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We are thrilled to bring you our new and improved newsletter from the Massachusetts Children's Alliance. Four times a year, we will bring you news and information about the work of MACA and Children's Advocacy Centers across the Commonwealth. Want to learn more about CACs? Click here.
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NEWSFLASH |
> MACA budget drastically reduced. See how you can help.
> Boston Globe article cites increase in reported incidents of child abuse.
> Victim Compensation training co-sponsored by MACA in Holyoke on April 15th.
> Executive Director of MACA Tom King was nominated for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) Nonprofit Leadership award, and was recognized at the MNN Nonprofit Awareness Day on June 8th, 2009. To see photos of the event, please visit http://www.massnonprofitnet.org/awarenessday/pictures.html
> Latest Summer Events &CAC Highlights.
> Website updates: The MACA website will be updated soon! Please click here to visit, and watch for updates in the coming weeks.
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 MACA BUDGET DRASTICALLY REDUCED.
See how you can help.
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Governor Patrick has signed the budget for fiscal year 2010 (FY '10) and in the process, reduced the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Line Item (4500-0810) of the Department of Public Health's (DPH) budget by $500,000. This is the line item from which the Massachusetts Children's Alliance (MACA) receives its funding. The previous round of cuts to this line item required MACA to absorb 1/5 of the total reduction. MACA runs a very lean budget, with the majority of our DPH funds being sent to Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in the form of noncompetitive grants. Any additional reduction would be devastating.
WE ASK THAT OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT AN OVERRIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.
To find your legislators, click here.
Remember that this process must be initiated by the House, so starting with your Representatives is best, but please be sure to contact both your Representative and Senator. Mention that you are aware of the terrible fiscal climate; however, these ARE the times when resources for child abuse programs are most needed.
YOUR ACTION IS CRITICALLY NEEDED!!
Please do not hesitant to contact MACA Executive Director Tom King or Program Coordinator Gina Amodio for more information. |
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Victim Compensation: Helping Child Victims of Abuse Heal |
MACA was proud to sponsor on April 15th, together with the Family Advocacy Center at Baystate Medical Center, a multidisciplinary training in Springfield, MA. The training, Victim Compensation: Helping Child Victims of Abuse Heal, featured a presentation by Sandy Clark, Director of the Victim Compensation Division of the MA Office of the Attorney General, as well as a panel of representatives from CACs in Western MA.
THANK YOU to Debbie Chieco, from the Hampden County District Attorney's office, Susan Loehn and Jane Chevalier from the Northwest District Attorney's office and Kristen Westerman from the Berkshire County District Attorney's office for leading the panel discussion. We plan to sponsor similar trainings in other regions of the Commonwealth over the next several months.
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MACA Summer Appeal
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A note from Tom King, MACA Executive Director
All of us are keenly aware of the terrible fiscal climate that is plaguing our nation and the Commonwealth. MACA and its membership have experienced unprecedented reductions in state funds resulting in staff layoffs and elimination of programming at CACs. Sadly, it is during these tough fiscal times that child abuse cases increase. So when more children are in need of a CAC, most will find less and in some cases, a child may actually be greeted by locked doors.
Join our RECESSION RESCUE TEAM. I, along with the MACA Board of Directors, have crafted an aggressive fundraising campaign to bring in money from grants, corporations and friends like you. Money is tight for everyone but if we band together, you will help us make sure that every child victim has the services of a fully operating Children's Advocacy Center. Watch for my summer appeal letter. I'll be describing some of the exciting projects such as house parties and wine tasting events that we will be hosting across the state, all part of our RECESSION RESCUE PLAN.
More to come soon, so watch your e-mail. Have ideas you'd like to share? Contact me at tking@machildrensalliance.org
Want to support MACA?
Click on this link to make an easy online donation.
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| Summer Events: Save the Date! |
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CAC Highlight
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Featured CAC: The Children's Advocacy Center of Worcester County/UMASS Child Protection Program
The UMass Memorial Child Protection Program, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, and the Central Region Department of Children and Families were proud to hold their second annual Central MA Interagency Child Abuse Investigation Summit on behalf of the Children's Advocacy Center of Worcester County. The event was held on June 18th, 2009 and was hosted by UMASS Memorial Children's Medical Center. The event brought together investigators, supervisors and management from DCF, law enforcement from the 60 plus cities and towns in Worcester County, Assistant DA's responsible for prosecution, medical staff specializing in child abuse cases, and other colleagues in the child welfare field. This year's theme was scene investigations in cases of serious child physical injury. The Summit was a great success, attended by 123 professionals from around Worcester County. Guest speaker Dr. Steve Boos of Baystate Medical Center provided a highly informative presentation that was well-received by those in attendance. The working conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center, the Worcester County DA's Office, and the Central Region DCF.
New and improved CAC websites!
Please click the links below to check them out:
> CAC of Suffolk County
> Middlesex Children's Advocacy Center
> Norfolk Advocates for Children(formerly the Children's Advocacy Center of Norfolk County)
Please watch the MACA website in the coming weeks, for an up to date list of all programs.
MACA is privileged to have 11 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in our membership. Click here for a complete program list. This month we would like to feature the Children's Advocacy Center of Worcester County/UMASS Child Protection Program.
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Support MACA!
Click on the DONATE button to send your on-line donation, or mail us a check at the address below!
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OUR MISSION
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The mission of the Massachusetts Children's Alliance is a membership organization that promotes an integrated, multidisciplinary team response to child abuse. We are committed to strengthening collaboration and fostering systemic and societal change to protect children. Through support of member organizations, the Chapter ensures that children and their families have access to high quality, comprehensive, specialized and culturally competent services of a Children's Advocacy Center.
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