MACA
Massachusetts Children's Alliance Newsletter

Spring 2011

 

April was Sexual Assault Awareness month & Child Abuse Prevention month, and much happened across Massachusetts. Children's Advocacy Centers and child abuse were featured in the news, events were held throughout the Commonwealth, and MACA began to gear up for our first statewide conference.  As May begins, let's keep this momentum going!

 

We are delighted to be hosting our first day-long conference, "Healing Hope and Justice: An Advanced Conversation," on May 26. We have developed an exciting agenda from opening remarks by Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of the National Children's Alliance, to the keynote address by Dr. Nadine Burke, Medical Director of the Bayview Medical Clinic.  Dr. Burke was recently featured in the New Yorker article "The Poverty Clinic: Can a stressful childhood make you a sick adult?"     
 

Watch for updated information to come by the end of this week! 
 

See the conference homepage for more information  

and how to register.  We hope you'll be able to join us!

 
Legislative Legislative Happenings 

> To mark April as Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness month,  MACA distributed informational folders to each of the state's 200 legislators. Each folder had a personalized letter from MACA Executive Director, Tom King, which highlighted the advantages of the CAC model, a MACA brochure, summaries of legislation to address human trafficking which we support and links to other resources. We were thrilled to complete this legislative awareness campaign and must thank Stephanie, our Northeastern co-op student, for her diligence and attention to detail!   

 

> Read up on the recently filed Safe Harbor legislation to aid exploited youth.

 

Newsflash:Newsflash

CACs & Child Abuse in the News

>Tom King, MACA's Executive Director and Stacy Gallagher, Director of the Children's Cove, were interviewed for a piece in the Cape Cod Times about why some children might not disclose sexual abuse. 

 

>Boston Herald article features the work of the Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. "Taking some of the pain away: Advocacy Center gives abused kids hope" (April 3rd).

> Hampshire Gazette article features the Northwestern District Attorney's CAC and the program's goal of NCA accreditation.

>WBUR Series Are the Kids' All Right: A Look at  Children's Mental Health in Massachusetts. Listen here.  

>New Yorker article "The Poverty Clinic: Can a stressful childhood make you a sick adult?"  includes the finding from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study that study participants who experienced physical and sexual abuse as children were three times more likely to experience major depression by their early thirties and almost twice as likely to have an elevated risk of heart health.  Read more about the New Yorker article, or check out the ACE study.   

> More about the long-term implications of child abuse and neglect in this letter from Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of the National Children's Alliance. 
CACSpotlight CAC Spotlight:  
What's going on at CACs in Massachusetts   

>The CAC of Bristol County hosted a two-day training on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to build the capacity for mental health services in their area.  Participating mental health providers will also participate in a year-long learning exchange, for support and assistance in implementing the TF-CBT model.  

 

> Norfolk Advocates for Children held a day-long training on bullying & cyber-bullying. See their brochure.   

 

> The Berkshire County Kids' Place held their 6th Annual Race to Stop Child Abuse 5K on April 2nd, and it was a great success!   

 

> Baystate Family Advocacy Center held an open house at their new Springfield location on  April 7th.

 

> Throughout the month of April, blue pinwheels were displayed at locations throughout Berkshire County & the Cape to raise awareness of child abuse.  

 

Congratulations to the CAC of Suffolk County and the Middlesex CAC on their successful re-accreditation with the National Children's Alliance!  

 

MACA is privileged to have 11 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in our membership. Click here for a complete program list.

 

savethedate Save the Date: Upcoming Events

 

Here are enjoyable ways to show your continued support for CAC's across the state.  Register today for:

 

> The Kentucky Derby Day Gala to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Bristol County on May 7th at the County Club of New Bedford in North Dartmouth

 

> The 10th Annual Children's Cove Golf Tournament hosted by District Attorney Michael O'Keefe June 6th at the Ridge Club in Sandwich, MA

 

> The 19th Annual Berkshire County Law Enforcement Golf Tournament to benefit the Berkshire County Kids' Place on June 19th at Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown, MA

 

THANK YOU to our donors! 

Thank you to everyone who made our Holiday 2010 campaign a success! Many of you "gave MACA" as a gift by making donations in honor of others. 

   

Are you "on board?"

Click here to see the MACA Buddy Board for a list of our generous donors.   

 

Click here

to contribute to our Spring campaign. 

summerappeal In this issue 

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OUR MISSION
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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