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People of faith are called by that faith
to speak for all children.
September 21, 2010
JUVENILE JUSTICE MATTERS:
NEXT HEARING ON JUVENILE CODE REFORM SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 30

The next hearing on The Child Protection and Public Safety Act will focus on Article 7-Delinquency and is scheduled for Thursday, September 30, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Room 450 of the Capitol.  
 
If your state senator sits on the Senate Judiciary Juvenile Code Rewrite Sub-Committee or on the Senate Judiciary Committee, please call and ask him/her to attend the hearing. 
 
Sub-committee:
Chair:  Senator Bill Hamrick, District 30

Full committee:
Senate Judiciary Committee (full committee)
 
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FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFORM DURING DIFFICULT FISCAL TIMES

The National Juvenile Justice Network presents a webinar on September 23rd at 10:30am PDT / 1:30pm EDT
on how advocates can find opportunities for reform of the juvenile justice system during difficult fiscal times. The financial collapse of 2008 and 2009 means that almost all states are facing alarming budget shortfalls.

Yet, far from being a time to hold back, now is the time to search for new opportunities to advocate for cost-effective juvenile justice reform. The webinar will provide examples from states that have succeeded in achieving progressive, fiscally-minded reforms, with specific insights from NJJN members and partners in Wisconsin, Ohio and Washington State. Register now.

View the related publication The Real Costs and Benefits of Change: Finding Opportunities for Reform During Difficult Fiscal Times.

CHILD PROTECTION:  HELP STOP CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING:

 

NINE COMMON RISK FACTORS

 

The 2005 study, "Hidden in Plain View," identified nine common risk factors that make children vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

 

 1. Conflicts at Home 2. Parental Neglect 3. Physical or Sexual Abuse 4. Homelessness 5. Poverty 6. Housing Instability 7. Educational Failure 8. Emotional / Psychological Problems 9. Runaways/Throwaways

 

Pledge your help today to work with ICM and your faith community in providing protective factors that can mitigate the needless suffering of Georgia's children.  Some ways faith communities can help... 

EDUCATION:  DISMANTLING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE SYMPOSIUM SERIES -- "100 STORIES IN 100 DAYS"
   
These forums are sponsored by ACET, ACLU of Georgia, Georgia State Conference NAACP, Gwinnett STOPP, and Interfaith Children's Movement
  

Through a series of five regional forums, a strategic plan for statewide action for the dismantling of the "School To Prison Pipeline" (STPP) will be developed. Information obtained through this symposium from key stakeholders; students, parents, education community, legal community, elected representatives, civic community, and faith community groups will form the foundation of a plan that will improve the educational environment for Georgia's students.

 

The first forum is being held on October 9 from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, located at 220 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Complimentary continental breakfast & lunch provided by Big Bethel AME Church.

 

The weekend of October 9-10, Big Bethel will be celebrating its Children's Sabbath Observance and raising awareness about the conditions under which Georgia's children live.

 

Register on-line for the October 9 forum by October 2:  http://www.acluga.org/sttpsymposium.html.

 

SCHEDULE: 
October 9th Metro Atlanta (Congressional Districts - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
 
October 16th Savannah (Congressional Districts - 1, 12)

October 23rd Macon (Congressional Districts - 2, 8, 12)

October 30th Valdosta (Congressional Districts - 1, 2, 8)

November 6th Dalton (Congressional Districts - 9, 10, 11)
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EDUCATION:  GEORGIA RANKS 48TH IN NATION IN SAT SCORES:  STEADY DECLINE IN SCORES OVER PAST FOUR YEARS

 

As reported at ajc.com:  Georgia's public, private and home school students in the Class of 2010 scored an average of 1,453 on the SAT, down seven points from 2009. The scores -- for students taking the test at least once in 2010 -- trailed their peers' national average of 1,509.  [Article]

 
CHILD CARE:  WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY CAMPAIGN TO RELEASE REPORT ON NEED FOR AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE

 

The Women's Economic Security Campaign is set to release a major report on the need for affordable, quality child Care to help low-income women stay employed.  This report spotlights public and private programs helping low-income mothers access child care. It also examines the efforts to increase wages and training for the early care work force.

 

The Webinar marking the release of Child Care Matters: Building Economic Security for Low-Income Women will be held Monday, September 27, 2010 4:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. (EST).  To register please click here

PARENTAL NURTURE:  FATHERHOOD FORUM

 

Strengthening Families: INVESTING IN FATHERHOOD FORUM is designed specifically for faith and community-based organizations, healthy marriage community coalitions, fatherhood programs, state and local human service agencies, and practitioners from various disciplines.

 

The event will be held Tuesday, September 28, 2010, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and culminating Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. The Forum will be held in the Executive Leadership Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.

 

Registration is required, and the deadline is Wednesday, September 22. Please complete the registration form and return by e-mail to: [email protected] or fax to 404- 562-2982.

 

SPIRITUAL WITNESS FOR CHILDREN
Prayer
One of the most important things faith communities can do for children is to pray for them.
 
Every child is a child of God and deserves justice and compassion. Every child deserves our prayers.
 
ICM encourages every faith community to become a spiritual witness for children. Hold a worship service in your church, synagogue, mosque or temple and invite others to join in praying for the well-being of all children.
ICM Mission and Goals
 
The Interfaith Children's Movement was formed in 2001 as an intentional association of individuals and communities of faith from all religious traditions.
 
The Interfaith Children's Movement strives to be a voice for all Georgia children, but especially the poor and marginalized whose voices are often unheard. 
 
ICM works closely with Georgia's policy-oriented child advocacy organizations, such as: 
  • Voices for Georgia's Children,
  • The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University,
  • Georgia Appleseed,
  • JUSTGeorgia,
  • Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and
  • A Future.Not a Past. (child prostitution prevention). 

These organizations set the agenda for our advocacy work for children. 

ICM's faith community members provide a megaphone to the legislature about what needs to be done for children.

Celebration of Excellence 2010

SAVE THE DATE!

ICM PRAYER DINNER
THURSDAY, OCT. 28, 2010
6:30 PM

This year, ICM's annual prayer breakfast will be held as a prayer dinner in recognition of our 10 years of service to Georgia's children.


  Please mark your calendars now for this beautiful gathering of the interfaith community.

 

The Prayer Dinner will be held at

The Temple

1589 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta.

 

On-line registration begins

Thursday, September 23!


STEP UP FOR KIDS!

It's time to come out to the third annual Step Up for Kids Day, Monday, October 4, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center (385 Centennial Olympic Park Drive). Click here to register.

 

This non-partisan event is nationally sponsored by Every Child Matters. Voices for Georgia's Children is coordinating our state's event in Atlanta. This year, the Georgia event will focus on the importance of investment in the early years of our children's lives.

 

As a co-sponsor of Step Up for Kids, ICM is supporting Voices in asking for letters from children to the candidates for Governor telling them how the new Governor can make Georgia work for kids!

 

Click here to participate in the letter writing campaign. Click here for letterhead. 

 

 If you have any questions about the event or letters to the candidates for Governor, please contact Angela Orkin at [email protected].

 

 


INFORMATION, TRAINING & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
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Georgians for a Healthy Future -Care Beyond College: Learn About the New Dependent Coverage Option for Young Adults
 
When: Thursday, 9/23, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 
Where: Room 2001, Claudia Nance Rollins Building Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University 1518 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30322

For the first time, young adults up to age 26 will be able to remain on a parent's health insurance plans regardless of their school status. This event is being held to raise awareness about this new coverage option and to provide information about how it will work.

To RSVP, click here.
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2010 Neighborhood Summit:  "Neighborhood Connections, Regional Voices"
  
When:  Saturday, 9/25, all day

Where: Loudermilk Center for the Regional Community, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA 30303

Hosted by:  Civic League for Regional Atlanta

Go to www.neighborhoodsummit.org/ for registration information.
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A Future.Not a Past. Community Ambassador Training

When:  Saturday, 9/25, 8:30a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Where:  SafePath, 736 Whitlock Avenue, Suite 600, Marietta, GA 30064

Learn how to use YOUR voice to raise awareness in YOUR community to help stop the prostitution of Georgia's children!  For more information, write to:
[email protected] 
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Town Hall Meeting - "The Economics of an Arizona law:  What would that mean to Georgia?"
  
When:  Tuesday, 9/28, 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Where:  The Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA, 30303

Hosted by: Asian American Legal Advocacy Center, Inc. (AALAC) of Georgia, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), Latin American Association

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Street GRACE - Stop the Candy Shop! -- a CSEC awareness event

When:  Thursday, 10/7, 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
 
Where:  Atlanta Athletic Club

Featuring a special film clip of "The Candy Shop" by Whitestone Motion Pictures

Go to www.streetgrace.org for more information.
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2010 Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon

When:  Friday, 10/8, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Where: Gwinnett Technical College

Busbee Center (Building 700)

5150 Sugarloaf Pkwy NW

Lawrenceville, GA 30043


Keynote address:  Hon. Luis Aguilar Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

For more information, contact Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of GALEO, at 404.745.2580 or [email protected].

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A Future.Not A Past.'s
"7200 Steps to Stop Demand"

5k Run/Walk

When:  Saturday, 11/13, 9:00 a.m.

 

Where:  Candler Park in Atlanta, GA

 

Take your steps to raise awareness and stop the demand for prostituted children in Georgia. 
 
Go to 7200 Steps for more information.
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