A Quarter Blue

A Quarter Blue’s (AQB) creates pathways toward resilience and restoration for crime survivors and their communities.

AQB’s original mission focused on stopping childhood sexual abuse through education and encouraging people in their healing process. The name came from the reality that A QUARTER of children will be left BLUE from the trauma of sexual abuse. The blue ribbon is a symbol of child abuse prevention.

In 2003, AQB began as a for-profit to educate society in prevention, detection, and reporting childhood molestation. In addition, AQB’s founder, Martha Wade, shared her journey as a former victim of childhood molestation and encouraged victims to seek hope and wholeness.

AQB became a 501(c)(3) in 2007, in order to increase its impact.

In 2012, AQB saw the need for a parent support group. It provided a sense of community for families whose worlds were rocked following the discovery of sexual abuse against their children. Also, a monthly art-healing group was established. These groups became an effective outlet for families to process their pain.

In 2013, AQB added low to no-cost individual therapy for victims of sexual abuse recognizing clientele mainly came from low to moderate-income households. In 2015, AQB added therapeutic and educational services in Spanish.

In January of 2018, AQB officially broadened their scope of practice to include healing opportunities to survivors of violent crime, thus creating AQB Trauma Recovery Center. AQB actively engages with victims of molestation, human trafficking, physical child abuse, domestic violence, gun violence, murder, battery, rape, physical assault, stabbing, murder-suicide, and vehicular assault.

In 2021, AQB became an official trauma recovery center with the State of California. The TRC grant awards are funded by annual appropriations from the Restitution Fund and the Safe Neighborhood and Schools Fund. For 2023, additional funds will come from the state General Fund as part of the Budget Act of 2022.

AQB is committed to the Four R’s:
• Reaching children, teens, adults, and families in need of therapeutic services
• Restoring and transforming children, teens, adults, and families
• Refueling people ministering to victims of crime
• Reducing violent and domestic crimes

In 2024,
• AQB served 243 victims of crime through therapeutic services; and provided education, employment, medical health care, legal support, housing, advocacy, transportation, and food to 193 clients.
• AQB was chosen as the official non-profit of the Orange Trial Lawyers Association. Their fundraiser on November 2, 2024, highlighted and benefitted AQB’s work.
• 80 clients responded to treatment, showing measurable improvement clinically, socially, and emotionally. 55 clients improved to the point of a formal discharge, without the need for ongoing care. Some clients are continuing treatment. Others needed to terminate due to unforeseen reasons, such as moving out of state.
• One of AQB’s staff started as a trainee, then associate, she acquired all her needed hours and passed her formal exams. She is now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. AQB has five trainees currently.
• AQB’s Second “Day of the Thriver” proved to be a successful event. This conference educates, equips, and empowers crime survivors. AQB added a track for children, who gained tools to lead them toward resilience and restoration. AQB also had a translator for Spanish speaking attendees.

In 2025, AQB plans on:
• Acquiring sufficient funding to minister to all the potential clients who need trauma-informed services.
• Restructuring intake process, so that callers who would be better served by other agencies are identified and referred earlier instead remaining on the waitlist for an opening with a clinician.
• Continuing to grow base of listeners for the podcast, “Unpacking Crime.” This informational podcast opens listeners understanding of professionals in the field. It also unpacks unique aspects of resilience and restoration following crime. Some guests will reveal trends in crime and how communities can be part of a prevention movement.
• Providing its third annual conference for crime survivors, which aims at education, equipping, and empowering. This will include a track for children and Spanish speakers.
• Replenishing the emergency fund, since the State of California is unable to give the $120,000 that they invested in Flexible Emergency Cash Assistance (FECAP) for AQB’s clients covering a three-year period ending 2025.

• $704,261 (Annual): Therapeutic Staff. AQB major funder is the California Victim Compensation Board(CalVCB).
• $84,600 (Monthly): All clinical and educational needs
• $42,000 (Annually): Emergency funds. In line with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, crime survivors need to have their basic physical needs (food, shelter, clothing, medical assistance) met in order to achieve safety, love, esteem, and ultimately self-actualization.
• $5500 (One-time): Conference needs. For the Day of the Thriver Conference AQB needs assistance for provision of food, honorariums, and supplies.
• $9,600 (Annual): Outreach to educate and empower communities of crime prevention and opportunities for healing following victimization

AQB is centrally located in Orange, California, strategically close to the 55, 22, 57, and 5 freeways, so that crime survivors can easily come from adjacent cities and counties. AQB chooses to be in a less crime infested area, so that clients feel safer. AQB's services are provided throughout the county, most of AQB’s clients live in surrounding areas, including Santa Ana, whose annual violent crime rate is 1,613. (Statistics gleaned from Neighborhood Scout).

With the acceptance of telehealth, AQB now offers therapy on-line across the state of California. Trainings are offered throughout the world.

"One of AQB's clients once asked me how I persevered after so much loss. After I took a moment to process the loss of childhood innocence at the hand of a seasoned pedophile and the death of my 18-year-old son, I realized I chose resilience over resentment. When my abuse became public, I could have stayed stuck in thoughts like "Why me?", but instead I dedicated time to personal healing which led to transparency and advocacy, so that crime victims could understand they are not alone, and that healing is possible. Through ongoing perseverance AQB has grown in its impact to encourage and empower crime survivors of sexual assault and other violent crime.

AQB’s Board Being A Voice in the Silence
• "For years I was the face and voice of AQB. AQB's board has grappled with how to share the 'face' of AQB while protecting the identities of its clients. AQB's work is normally talked about in hushed tones. Healing takes time, therefore AQB's board has been waiting to interview clients as they've moved from victim to survivor to victor, with long-term results. AQB is in the process of creating impact videos documenting changed lives directly affected by AQB, while preserving the identities of clients. Community events help market AQB's services in a personable and creative manner. Also, AQB continues to search for dynamic partnership through grants, businesses, and individuals." Martha Wade, Board Chair
• “As a police officer, I witnessed firsthand the effects of trauma. When left unresolved, this can lead to destructive behavior. I support AQB because it offers a pathway to healing. An obstacle for our organization is fundraising. A stigma often follows the victims of certain crimes. Any discussion with potential donors may elicit feelings of unease because of that stigma. By sharing stories of recovery, our organization can help reduce that stigma.” Tim Roop, Board Vice Chair
• "I have a deep caring for the lives of innocent children who have been charged with the challenge to heal from criminal and abusive crimes perpetrated against them through no fault of their own…The specialized training is not provided in most universities, so that cost falls on AQB. The therapeutic partnership required for optimal healing is not adequately addressed through undergraduate and graduate training programs. Finding donors willing to invest in staff training is an ongoing challenge." Reen Bula, Board Member