June 2012 E-Newsletter

Year in Review: There's Still More Work To Do

Dear Friend, 

On the heels of a guilty verdict in the Jerry Sandusky case (click here to read an op-ed written by BCAC's Executive Director, Adam Rosenberg) and as our fiscal year is coming to a close (on June 30), it's time to reflect on BCAC's work throughout the past year as well as reaffirm the work that we must continue to do to keep children safe from sexual abuse. In 2011-2012, most importantly, BCAC served more than 1,000 children and families. Responding to a 30% increase in caseload, BCAC continues to provide child-centered, family-friendly care to alleged victims of child sexual abuse.  

In addition to the on-the-ground work BCAC perfoms on a daily basis to help sexually abused children return to being kids, BCAC took a proactive approach to keeping children safe from abuse. We hosted Town Hall Meetings in response to the incidents at Penn State University, launched the Enough Abuse Campaign, and advocated for the welfare of Baltimore's children at the local and State levels. BCAC will continue to give a voice to children victims who otherwise would not have one. We encourage you to do the same. 

And we could not have done all of this without your support and philanthropy. Thank you for speaking out about child sexual abuse, for speaking up for children in Baltimore and beyond who do not have voices of their own, and for participating in our community programs.  Your donations make a difference in the lives of more than 20 sexually abused children each week. You allow BCAC to provide them with crisis intervention, mental and somatic health treatment, and case management referrals in a safe and comforting environment. Because of you, we are able to treat these children and their families with dignity and respect.  

Child abuse is real and justice can be served.  Through BCAC, Baltimore has the right programmatic resources, but we can only continue to provide them with additional financial resources.  If you have not yet made a donation and would like to insure that BCAC continues to provide much needed intervention and outreach services, please click here to make one today.

I am looking forward to another successful year - focusing on high-quality intervention, outreach and awareness, and connecting with the greater Baltimore community.  If you're interested in getting more involved in our work, please let us know.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Catherine Schuster Pascale
President, Baltimore Child Abuse Center     

Like My Baltimore

My Baltimore  

Introducing Liberty Mutual Insurance Likes Baltimore! 

The voting process for Liberty Mutual Insurance's Like My Community Project starts TODAY! The project is designed to honor the people and organizations that are doing the right thing all over Baltimore. BCAC has been nominated for the chance to receive $30,000, which will be used to continue to provide high-quality services to our community. 

We can only do this with your votes! So, please go to Facebook (when you're done reading this e-mail) and vote daily at http://bit.ly/Lc50YH and you can cast a vote by texting daily LMBAL1 to 61698. (If you're voting on Facebook, you can also vote a second time by text.) 

Vote today - and everyday until August 20 - and ask your friends to do the same. Thanks for Liking BCAC and Liking Your Baltimore!    

Awareness and Outreach Corner

Now that summer is here, it's the perfect time to be thinking about how the children in our lives are spending their time and with whom. What can we do to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and minimize risk?  

Artists Against Abuse Summer Music Series
Artists Against Abuse is Baltimore Child Abuse Center's creative expression program aimed at raising awareness about the epidemic of child sexual abuse by using artistic performance and expression to promote community dialogue. The summer concert series began at Bohemian Coffeehouse in the Station North neighborhood of Baltimore in April. Join musicians Claire Anthony and Noble Firs at our next event!  

Thursday, June 28 
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 
Clay Pots  - 1635 W. Pratt St., Baltimore
Click here to see the event flyer.

Volunteer to Help BCAC Spread Its Wings at ArtScape!ArtScape logo
Help BCAC spread its wings in Baltimore at this summer's ArtScape! ArtScape is the largest free arts festival in the United States. BCAC will be hosting a booth creating butterfly art with children and families enjoying the festival Friday, July 20-Sunday, July 22. We are recruiting volunteers for three-hour shifts throughout the weekend. It's sure to be a great weekend! Contact us to sign up for a shift or for more information.

Prevention Tip
Summer is a time of freedom for children. We encourage them to take advantage of new and fun opportunities - at camp, in the neighborhood, with new friends. When we are aware of how we can minimize risk for our children we can empower them to have the best summer possible.

1. Make sure a responsible adult is with younger children any time they are outside or away from home.
2. Teach your children whose vehicles are safe to ride in.
3. Make sure children know how to reach you in an emergency.
4. Choose babysitters with care. Ask for references from family, friends, and neighbors. Observe your children with the babysitter and ask them how they feel about him or her.
5. Ask questions of your summer camps and programs: Will there be proper adult supervision? Do staff members go through a background check?  

These tips were adapted from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Click here to read the entire article. 

Volunteer Corner

Volunteers Needed! 
Volunteers are needed to help run BCAC's booth at ArtScape, Friday, July 20-Sunday, July 22. Three-hour shifts throughout the weekend are available.  Enjoy this historic event while spreading BCAC's wings and message. E-mail us to register or for more information.

Interested in training others on how to prevent child sexual abuse? If so, send our Prevention Team an e-mail for more information.

Click here for general information about volunteering.

Volunteer Spotlight: Patricia Jessamy and Stuart Simms

 

Congratulations to Patricia Jessamy and Stuart Simms (pictured with Former Executive Director Peggy Mainor) on receiving the first Founder's Award at BCAC's Annual Meeting. The Founder's Award was established to recognize outstanding leaders in the child advocacy arena who embody the vision and passion demonstrated by Patricia Jessamy and Stuart Simms, the founders of Baltimore Child Abuse Center.  They believed in a child-centered, family-friendly approach to working with victims of child sexual abuse and that all victims should be treated with kindness, dignity and respect. 

 

Upcoming Events

Ride for Life
A Motorcycle Ride and Music Festival to Support Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Saturday, September 22
Begin at McAvoy's (2531 Putty Hill Ave., Parkville)
9:00 a.m. Registration, 11:30 a.m. Kickstands Up
End at Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore (601 E. Pratt St., Baltimore) 
$30/rider, $20/passenger

For more information visit www.theride4life.info 

10th Annual Law & Order Golf Tournament
Monday, October 1
Hillendale Country Club (13700 Blenheim Rd., Phoenix)
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, click here.

For more information about upcoming events or becoming an event sponsor, e-mail the Development Department.