Halloween Safety Tips!

Festive costumes, a surplus of candy at the grocery store, and Hocus Pocus reruns have all come together to signal that special time of year again- Halloween. While Halloween is one of the most exciting nights during the year for children, it also has the reputation of being one of the most worrisome nights for caregivers. Here are some tips to help you and your family maximize on safe fun this Halloween!

• Tell your kids not to enter any home unless you are with them
• Supply your children with glow sticks, flashlights or brightly colored costumes so that they are visible when it gets dark outside
• Make sure that your child knows your cell phone number and home number, as well as address
• If they cannot memorize it, allow them take a cell phone trick or treating with them in case you get separated
• If wearing a mask or hat is part of their costume, make sure that they have proper visibility out of their head wear and can see all around them
• Make sure that your trick or treat route is on brightly lit streets and in a well-know area, while avoiding unlit porches and alleys
• Teach your children to dial 9-1-1 in case there is an emergency or they get separated
• Finally, teach children to yell "NO" if they are asked to go anywhere with strangers

You can compare the tips listed in this blog to here, here and here! Have a safe and happy Halloween!

What is a MDT?

Children’s Advocacy Centers were created with the purpose to better serve children who are victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or witness to violent crime. In order to respond to child abuse in communities, CACs use a multi-disciplinary team, "MDT," approach. This inter-agency approach includes law enforcement, social services, medical, prosecutors, victim advocacy and mental health professionals. The MDT approach ensures the most effective coordinated response possible.

The Multi-Disciplinary Approach improves communication among agencies, makes pertinent information available for all involved professionals, and prevents duplication of services.

Prior to the Children’s Advocacy Center model, children would often be treated as adults and were expected to disclose what happened to dozens of professionals. Because forensic interviews are conducted at CACs, the number of people with whom a child discloses to is significantly reduced, which helps prevent revictimization.

According to the National Children’s Alliance, “Children’s advocacy centers are modeled on the simple but powerful concept of coordination between community agencies and professionals involved in the intervention system. Today, there are more than 750 children’s advocacy centers nationwide, and more on the way. Children's advocacy centers emphasize the coordination of investigation and intervention services by bringing together professionals and agencies as a multidisciplinary team to create a child-focused approach to child abuse cases.”

What is the National Children's Alliance?

As of 2012, the number of children served by Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country increased by 175 percent since 2000. Started by former Congressman Robert E. "Bud" Cramer in 1985 in Huntsville, Alabama as an effort to create a better system to help abused children, CACs are now located throughout the world.
The National Children’s Alliance, which is the “national leader on training, technical assistance, research, support and education for children’s advocacy centers,” was created in 1998, a decade after the National Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers was instituted. NCA works with 775 Children’s Advocacy Centers and 47 State Chapters to minimize trauma for abused children, break the cycle of abuse and hold offenders accountable by offering services in several areas. Through accreditation, community awareness, training, funding and membership, NCA helps state chapters, local CACs and communities stand up for children.
Because the NCA exists, Children’s Advocacy Centers and State Chapters are able to provide the highest quality care and services, increase public understanding about child abuse and more effectively respond to the unique needs of commercially sexually exploited children.
In 2012, the NCA effectively administered $12,539,628 in federal grants to State Chapters and local Children’s Advocacy Centers, which improved services to child victims. The NCA also increased service coverage of CACs to more than 128 counties so that more children and communities could receive the help they needed!

For more information on the National Children's Alliance, click here and here.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. It evolved from the first Day of Unity in 1981 with the intent to connect advocates for survivors of domestic violence across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. During the month of October, advocates working to end domestic violence campaign for awareness and education. Children are also affected by domestic violence and it is important to understand how:

"Children witnessing domestic violence and living in an environment where violence occurs may experience some of the same trauma as abused children. Not all children are affected by domestic violence in the same way. Children may become fearful, inhibited, aggressive, antisocial, withdrawn, anxious, depressed, angry, confused; suffer from disturbed sleep, problems with eating, difficulties at school and challenges in making friends. Children often feel caught in the middle between their parents and find it difficult to talk to either of them. Adolescents may act out or exhibit risk-taking behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, running away, sexual promiscuity and criminal behavior. Young men may try to protect their mothers, or they may become abusive to their mothers themselves. Children may injured if they try to intervene in the violence in their homes."

There are several events happening in the area where you can show your support to end domestic violence!

New Orleans Family Justice Center- "Unmasking Domestic Violence Soiree" Oct. 20th

Loyola, Tulane, Dillard and Xavier Universities Take Back The Night! Oct. 23rd

Greater New Orleans Corvette Club: 22st Annual All Corvette Car Show on Oct. 19th, Proceeds From The Show Benefit The Metropolitan Center For Women & Children