Children's Advocacy Center Update

by Heather Gardner

The Children's Advocacy Center would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Jody Schnetzler!  Jody donated her time and unbelievable creativity to the CAC in July.

Right when the family walks in the front door they will be greeted with her artwork.  She painted caterpillars, chrysalises, butterflies and greenery starting at the front door entrance and that artwork continues to lead them down the hallway of the center. In the forensic interview room, Jody painted a beautiful mural that covers the entire wall.  This mural includes squirrels, a stream, butterflies and other colorful details. The mural in the forensic interview room helps to invite the child into the room. Sometimes children feel apprehension about why they are at the center and having this peaceful mural helps to transition them into the room and the forensic interview process.  Seeing the mural instantly gives the child something to talk about and serves as a nice ice breaker for us to begin talking.  The mural will also be incorporated into the interview.  This is done by asking questions such as, how many butterflies do you see and what colors are they?  It is important to know what concepts the child has or has not mastered and their developmental level in order to adjust the interview questions accordingly. 

Again, we thank Jody for the beautiful artwork she created which provides a warm and child friendly environment for the children and the families we serve.  

So far this summer, 23 children have died from heat stroke due to being left behind in unattended vehicles. Child care providers, Head Start staff, parents, and other adults caring for young children can work together to prevent this horrible tragedy from happening.

The Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start are partnering with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide information to the early care and education (ECE) community and parents on the importance of double-checking cars, buses, and vans to make sure that all children arrive safely.

You can read a message from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about the "Look Before You Lock" campaign at http://transition.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/news/look-before-you-lock-pledge, where resources will continue to be added.   In addition, HHS and DOT/NHTSA have partnered to develop a voluntary Pledge Form that providers and parents can use to work together to keep children safe, which is available at the previously mentioned link. For example, providers and parents can agree to immediately inform each other if a child is expected to arrive at home or at an ECE center and does not.