Baltimore Child Abuse CenterOCTOBER 2018 NEWSLETTER: SPORTS & SAFETYYouth Sports: Keeping Our Kids SafeAdam Rosenberg, Executive Director Youth sports, in their many incarnations, create an important dynamic between teams and coaches. There are a great number of terrific, dedicated, caring, and empathetic coaches who watch our kids on a regular basis. They not only shape them into better athletes, but often into better people. For this very reason, youth sports demands the same level of scrutiny and exploration into child protection that we have come to expect elsewhere within our schools and communities. Coaches, whether paid or volunteer, are seen by our children as authority figures. They have the ability to exert a great deal of influence over teams and parents. Parents who have no issue confronting a teacher regarding a bad grade often watch helplessly from the sidelines as coaches exhibit bad behavior, for fear their child won’t get playtime. But the reality is that we need to be just as vigilant on the field as in the classroom, and advocate strongly for the same child protections in both places. I had the honor of presenting last month to the national body of regional directors for USA Gymnastics on the subject of preventing child abuse. I give that group a great deal of credit for seeing the shortcomings and failures within some of their colleague Olympic bodies, and for working to get ahead of the issue before it becomes a problem. With this summer’s passage of the federal Safe Sport Act and creation of a federal mandate for mandated reporting of abuse in our USA Olympics programs, it is clear that there is a new commitment to keep children safe and to invest in the infrastructure to help do so. What lessons can we learn from the failures and new achievements of our Olympic-caliber programs that can be shared on the local level—whether in a formal competitive travel league, school-based team, or recreational league? The coaches and staff of every youth program should: undergo background checks, receive training on recognizing and reporting abuse, and understand the policy of the youth organization they are working with. We as parents and community members need to hold those program administrators accountable for enforcing those systems, and to make sure those programs take child protection seriously. Maryland law has caught up with today’s world and recognizes the relationship paradigm between youth athletes and coaches. Maryland Family Law 5-701 now expands the definition of child abuse to include persons who, because of their position or occupation, exercises authority over the child. That new section of law—which BCAC advocated for in Annapolis—was designed to hold coaches, mentors, and other youth leaders to the same standards as parents, caregivers, teachers, and other people of authority who have relationships and influence with children. Let’s find ways to support those positive moments and leadership of great coaches, and also weed out staff and coaches who can’t seem to get with modern times. When we do that—when we hold all youth sport and recreation programs to a higher level of accountability—so many more children can reach their fullest potential. Let’s stay safe, SAVE THE DATE for Be A Hero 2019!We are so excited to announce Be A Hero 2019 with co-Chairs Mandee & Steven Heinl and Brett & Julie Cohen! Aly Raisman, team captain of the gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016, and the second most decorated American gymnast of all-time with six total Olympic medals. A leader on and off the floor, Aly uses her platform to promote positive body image and encourages everyone to be comfortable and confident in their own skin. (To see photos from last year, click here). For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to get involved, please contact Hilary Corley, Director of Philanthropy, at hcorely@bcaci.org or call 410-396-6147. We can't wait to see you! Join BCAC for our Annual Community Gathering on February 6th, 2019!We are proud to host Sasha Joseph Neulinger, survivor; founder & President of Voice For The Kids, LLC; and the co-founder & Head of Production at Step 1 Films, LLC. Sasha is currently directing his first feature length documentary, “Rewind," an autobiographical film about his life surviving multigenerational child sexual abuse. Upcoming TrainingsClick on the title for more information or to RSVP. Advocating for the Victims of Child Sex Abuse Images This training is designed for Family Advocates, Victim Advocates, Family Services Facilitators, Family Support Services, and other child advocates who work with victims and their caregivers on a daily basis. This training dives headfirst into the world of Internet Crimes Against Children and the crucial role victim advocates play in aiding the victims and families in these crimes. Keeping Our Children Safe: Understanding Healthy Boundaries In this program scheduled and structured for parents or youth serving professionals, participants will gain an understanding of relevant state laws, reporting requirements, and signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, as well as how to promote and talk about healthy boundaries with your children. Organized Sports & Failure to Report: Is Your Child Safe?By Eliza Buergenthal What are the Boundaries of the Athlete/Coach Relationship? Coaches are given an incredible amount of access to our children and need to be held to the same standards as other adults in whose care they are placed (health practitioners, police officers, educators and human service workers, all of whom are mandatory reporters). |