Advance the Dream for Children!

Today, 50 years after the March on Washington, we are given the opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made as a society. Since 1963, we have made strides towards what is in the best interest of our children in the following ways:

· (1973) Marian Wright Edelman founds the Children's Defense Fund, a leading national organization that lobbies for children's rights and welfare.

· (1974) The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is passed, creating the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

· (1975) National Network for Youth- Founded as the only national membership organization focused solely on the needs of homeless, runaway and disconnected youth.

· (Late 1970s) The rise of the feminist movement launches "previously hidden and taboo issues," including child sex abuse and incest, onto the national stage.

· (1981) Seven years after its establishment by Congress, the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect publishes its first study on the incidence of child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse.

· (1982) The Supreme Court considers the issue of child pornography for the first time in Ferber v. New York.

· (1987) The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children is founded.

· (1990) The Supreme Court allows victims of child sex abuse to testify in court through one-way closed circuit video. This decision makes it easier for childhood victims to testify while avoiding the personal trauma of having to directly face their abusers.

· (1993) Congress passes the National Child Protection Act.

· (1997) Congress passes the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which for the first time requires criminal background checks of any prospective foster or adoptive parent who is receiving federal assistance.

· (1999) The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act details what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek verifiable consent from a parent or guardian, and what responsibilities an operator has to protect children's privacy and safety online including restrictions on marketing to those under 13.

· (2005) The National Sex Offender Public Registry launches.

· (2008) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008- The act would require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes.

How will you continue to “advance the dream” for our children?

New Law: Who is a mandated reporter for child abuse?

A mandated reporter is anyone who frequently works with children. These professionals can include coaches, clergy, educational professionals, as well as social workers. The new law, which came into effect August 1^st, states that these individuals are mandated reporters even when they are not serving in their profession.

Although occupation is an indicator of whether or not one is a mandated reporter, there are specific times when everyone is required by law to act in this capacity. These times include when an adult witnesses the sexual abuse of a child, and when any person knows of a homicide, rape or sexual abuse of a child. Because it is a legal obligation, is it important to report, even if the adult is not completely sure that the child is experiencing sexual or physical abuse.

In order to report abuse of a child by their caregiver, call 855-4LAKIDS. If the alleged offender is not the child’s caregiver, then it is important to contact the local non-emergency law enforcement number. Within five days of giving an oral report, a written report must be made and submitted via fax.

Failure to report can result in imprisonment, fines or both. It is better to report, even if unsure, then to not report at all. Reporting in good faith will protect the identity of the reporter, and will also protect them from any civic or criminal liability.

For more information on mandated reporters and for a full training from the Department of Children and Family Services, click here!!

Abusive Head Trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrom

Last Thursday, Dr. Neha Mehta gave a presentation on Abusive Head Trauma to members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team. Dr. Mehta, who is the medical director of the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, presented to members of Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gretna Police Department, Department of Children and Family Services and the District Attorney’s office. The presentation was designed to help the audience understand what Abusive Head Trauma is, how to investigate abusive head trauma and what the role of the clinical pediatrician is.

Abusive Head Trauma, also known as Shaken Baby Syndrome, occurs when a caregiver shakes, or otherwise physically abuses a baby out of frustration. Abusive Head Trauma diagnosis relies heavily on whether or not the provided history is consistent with the type of injury a baby has, and whether or not the injury was the result of an accident.

Because the injuries resulting from Abusive Head Trauma can be subtle, it is important to be aware of the signs. For example, there is no such thing as a “killer couch.” If a child is brought to a doctor with bruising or injury in places such as the genitals or trunk and the caregiver says that the infant “fell off a couch,” there is cause for speculation. Typically, if a child is too young to “cruise,” then they are too young to “bruise.”

Thanks so much to Dr. Mehta for her presentation!

For more information on AHT/SBS, click here!

$5,000 Awarded to the Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center

Jefferson Parish Council Awards $5,000 to the Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center

From left to right (Wayne Zimmerman, JCAC Board President; Omalee Gordon, JCAC Board Secretary; Yvonne James, JCAC Office Manager; Brittney Bergeron, JCAC Forensic Interviewer; Erika Dupepe, JCAC Executive Director; Ashley Sturz, JCAC AmeriCorps VISTA; Mark Spears, Councilman and JCAC Advisory Board Member; Gail Pesses, JCAC Board Vice President; Chris Trosclair, JCAC Board Treasurer)

The Jefferson CAC would like to express its deepest appreciation to the entire Jefferson Parish Council, and Councilmember/Advisory Board Member Mark Spears, for the recent resolution award of $5000!  Thanks to their support of our organization and work we do, this money will be used to assist us in continuing to provide the best services possible for Jefferson Parish’s children. 

Six Louisianian Children Rescued from Prostitution

Six Children Recovered from Prostitution

The FBI partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Operation Cross Country--an initiative to rescue children forced into prostitution as well as arrest those who prostitute these children. In total,105 children were rescued and 150 pimps were arrested in a three day probe throughout 76 cities in the United States. Six of these children and six of the pimps were discovered in Louisiana.

To learn more about Operation Cross Country, follow these links:

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20130729/NEWS02/307290013/6-arrested-6-children-recovered-from-New-Orleans-prostitution-sting

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/07/authorities_rescue_four_juveni.html#incart_river_default

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/29/fbi-rescues-at-least-105-child-prostitutes-in-nationwide-undercover-operation/

What is child sexual abuse?

“It could never happen to my family…” “Child sex abuse doesn’t exist in my neighborhood…”

There are a lot of misconceptions about child sexual abuse. Although we would like to believe that the children closest to us would never be subject to sex abuse, research shows that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18. Child sex abuse is a reality that adults should be knowledgeable of because it is so prevalent in our society. When we become aware of child sexual abuse, we are better equipped to protect children and hold perpetrators accountable. Child sex abuse can be pressuring a child to engage in sexual acts, but can also include non-contact acts, such as persuading a child to watch pornography or communicating in a sexual manner by phone or internet.

Child sexual abuse is traumatic for its victims and the effects of these agonizing experiences begin almost immediately. Not only does it foster drug and alcohol dependence, but it can also cause mental illness and other health issues, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.

There are opportunities for adults to reduce the risk of sexual abuse.  Although it would be unhealthy to automatically assume everyone is a perpetrator, there are some precautions that you can take to ensure the safety of the children you care about. Think carefully about the safety of one-adult/one-child situations. Being aware of your surroundings in these situations is important to the safety of the children in your life. You can also set examples by being self-aware of the one-child/one-adult interactions you have. Monitoring internet use can also reduce the risk of sex abuse. 

The more aware we are in our communities, the less likely our children will be abused!

Many of the facts in this blog came from here.

For more information on child sexual abuse and child sexual abuse prevention, check out:

MOSAC

Darkness to Light

LGBTQ Youth Disproportionately Victimized

Between five and 10 percent of the population identify as LGBTQ, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. Research shows that there are disproportionate numbers of LGBTQ youth facing family rejection, victimization and abuse and neglect at home. When LGBTQ youth are victims of violence and family rejection, the likelihood that they will participate in high-risk behavior, such as substance abuse and attempted suicide, increases significantly.

• 31% of men and 29% of women reported experiencing harassment or physical violence from family members on the basis of their sexual orientation
•  26% of gay male youth were forced to leave home because of conflicts with family members over sexual orientation
• In a survey of 402 transgendered people, 78% reported having been verbally harassed and 48% reported having been victims of assault, including assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and rape
•  32% (in comparison to 7% heterosexual youth) reported a suicide attempt

LGBTQ youth who have been abused are also more likely to be revictimized, or “the notion that individuals who experience victimization in childhood are at increased risk for subsequent victimization at some point in their lives.” Revictimization can include depression and anxiety, as well as other traumas, such as sexual and physical abuse.

There are a growing number of resources for support for LGBTQ youth. Check out the links below for more information!
Lambda Legal
Child Welfare League of America
Risk Data
Childhood victimization and lifetime revictimization