The Power of Pause: Embracing Short-Term Sabbaticals in Child Advocacy Work
By Erica Fischer-Kaslander
At Child Focus, we are deeply committed to the well-being of the children and families we serve — and we know that commitment begins with the people doing the work. This year, our organization took a bold and restorative step by piloting a short-term sabbatical option for staff. While the concept is new for us, the anticipation of implementation has been both grounding and illuminating.
Child advocacy is emotionally demanding work. Staff must show up each day with presence, empathy, and resilience. Over time, even the most passionate professionals can find themselves facing burnout, compassion fatigue, or simply feeling disconnected from their own sense of purpose. Recognizing this, we asked: What would it look like to give our team the gift of time — not only for rest, but for reflection, renewal, and reconnection?
Learning from the experience
Our now-implemented sabbatical model allows eligible staff to take a paid, planned leave of absence — typically four to six weeks — with the intention of stepping away from daily responsibilities to return re-energized. This isn’t vacation time. It’s intentional time to explore creativity, engage in personal growth, and simply breathe deeply without a calendar chock-full of meetings and court hearings.
Launching this practice involved thoughtful planning. We had to design clear guidelines, consider workload redistribution and, most important, communicate openly about why this mattered. Our leadership team will be working closely with staff to ensure both smooth transitions and a culture that embraces this new practice and rhythm. This summer, the first staff member will take advantage of this opportunity, after 16 years of continuous service to our child advocacy program.
What we’re learning … and anticipating
It models what we teach. In our work, we encourage families to invest in themselves, to heal, and to grow. Offering sabbaticals to staff reinforces that same belief: growth requires space.
It strengthens our team. Preparing for a colleague’s sabbatical encouraged cross-training, improved systems, and highlighted just how interdependent we are — all of which made us more resilient.
It creates room for innovation. Staff returning from sabbatical will bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a renewed sense of clarity about how to improve our work. We believe the pause will spark renewed passion.
It deepens commitment. When people feel seen and valued, they bring more of themselves to the mission.
Looking ahead
We know not every nonprofit has the capacity to implement sabbaticals overnight. Still, we know the cost of burnout is far greater than the cost of encouraging respite. As we refine this practice, we remain committed to learning — from our team, our partners, and organizations that pioneered this model before us.
At Child Focus, we believe healing isn’t just for the families we serve. It’s for all of us. As we continue to nurture a culture of sustainability, we hope our journey inspires other nonprofits to explore how intentional rest can be a powerful tool for greater impact.
Sometimes the most important thing we can do for the mission is to pause, and then return with greater purpose.
If you’re a nonprofit leader or child advocacy professional curious about implementing sabbaticals in your organization, we’d love to connect and share more about what we’re learning.
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Erica Fischer-Kaslander is Executive Director of Child Focus.
Child Focus, based in Wayne, prioritizes the needs and well-being of infants, children, and teens impacted by or at risk of abuse and neglect by amplifying their voices and working toward lasting, permanent solutions that address their unique situations and provide the support needed to thrive. This critical work is accomplished through three distinct but complementary programs: CASA of Passaic and Union Counties, NJ Safe Babies Court Team, and the Open Door Store. For information, log on to www.childfocusnj.org.