No Images? Click here Baltimore Child Abuse CenterFEBRUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER: JOIN US FOR ADVOCACY DAYWhy Advocacy MattersDear Friends, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful,” - Malala Yousafzai, teenage activist When it comes to advocating for children, those words ring particularly true. Sure, many people want to help kids—it’s how we help them which is often the stuff of rich debate. We all agree that preventing and reporting child abuse is critical to keep kids safe, but when it comes to the details, many of us have a more difficult time agreeing on how we do so. I respect my colleagues who represent specific interest groups and elected legislators who need to weigh difficult considerations in drafting laws designed to protect children. In our disagreements, we are always mindful of this fact: adults set the agenda, draft the laws, and vote. Kids, on the other hand, do not. They rely on us adults to advocate for measures designed to protect them, even if it challenges the status quo of the adults who care for them. As an advocate, I often find myself facing a stream of “what if” hypothetical debates regarding the impact of certain laws on adults. Yet time after time, we encourage lawmakers and fellow stakeholders to instead focus instead on the “what about kids” questions we pose. I’m proud of the fact that our advocates and I work steadily and consistently to get our point across and to have all sides consider how we can better protect Maryland’s children. One bill I’m particularly excited about making its way through Annapolis this legislative session is SB739/HB1007 Expanding Access to Children’s Advocacy Centers sponsored by Sen. Susan Lee and Del. Emily Shetty. Through the Maryland Children's Alliance, we joined with CACs across Maryland to draft and support this important bill. Like the rest of the nation, only about 2/3 of Maryland’s counties have a children’s advocacy center that has been accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. Accreditation codifies the 10 standards which over 800 centers like BCAC across the country are held to. They define how forensic interviewing, medical exams, mental health, and advocacy are delivered for every child helped and for each multi-disciplinary team partnership. The standards are what sets children’s advocacy centers apart from many other programs and are updated every 5 years by a national panel of over 60 experts in the field. Similarly, every 5 years each center is subject to a site review by National Children’s Alliance to ensure that each program is meeting (and hopefully exceeding) accreditation standards, and if they aren’t, then what steps are needed to ensure a quality program. Giving every child access to a local accredited center in Maryland is a goal which BCAC strongly supports. Every child deserves to get the best quality of care and team assistance in their abuse case – every child deserves to have access to a children’s advocacy center. With accreditation comes an assurance of a quality program, legal protections in courts of law, a standard of care, and access to valuable grant dollars. And while we’re fortunate in Baltimore City to have a supportive team of partners, a highly trained staff, and access to funds, not every county has achieved similar success. The Expanding Access to Children’s Advocacy Centers Act would make sure that any child, no matter where she or he was a victim in Maryland, can obtain justice while receiving the highest measure of quality care possible. To learn more about our 2019 legislative efforts visit our advocacy page and join us in Annapolis on March 12, 2019 for BCAC’s Advocacy Day. And so rather than remain silent on protecting children, with your voice, we shall truly deliver a powerful message of child advocacy. Adam Rosenberg, Executive Director Tickets on Sale March 1 for Be A Hero: An Evening with AlyDid you hear? Be A Hero 2019 is SOLD OUT! But, don't worry! You still have one more chance to hear Aly Raisman’s powerful message live and support Baltimore Child Abuse Center on May 10 at The Hippodrome. On March 1st, BCAC will release additional theater tickets for “An Evening with Aly.” Be there when Aly takes the stage and then stay for dessert and dancing at our after party! Your support helps us help our most vulnerable children—thank you. Donations NeededBCAC is looking for stuffed animal donations (new or like-new only, please) to provide comfort and support for kids in trauma. If you would like to donate, please contact Nicole Reed, nreed@bcaci.org or 443-872-2114. Upcoming TrainingsJoin BCAC for these upcoming trainings in March! Trainings are held onsite at BCAC, 2300 North Charles Street. Vicarious Trauma & Building Resiliency Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Engaging Families in the Mental Health Process Parent and Caregiver Training: Strengthening Families Would you like to receive our monthly Training and Outreach newsletter? Drop us a line at training@bcaci.org. Join us for BCAC Advocacy Day in AnnapolisBy Zach CaplanWe are less than a month away from the Baltimore Child Abuse Center’s Advocacy Day in Annapolis! On Tuesday, March 12, 9:30am to 1pm, join us for a day of advocacy and speaking with your elected officials about legislative efforts to prevent childhood trauma and abuse in Maryland. It only takes one responsible adult to end abuse for a child, whether through advocacy, reporting, or prevention. On March 12, we need you to show up for Maryland’s most vulnerable children and be their superheroes—your voice can make a real, tangible difference in the lives of our kids. This is your opportunity to let your legislators know which bills currently under consideration will keep kids in Maryland safe from abuse, and hold adults accountable for preventing and reporting abuse. Let us know you are coming—sign up for Advocacy Day now! We are also looking for some volunteers to help us out with logistics. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Nicole Reed at nreed@bcaci.org. We will gather at 9:30am at the Annapolis State House Building, 6 Bladen Street, Room 170 for check-in, a light breakfast, speakers, and to go over logistics for the day. After that, you will meet with your legislative representatives, either individually or you can join a team that already has an appointment. BCAC is a non profit subsidiary of LifeBridge Health |