CAP will be partnering with Foster Care Alumni of America in January.
Foster children account for a disproportionate number of abuse and exploitation reports in our society, and a tremendous number of children are in the foster system in the US. In Washington state alone, the number averages 11,000 at any given time.
The issue of abuse and exploitation of children in the foster care system is our primary motivator for Safe Child project. Initially, we wanted a mandatory curricula just for foster kids - by law, they would have to be taught their rights and how to safeguard their rights immediately upon being removed from their home. Logistically, however, that's extremely difficult. So we thought - well, let's take it to every single kid in the state, and make it logistically simple and huge, instead.
We're looking forward to working with the FCAA to improve the situation of foster children through security education and empowerment. Also, we just LOVE what the FCAA is trying to do. The Reunion was an incredibly inspirational idea, and we were very sorry to have missed it.
We're blogging about it beforehand to give you all the opportunity to provide feedback on our decision before we actually do it.
Showing posts with label FCAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FCAA. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
economy, children, and legislation
This week I was told by a legislator, who shall remain nameless, that the priority in the State Legislature this session had to be on the economy and saving money.
Fiscal responsibility is very important, and I wouldn’t deny that. I won't diminish the importance of having a balanced budget, controlled spending, and sufficient reserves. This message is about how all of these issues are tied together.
When the economy takes a down turn, life gets more stressful. Our money has less value, there are fewer employment opportunities and more unemployed, and the cost of life increases. Right now, food banks all over the state are experiencing tremendous difficulty meeting the needs of their community, and many are closing their doors.
Social workers are already over-burdened, the need for their services is going to increase, and there is no funding for the increased need.
Why is the need for their services going to increase? Because when the economy takes a down-turn, crimes against children increase.
In most states in the country - all of them, so far as we know - there is a large amount of reactive legislation to address crimes that have been committed. There is some legislation to address identifying behaviors that indicate that a child has been victimized. There is very little legislation which actually is intended to prevent crimes against children.
Crimes are prevented with awareness and education, which are pennies on the dollar to the costs of prosecution and detention. It is also pennies on the dollar when compared to the costs of economic drain due to self-destructive behaviors, lack of meaningful employment, social welfare programs, and the statistical probability of repeated abuse in the next generation.
Washington will get through this recession in the next few years, and when we do, we'll see the costs of economic strain combined with a non-progressive approach to crime prevention.
Huge props to Senator McAuliffe for working with us to figure out effective and feasible methods of bringing security curricula to Washington's families and communities when our school systems are in a budget crisis. Her dedication and pragmatism have served Washington and her district for a long time, and they are appreciated by Wash-CAP.
Fiscal responsibility is very important, and I wouldn’t deny that. I won't diminish the importance of having a balanced budget, controlled spending, and sufficient reserves. This message is about how all of these issues are tied together.
When the economy takes a down turn, life gets more stressful. Our money has less value, there are fewer employment opportunities and more unemployed, and the cost of life increases. Right now, food banks all over the state are experiencing tremendous difficulty meeting the needs of their community, and many are closing their doors.
Social workers are already over-burdened, the need for their services is going to increase, and there is no funding for the increased need.
Why is the need for their services going to increase? Because when the economy takes a down-turn, crimes against children increase.
In most states in the country - all of them, so far as we know - there is a large amount of reactive legislation to address crimes that have been committed. There is some legislation to address identifying behaviors that indicate that a child has been victimized. There is very little legislation which actually is intended to prevent crimes against children.
Crimes are prevented with awareness and education, which are pennies on the dollar to the costs of prosecution and detention. It is also pennies on the dollar when compared to the costs of economic drain due to self-destructive behaviors, lack of meaningful employment, social welfare programs, and the statistical probability of repeated abuse in the next generation.
Washington will get through this recession in the next few years, and when we do, we'll see the costs of economic strain combined with a non-progressive approach to crime prevention.
Huge props to Senator McAuliffe for working with us to figure out effective and feasible methods of bringing security curricula to Washington's families and communities when our school systems are in a budget crisis. Her dedication and pragmatism have served Washington and her district for a long time, and they are appreciated by Wash-CAP.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
September News
OK!
Our schedule has changed: as of now, the Safe Child Town Hall series is on hold.
ID Education [ideducation.net] is almost ready for use.
We didn't get to attend the Together 2008 Reunion organized by FCAA. Heavy rain and sick kid prevented our drive to Tacoma. We hope we get another invite for next year, however. Did you attend? Tell us how it went!
Our schedule has changed: as of now, the Safe Child Town Hall series is on hold.
- While the participation amongst other organizations has been fantastic, and created a tremendous community resource for Tacoma and Bellevue, the events themselves have been under-attended.
When we can figure out how to get people in seats for this important topic, we'll re-schedule the Town Hall series. If you would still like one in your town or legislative district, send us an email or post here, and we'll prioritize the areas that get the most requests. So far there has been a lot of demand for Bothell and White Center/Burien.
ID Education [ideducation.net] is almost ready for use.
- IDEducation.net will be a VERY basic, very accessible internet/ID safety site, largely pulling from, and referring to, expert sources like Look Both Ways and NetSmartz. This will not be cutting edge theory, this will be a tool box for folks just figuring out the many uses of the web.
We didn't get to attend the Together 2008 Reunion organized by FCAA. Heavy rain and sick kid prevented our drive to Tacoma. We hope we get another invite for next year, however. Did you attend? Tell us how it went!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Foster Care Alumni of America
This morning I opened up outlook and was pleased to see an evite - I'm a social girl, I like parties.
This is an incredibly cool party. Maybe one of the coolest parties ever. The evite was from FCAA - the Foster Care Alumni of America, for their first Reunion.
I'm going, and I'm taking my family.
What makes a family? What makes a community? Shared experience, support, and the will to work together through the conflicts and joys of life.
When something is broken, you work to fix it. When you do not have what you need, you work to get it. When you believe something, you do it. That is what the FCAA is doing, and I am so pleased and impressed.
This is an incredibly cool party. Maybe one of the coolest parties ever. The evite was from FCAA - the Foster Care Alumni of America, for their first Reunion.
I'm going, and I'm taking my family.
What makes a family? What makes a community? Shared experience, support, and the will to work together through the conflicts and joys of life.
When something is broken, you work to fix it. When you do not have what you need, you work to get it. When you believe something, you do it. That is what the FCAA is doing, and I am so pleased and impressed.
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