Updates

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.

Community

I'm excited to meet Maggie from NCMEC today, and spend the day getting to know her and working on Take 25/Safe Child projects for 2009.

There are two ways [from my perspective] to really make a difference with Take 25. One, you can go to Take 25's website and get ideas for a single event, or a series of events, log them into the Take 25 website and they'll send you distribution materials [bookmarks, tip sheets, magnets...], and then have your event! It's a great feeling to contribute to the community, and it's easier than pie.

The second way to make a difference with Take 25 is to build consensus

• that Take 25 is important.
• that the message and information contained in those distribution materials is necessary, and
• that not only should an organization sponsor or host an event, they should consider implementing changes into their existing policies that reinforce the safety of their community
• at every level available to the planner - church, community center, school, employer, city, or state.

That is what Safe Child Week is about. There's not a state or community in the country that doesn't need some child security education - I am very sure of that. You can bring it to the community you live in.

Changes at CAP

CAP is moving from a c4 to a c3 nonprofit [we'll let you know as soon as we get approved - you'll hear the screeches of joy across the country], which requires that we shift the org's structure a bit.

Each chapter's website is moving to cap-usa/state_name. We're doing that via automatic redirect, so you don't need to update your bookmarks. The vast majority of education materials will be organized at www.communitywatch.us. If some piece of education is primarily for one state, then it will be on that state's site and on the Community Watch site.

The whole org, all three small chapters [and growing ;-)], will share the same advisory board, but the state directors have near-complete autonomy, so long as they follow the by laws and mission statement and listen to their local members.

The shop, links for donations, and ability to join as a maintainer will all be up and running sometime in January.

Community Watch is a work in progress. It will be a better product if we get some feedback. PlayGround Watch is coming in 2009.

And - you can probably tell that we could use some help. Do you have project or program management skills? About ten hours a month free? Dedication and stick-to-itness? Please send us an email.