that offers help and support to all of its neighbors.

It is Well with My Soul Horatio Gates Spafford writes the hymn 'It is Well with My Soul' after suffering the loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck. His wife, Anna, cables him that she has been 'Saved alone'.