Advisory Board Testimonials

“Nana's is inspirational and aspirational to all play therapists and other mental health workers here in the UK working with children who are homeless. The project's founder, Ana Sutton, had the foresight to understand that children's and their families' mental health needs are best met wholistically, within a setting that provides for their physical and educational well being. Nana's has been able to make a significant contribution not only to homeless children and families, but also to training mental health professionals and conducting research with this often overlooked population. As director of a longstanding postgraduate training course in play therapy, I have recommended to both staff and students here in the UK that they look to Nana's for guidance and advice with homeless children and families. The openness and dedication of the director and staff have always meant that the staff is eager to embrace anyone interested in helping these children and families and have always made UK professionals feel most welcome.

I feel privileged to have received their invitation to be on their Board this year and hope that I can help them promote their work further both in the USA and here in the UK.”

–Virginia Ryan, PhD, C Psychol, MBAPT

“One group of children who are neglected are homeless children. Very few services are provided for this group because of the nature of their life experience. Nana’s children is a vibrant and exciting project which offers therapeutic support to this neglected group. The support is well organized, the work supervised and the results so far are impressive. In the UK we are exploring ways to support such groups of children and our way of working is very congruent with the approach of Nana’s Children. I offer my wholehearted support to their work.”

- Dr. Ann Cattanach, Scotland, U.K

"Nana's Children's Mental Health Foundation provides an invaluable service for homeless children. Recognizing the myriad, therapeutic powers of play, Nana's has implemented a unique, school-based play intervention that enhances the psychological well-being of homeless children, as well as their academic competence. Through training, education, research, and world-wide presentations, Nana's staff has become a leader in mobilizing support to meet the needs of these special children."

-Charles Schaefer, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Fairleigh Dickinson U. Teaneck, N.J.