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Cultural and Spiritual Center

The Cultural and Spiritual Room

It is our priority at First Witness Child Advocacy Center to serve the best interests of children and their families, including helping them feel as comfortable as possible and providing them with a safe space to heal. This includes tending to their safety and mental health needs while considering how important spiritual and cultural connections are for healing. Additionally, First Witness understands how these connections can be a source of strength for individuals and caregivers. This is why we developed a space in our new building that supports safety for children and families to find peace and comfort through their cultural and/or spiritual practices.

The space is a multicultural room for healing following abuse. The purpose of this space is to aid in healing through cultural connection and spiritual practice. The space includes a designated area for smudging, and a designated space for families to sit and meet with cultural or spiritual
supports. The room is intended to be an inviting and peaceful space where many different cultures, spiritualities, and religions can be practiced, and healing can be encouraged.

Items available to families for use in the Cultural and Spiritual Room

  • Religious and Spiritual Texts
    • The Qur’an
    • The Torah
    • The Talmud
    • The Holy Bible
    • The Bhagavad Gita
    • Gateway to Knowledge Volume 1 (condensed version of the Tripitaka)
    • Siree Guru Granth sahib
    • The Parent’s Tao Te Ching
    • And more!
  • Books for kids and adults on healing from abuse through multiple different religious and spiritual lenses
  • Crystals and Crystal Healing book
  • Tarot cards
  • Medicines including sage, cedar, and sweetgrass
  • An Ojibwe bead loom and beading supplies
  • Prayer rugs (adult and child sizes)
  • Yoga mat, floor pillows, and blankets

Spiritual Care Program

Here at First Witness, we have expanded our connections in the community by adding a Spiritual Care Provider to our services. Upon the request of the caregiver, our Spiritual Care Provider works with the caregiver and the Family Advocate to process emotions through a trauma-informed and spiritual lens. This can look different dependent on the caregiver’s needs, and aligns with First Witness’s goal of giving families back their autonomy and decision-making power.
Kathy Nelson is First Witness’s current Spiritual Care Provider. Kathy has extensive experience in providing spiritual care and guidance in the Duluth and Arrowhead regions. She was ordained in 1986 and served as the lead minister for 30 years at Peace Church in Duluth, MN. She also currently leads women’s bible study at the St. Louis County Jail, and has for over 30 years. Overall, the mission of the Spiritual Care Program is to create an adaptable space through an unbiased and nonjudgemental perspective with the knowledge that healing looks different for every individual.
If you are interested in learning more about our Spiritual Care Program, or would like to be put in touch with Kathy to process trauma through a spiritual or religious lens, please call First Witness at 218-727-8353.

Cultural and Spiritual Trainings

First Witness provides training to spiritual leaders in our community and offers on-site or in-house sessions. Training fees are modest and can be waived to ensure cost is never a barrier. For more information, please contact training@firstwitness.org or call 218-727-8353.

Faith in Action: Keeping Children Safe in Our Churches

This training is designed to equip church leaders, staff, and volunteers with the knowledge and tools needed to address and prevent child abuse within faith-based environments. Participants will gain an understanding of the latest research on child abuse in religious settings—including the patterns, risk factors, and systemic issues that contribute to abuse going unrecognized or unreported.
We will also explore practical strategies for creating safe, transparent, and accountable church cultures that prioritize the well-being of children. This includes implementing strong child protection policies, training staff and volunteers, recognizing warning signs, and establishing appropriate reporting protocols.
In addition, the training will offer guidance on how religious leaders can play a vital role in supporting healing for survivors and their families. Emphasis will be placed on trauma-informed care, responsible pastoral responses, and restoring trust within the faith community. This is a critical conversation for any church that is committed to protecting children, responding to past harm with integrity, and fostering a culture of safety and compassion.

Safe and Strong Communities

This training is offered to adults in youth-serving agencies, churches, sports leagues, and beyond. Participants learn how to recognize, respond, and report child abuse. This is mandated reporter training and beyond; we delve into dynamics of child abuse, how to respond to a child in a trauma-informed way, red flags of child abuse, child resilience, Safe and Strong Child© body safety curriculum, and more.

This training meets the mandated reporter training requirements listed Minnesota State Statutes (260E.065).  

Cultural and Spiritual Resources

Understanding ACEs in Indigenous Communities

The page presents studies, frameworks, history, a video on prevention of ACEs in Indigenous communities, and more. Healing Frameworks: Understanding ACEs in Indigenous Communities…

Go to Understanding ACEs in Indigenous Communities

Healing Trauma Through Islamic Counseling

Canadian organization of therapists, counselors, and social workers for those seeking Islamic faith-based counseling. – Their website states they can offer services outside of Canada,…

Go to Healing Trauma Through Islamic Counseling

Ethnic Minority Community Treatment Needs for Child Sexual Abuse Victims/Survivors

This articles discusses the impacts of child sexual abuse on ethnic minority groups and how treatment needs may be different for these communities and provides…

Go to Ethnic Minority Community Treatment Needs for Child Sexual Abuse Victims/Survivors
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Cultural and Spiritual Blog Posts

Importance of a Cultural and Spiritual Room in an Advocacy Center

Importance of healing        The core of a cultural and spiritual room is all about helping an individual heal in whatever way that may… Read More

By Carly Siveny

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