Steven Tyler, Aerosmith front man, has recently announced how he is opening Janie’s House — a home for neglected and abused girls.
He not only created the safe space, but additionally donated $500,000 to renovate the 82-acre home — located on the Youth Villages Bartlett Campus.
Tyler attend the “scarf-cutting” dedication of open the home officially — sharing his motive behind Janie’s House.
The name was inspired from Aerosmith’s 1989 hit song, “Janie’s Got a Gun.”
The song tells the tale of a girl who was abused by her father and eventually takes revenge on him after years of suffering.
Tyler goes on to share how the inspiration of the song came to him when he started to deal with his own addiction problems.
In his treatment, he started attending a center for co-dependency where he met many young women who had been abused both emotionally and physically.
And in effort to help these women, the singer decided to put his emotions into the song to honor them.
He then decided to partner up with Youth Villages, which operates facilities as well as programs for children across the country, to help the women find a safe place to run to.
And that is how Janie’s House was created.
The home’s goal is to bring awareness to the issue of neglect and abuse.
The home would generate financial support to help girls receive the most effective services available to help them overcome pain, abuse and/or trauma.
The home currently fosters 14 girls at a time, around 26-30 years old, annually.
Tyler also created a fund called “Janie’s Fund,” which raised $4 million dollars total since it first happened.
The first center opened in Atlanta in 2017 while a third home is expected to open in Las Vegas later this year.
The support programs offered at Janie’s House address the trauma of sexual abuse in children and expand upon those services to help more girls.
The services also incorporate the latest research on developing brains as well as neuropsychology.
Youth Villages’ five campuses will also expand experimental therapies to help break through treatment barriers when traditional therapies have fallen short.
Experimental therapies include West African Therapeutic drumming, art therapy, music therapy as well as recreational therapy.
Funds from the organization will also be used to help girls provide the critical “extended care” as many are in desperate need of as they age out of foster care at 18 and cannot make the transition to adulthood without little family support.
On the site, Steven Tyler writes:
“I need your help to take care of abused and neglected girls and spread the word about Janie’s Fund. In addition to donating, I’m asking you to become a fundraiser for these young people who need even more voices of support.”
To donate, click here.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing either abuse or neglect, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD or (1-800-422-4453) or visit childhelp.org/hotline/ for help.
Anyone is able to report either suspected child abuse and/or neglect and reporting it can save a child’s life.
For state-specific info, you can visit Childwelfare.gov.
Your call could save a child and help a family, today.
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