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Massachusetts Children's Alliance April Newsletter
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness month. It has been a busy time for MACA and member Children's Advocacy Centers. This spring promises to be a productive time for awareness and the fight against child abuse. Read below about our awareness campaign, CAC events, and MACA's statewide conference May 23rd!
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 MACA proudly announces the official launch of its statewide
One with Courage campaign.
One with Courage is a national campaign focused on helping communities and individuals respond to child sexual abuse.
The statistics are sobering: It is estimated that 1 out of 4 girls, and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday; only 1 in 10 will tell. With the simple question, "Are you the One?" the campaign challenges communities and individuals to take an active role and stand up for children. With generous funding from the National Children's Alliance, MACA has partnered with the 11 CACs in the Commonwealth to roll out this campaign. Look out for our billboards across Massachusetts, as well as television and radio spots, and let us know if you catch them on Facebook.For more information, visit MACA's One with Courage page. | | MACA's One with Courage PSA (English) |
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Register today for our 2nd Annual Conference
Healing, Hope and Justice:
An Advanced Conversation! Click here for information and to register! Our agenda for the day is packed with great information for all professionals working within the field of child abuse. Sergeant Pi Heseltine from the MA state police, Assistant District Attorney Greg Friedholm from the Essex District Attorney's office and Deb Becovitch, Assistant Attorney General will lead a dynamic panel on the Safe Harbor provision of the Human Trafficking law. They will discuss the new law and use a case example to discuss various points. We have a great menu of workshops as well:
- "But you're not on my schedule"...and Other Challenges when Interviewing Children on the Autism Spectrum- Julie Stauffer, LICSW, Cornerhouse, Minneapolis, MN
- Recent Research Affecting Child Abuse Investigations and Prosecutions- Chris Newlin, Executive Director, National Children's Advocacy Center, Huntsville, AL
- Has this Child been Abused? Understanding Behaviors, De-mystifying the Examination, and Approach to Treatment- Dr. Rebecca Moles, Division Chief, Child Protection, & Dr. Heather Forkey, Assistant Director, FaCES, UMass Children's Medical Center, Worcester, MA
- A Pebble in the Pond: Factors in Multi-Generational, Childhood Sexual Abuse Victimization- Tamara Hillard, LICSW, Clinical Treatment Specialist, Children's Cove, Barnstable, MA
- The NCAC Extended Forensic Interview Model: Rationale and Key Components- Chris Newlin, Executive Director, National Children's Advocacy Center, Hunstville, AL
- Severe Physical Abuse Injuries: Medical Evaluation and Challenges in Prosecution- Alice W. Newton, MD, Medical Director, Child Protection Team,
Children's Hospital, Boston, Leora Joseph, Assistant District Attorney/Chief of the Child Protection Unit, Suffolk Co. District Attorney's Office & Detective Anthony D. Alba, Chelsea Police Department, Chelsea, MA
And don't forget our special keynote speaker, renowned author of Trauma Stewardship, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky!
THANK YOU to our growing list generous sponsors for agreeing to help us make this year's conference a success! Click the logos below to check out the organizations.
  
Join the list of sponsors! Contact Brenda Noel at: bnoel@machildrensalliance.org
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Children's Advocacy Center News & Events:
- Last fall, the Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County launched HOPE BLOOMS, a campaign to raise awareness of child
 sexual and physical abuse and the power of healing. To bring attention to often unseen victims, volunteers planted over 1,100 crocus bulbs on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. Each bulb represents a child victim of abuse referred to the CAC in 2011. In March, the blooming flowers emerged as the first sign of spring; the ribbon of color creating a striking reminder of the local impact of child abuse and that, with the help of the CAC, hope can be restored.
- Middlesex CAC has launched the Middlesex TRACE Initiative to create multi-disciplinary regional response networks to respond to commercial sexual exploitation of children. In response to the new anti-human trafficking law in Massachusetts, MCAC has begun trainings for regional service providers.
- Berkshire County Kids' Place has raised $9,000 towards their April goal of 15,000! Their1st Annual Pasta Dinner kickoff to Child Abuse Awareness Month was a huge success. With their 7th Annual Stop Abuse Road Race coming on Sunday, April 22nd, lets help them reach their goal!
- Plymouth County CAC will hold an open house, April 27th 9:30-11:30, and will display Pinwheels for Prevention, a national campaign by Prevent Child Abuse America. CAC staff will participate in community trainings to educate people about abuse and mandated reporting. Lastly, welcome to new Pedi SANE nurse, Laura Ortman!
- April 24th, the Essex Children's Advocacy Center will launch the One with Courage campaign. Their Steering Committee will be developing a prevention program around OWC and will be working collaboratively with MACA to spread the message.
- Norfolk Advocates for Children held an April Conference on the identification of and response to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. On April 27th, the NAC will hold an exciting fundraiser at King's Bowling Alley in Dedham!
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