5 Steps to Protect Our Children

A couple of weeks ago, the VISTAs at MCCOY went through Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training.  I ate dinner with my boyfriend the night before, and was surprised to feel the nervous butterflies in my stomach when I talked with him and considered what this training might entail.

“I wonder if it’s going to be anything like the ‘good touch, bad touch’ talk we had in school?”  I remember that day in elementary school well.  Our tight-lipped teachers herded us into a classroom where a guest speaker sat in a rocking chair with two felt dolls at her feet—one boy and one girl.  As a child, I was terrified of both dolls and strangers, so the message was especially resonant for me.

My homeschooled boyfriend was lucky and never had to experience the trauma of sitting in a small room with a stranger who pointed out the “no-go zones” on creepy dolls. 

“My mom just sat down with us and we had a conversation about it,” he said, with no trace of anxiety or discontent with the way he was taught to stay safe from potential harm.

And that’s similar to the format for Stewards of Children; this training is a conversation between adults to learn how best to protect children from sexual abuse.  There are no scare tactics, no strangers, and no felt dolls involved.   Instead, the training “helps provide adults with the capacity and momentum to take action against child sexual abuse.”  In essence, the three-hour session opens up a conversation between people who are invariably responsible for at least one child in their lives, and gives adults the opportunity to talk about, understand, and prevent a semi-taboo issue.  

During training, we were armed with a list of “5 Steps to Protecting Our Children.”  I’m going to give you two of those five steps, and encourage you to attend this training to learn the other three (see how sneaky I am)! 

STEP 1: Learn the Facts of Child Sexual Abuse

It is highly likely that you know a child who has been or is being abused.

Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. This means that in any classroom or neighborhood full of children, there are children who are silently bearing the burden of sexual abuse.

1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the Internet.

About 35% of victims are 11 years old or younger.

30 to 40% of children are abused by family members.

As many as 60% are abused by people the family trusts.

STEP 2: Minimize Opportunity for Child Sexual Abuse

Reduce risk. Protect children.

Understand that abusers often become friendly with potential victims and their families, enjoying family activities, earning trust, and gaining time alone with children.

Think carefully about the safety of any isolated, one-on-one settings. Choose group situations when possible.

Set an example by personally avoiding isolated, one-on-one situations with children other than your own.

Monitor children's Internet use. Offenders use the Internet to lure children into physical contact.

Please visit www.d2l.org to learn more about Stewards of Children training and preventative strategies, or visit MCCOY’s webpage to view upcoming trainings in Marion County!

Works Cited:
Steps and Data collected from www.d2l.org
Picture from http://www.amamantafamily.com/dollsorderpage.htm 

Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse

FACT: If child sexual abuse left physical scars instead of emotional ones, people would be horrified. Sexual abuse can negatively impact every part of a victim’s life. The real tragedy is that it robs children of their potential, setting into motion a chain of events and decisions that follow the victim throughout his or her life.
FACT: Emotional and mental health problems are often the first consequence and sign of child sexual abuse. However, it should be noted that some victims do not display emotional problems or any other immediate symptom in response to the abuse.
FACT: Sexual behavior problems and over-sexualized behavior are a very common consequence of child sexual abuse. These are signs of abuse that are not always included on "what to look for" lists, probably because many find it unpleasant to think about. However, age-inappropriate behavior can be a very important and telling sign that abuse is or has occurred.
FACT: Academic problems in childhood are common in children who are sexually abused. Victims perform at lower levels than their non-abused counterparts.
FACT: Substance abuse problems beginning in childhood or adolescence are one of the most common consequences of child sexual abuse.
FACT: Delinquency and crime, often resulting from substance abuse, is more prevalent in adolescents with a history of child sexual abuse.FACT: The risk of teen pregnancy is much higher for girls with a history of child sexual abuse. This is likely due to over-sexualized behavior, a common consequence of child sexual abuse.

If you are interested in attending a Stewards of Children training to learn how you can prevent the children in your life from becoming sexually abused please visit the MCCOY website to register for a training: http://www.mccoyouth.org/Intervention/stewards-of-children.html.

Welcome to our new intern!

I am a senior at IUPUI studying Marketing and Supply Chain Management. I just started working here at MCCOY and I look forward to learning more about the art of fundraising and helping those in need. I have always wanted to work with a nonprofit organization. When I was given the opportunity to learn more about MCCOY, I was excited to be a part of such a wonderful organization. From the moment that started, I was greeted warmly with a smile. All of the staff has been extremely helpful and knowledgeable with all of my questions.
-Alex Plummer

Help MCCOY Prevent Child Sexual Abuse!

One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. What does this mean for you as a community member?

It means…
• … that Indiana spends nearly $48 million for the direct and immediate costs of child sexual abuse
• … that the long-term costs and losses are over $500 million dollars annually.

Except for murder, child sexual abuse is the most expensive victim crime in the U.S.

Let’s stop child sexual abuse before it happens!
• It only costs $10.53 to train an adult to improve their child-protective behaviors.
• Research suggests that the average trained adult will better protect at least ten children from sexual abuse in the years after training.
• The money saved by preventing just one substantiated case of child sexual abuse would pay for prevention training for 1,362 adults.
• That training would result in 13,620 children better protected from abuse.

Please help MCCOY train 500 adults for FREE through Stewards of Children. Stewards of Children is a sexual abuse prevention program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, react responsibly and take courageous action against child sexual abuse.

If you are interested in attending a training, scheduling a training for your staff, clients, family members, church members, or other adults please contact Shanna Martin at shanna.martin@mccoyouth.org or 317-921-1233.

Here is what attendees have said about the training:
“Loved it! I think it was very informative. I learned a lot and plan to advocate to see this training done in my organization.”
“Very well done and I’m very thankful this was offered at no charge.”
“Great info. Very eye-opening.”
“I will use the tools and become even more of an advocate for children and be a resource for my staff as they work with children.”

** MCCOY has committed to being a "Partner in Prevention" by training 90% of our staff in Stewards of Children. Please contact Shanna to learn more about how you can become a "Partner in Prevention" site as well.**

We Are ALL Mandated Reporters!!

The month of April was Child Abuse Awareness Month. There were lots of activities focused around raising awareness about the prevalence of child abuse in our community. What most events did not include was information about what to do if you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected. In Indiana the law says that we are ALL mandated reporters! Indiana code states the following:

• Any person who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect must report (Ann. Code § 31-33-5-1).

• A report is required when any person has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect (Ann. Code §§ 31-33-5-1; 31-33-5-2)

What does that mean? It means that as an adult you have a duty, obligation and legal responsibility to contact the Department of Child Services if you have concern that a child is being mistreated or is in an unsafe situation.

There are many signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, some very obvious (i.e. bruises, soiled clothing) and some not so obvious (i.e. anger, “too perfect” behavior). It is not your responsibility to determine if the child is or has been abused or neglected. You are not required to provide proof of child abuse or neglect. Just call the Department of Child Services to anonymously report your concerns...immediately!

Department of Child Services Statewide Hotline: 1-800-800-5556

Remember you will remain anonymous. An accused abuser may say they “know” you reported them, but in actuality they may be calling out lots of people in an effort to make the reporter tell who made the report. Don’t fall for it! Information about who made the report is not shared.

Child abuse and neglect continues to occur in our community because adults refuse to take action to protect children. Don’t be one of those adults. Make a conscious choice to protect the children in your care and in your community:

• Ask daycares, schools and organizations that your children attend if they have clear reporting procedures and sexual abuse prevention policies in place.
• Support legislation that protects children.
• Attend a Stewards of Children training to learn how to protect children from child sexual abuse (visit http://www.mccoyouth.org/ or call 317-921-1233 to learn about upcoming trainings).
• Contacting Prevent Child Abuse to learn more about prevention efforts in your community (http://www.pcain.org/ or 317-775-6439).

SERVICE PROVIDERS...START YOUR ENGINES!!

If you want to:

• Maximize Your Resources
• Increase Referrals & Revenue
• Expand Your Network
• Collaborate For Success

Then race on over to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) on Tuesday April 12th at 8:30am for MCCOY’s EIP Race for Resources: Speed-Dating for Intervention and Prevention Providers event.

Speed-Dating Increases Your Chance of a Connection!! Through an interactive “speed-dating” process, attendees will learn about 20 organizations that offer early intervention and prevention services. Spending just a short amount of time at each exhibit table, attendees will learn key information that will allow them to better coordinate services and pursue partnerships.

In honor of Prevent Child Abuse month come show your support for organizations that provide child abuse and neglect prevention services in your community!

Register to attend: http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?470432

Preventing Child Abuse at Birth

On Wednesday, January 12, 2011 I gave birth to a handsome and healthy baby boy. I delivered at Clarian’s Methodist Hospital near downtown Indianapolis. Although I was supposed to be focused on being a new mother, I couldn’t help but think about the work I am so passionate about- preventing child abuse and neglect- and the efforts Clarian is making to keep kids safe in our community.

Upon checking in at the hospital and several times thereafter I was asked if I felt safe in my current relationship and that resources would be provided if I did not. Number 1 opportunity for Clarian to prevent child abuse, as children are often physically and emotionally victimized or become placed in foster care as a result of domestic violence in the home.

Upon giving birth several nurses and my OBGYN talked to me about postpartum depression. I was provided with information about the warning signs of postpartum depression and was also given a brief quiz regarding possible symptoms I might already have. Number 2 opportunity to prevent child abuse and neglect, as we all know the horror stories of mothers killing their children as a result of suffering from untreated postpartum depression.

My son’s father and I had to watch a video about Shaken Baby Syndrome prior to leaving the hospital. The nurse asked if we watched the video, asked if we had any questions, and then offered suggestions for what to do if we became stressed or overwhelmed while caring for our son. Number 3 opportunity to prevent child abuse, as we know the devastating effects of shaking a baby- blindness, paralysis, etc., and death.

Kudos to Clarian for the great job they are doing to prevent child abuse and neglect at the earliest possible time- when a woman/man first becomes a new parent.

The White House is Behind MCCOY's Efforts!

President Obama announces White House Council for Community Solutions

On December 14, 2010, President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the first-ever White House Council for Community Solutions. The 25-member Council includes people like Bill Strickland, a social innovator and entrepreneur whose keynote address inspired the MCCOY team at the Kids Count in Indiana Conference last month. Strickland founded the Manchester Craftsman's Guild in 1968. The Guild now serves over 4,000 youth and families annually through arts classes, career training and more and serves as a model for similar programs in San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Grand Rapids.

Strickland's programs and the Council for Community Solutions are inspirations for MCCOY, the community-wide Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative we coordinate, and especially the Co-Locate Services strategy from the EIP Strategic Plan. Co-location means housing essential services (like job training, parenting classes, and health care) together in an easily-accessible and welcoming place for families and children, such as a community center or library.

The purpose of the new White House Council for Community Solutions is to:

1. identify the key attributes of effective community developed solutions to our national problems;


2. identify specific policy areas in which the Federal Government is investing significant resources that lend themselves to cross-sector collaboration and provide recommendations for such collaborations;


3. highlight examples of best practices, tools, and models that are making a demonstrable positive impact in communities and fostering increased cross-sector collaboration and civic participation;


4. make recommendations to the President on how to engage individuals, State and local governments, institutions of higher education, non profit and philanthropic organizations, community groups, and businesses to support innovative community-developed solutions that have a significant impact in solving our Nation's most serious problems; and


5. honor and highlight the work of leaders in service and social innovation who are making a significant impact in their communities.

Keep an Eye on Education Reform

Education reform is at the forefront of legislative agendas for the upcoming year. The Governor's agenda includes giving parents the choice of which school to send their children and giving school superintendents more flexibility in evaluating teacher performance. Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has announced the approval of a move to a year-round or "balanced" calendar to start next year. President Obama's 2011 budget looks to reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind) through increased investments in new innovative programs and school turnarounds. All of these initiatives need to be closely monitored because no change, whether positive or negative, comes without some cost.

Some positive news was announced by IPS last week - their graduation rates are improving. According to their data, their overall graduation rate improved by 7 percentage points, from 49 to 56 percent. That number may not sound acceptable - and it isn't - but it is an improvement nonetheless. It's an indication that somewhere along the line, something seems to be working.

Despite this good news, we know that we still have a lot of work to do - we cannot continue on the same course. Investing in education reform will mean allocating more money and resources to schools and community services, but how do we make those changes given the current state of the economy and the refusal to examine our current tax structure? Research and data show that investing a minimal amount now will yield greater outcomes in the future. If we increase the number of students who graduate, we will have a future workforce whose unemployment rate is less and who both increase the tax base and revenue streams. If we invest in quality early childhood education, we can improve children's long-term educational attainment and likelihood of graduating.

It's a tough decision that taxpayers and elected officials face. In these economic times, no one wants to hear that their taxes will increase, as evidenced by the recent approval of the state property tax caps in the November election. While the Governor and State legislature debate the budget this coming session, they will be looking to create reforms without increasing taxes. Republicans in Congress have just announced that they will be blocking all legislation until a decision is made to maintain the tax cuts that are set to expire December 31 - something that most Democrats do not support. Sure, I don't want my property taxes to go up anymore and I do enjoy the tax cuts and the increase in my take-home pay. However, at the same time, I am a supporter of public education and I don't want my children to have less opportunities in school than I enjoyed over 20 years ago.

Nevertheless, while these debates and stalemates go on, our children continue to attend schools that do not meet state and federal standards for academics and continue to drop out, creating financial burdens through increased unemployment and public assistance, reduced wages and decreased revenue. It's time to step back and reexamine our priorities as a whole, including the short-term and long-term impacts of our decisions.

Community Change Initiative- EIP

Community change initiatives “mobilize the community for action; strengthen the capacity of residents and organizations; build and improve neighborhoods; and the lay the groundwork for future progress”. MCCOY’s Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative is a community change initiative currently in play in Marion County. The overall goal of the Initiative is to reduce child abuse, neglect and delinquency in our community through comprehensive community efforts that coordinate, build capacity and advocate for high-quality early intervention and prevention services in Marion County. MCCOY staff are not naïve enough to think we can tackle this issue or make a large positive impact without the support of the community’s residents, including its leaders, families and youth. By better coordinating community efforts, improving neighborhoods and the capacity of residents to better parent their children we hope to build a future for Marion County where all children are free from abuse or neglect receiving the care, support and resources they need to grow into healthy and fully contributing members of society. Will you help us?

If you have not been involved in this community change initiative but would like to learn more or get involved, please attend the all EIP Team Meeting on Monday, November 22nd from 9am-12pm at the United Way building (3901 N. Meridian Street), RCI room. During this meeting you will learn about accomplishments and progress of the Initiative to date, future projects and plans, and be able to spend time working in a work group to begin to lay the foundation for moving the work forward in 2011. Your support, assistance, and expertise would be greatly appreciated!

To ask any questions or to learn more about the EIP Initiative please feel free to contact Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator, at 317-921-1233 or shanna.malott@mccoyouth.org.

Accessible and Accurate Resources

Back in February MCCOY’s EIP team hosted a very successful community roundtable to begin to the lay the foundation for the creation of the EIP strategic plan. The plan, Early Intervention and Prevention: Building a Foundation for Family and Community Success, was launched in June of 2010. During the community roundtable a group of community stakeholders in attendance, including school personnel, students, front-line staff, health educators, and many others, focused on the following topics:
• Discuss the concept of a well‐functioning, coordinated early intervention system that promotes efficiency and avoids duplication.
• What ideal purpose or benefit does a well‐functioning, coordinated and efficient early intervention system provide a community?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current early intervention system in Marion County? Is the current system coordinated, efficient and non‐duplicative?

Here is some of what was said:
• Our target population is going to self‐identify only when they’re in the crisis. We need to figure out how to access these folks with services before they’re in the crisis situation.
• We need a one‐stop shop. Shouldn’t make this so difficult for a parent trying to find help.
• Have you ever called for help, and you get the receptionist and you get passed down the line to many different people until you get to the last one and you never get any help at all? We need to make sure if we’re sending people to certain agencies that there is help, the need is met at the end of the line.
• We need to work together to solve this problem.
• 2‐1‐1 doesn’t list all the agencies. I don’t have any resources for other nonprofits where I could refer my own clients.
• We need to clarify what EIP services are; we need to understand who else is out there and what everyone else is doing. We need a clearinghouse.
• I think one of the reasons it doesn’t come together is because we’re all competing for the same funding. If there were some way we could all apply for funding together… lead organization with partner organizations that provide services.
• We need a big, master list.
• How do we get the services to our target population that may not have access to the internet?
• How can we get to the folks who are unaware about the possibilities and the choices available?
• Partnership and collaboration are the main themes
• How can we equip all providers with a centralized, comprehensive repository of information?
• A Database with centralized information to make sure we don’t duplicate. What you find in 2‐1‐1 you might not find in the EASY book. We need a comprehensive database.

The second edition of “We Can Do Better- Child Abuse Deaths in America,” released in 2010 tells a grim story about the 1,740 children who died as a result of abuse or neglect in our nation in 2008. It talks about the harsh reality that current child protection systems, charged with taking the lead on protecting our children, are stretched too thin as a harsh economy has resulted in many states slashing child protection spending at unprecedented rates, thus, putting more children at risk.

The EIP Initiative aims to change these grim facts for Marion County’s children by focusing efforts on preventing child abuse and neglect and placing responsibility for protecting children on ALL adults, particularly those who serve youth and families and have the opportunity to prevent and/or intervene early.

Folks in attendance at the EIP Community Roundtable made it clear that having resources that are accessible to both families and service providers is essential to protecting children from harm in our community. To that end, the EIP strategic plan includes a strategy, Strategy #3: Accessible, Accurate Resources, focused on integrating current systems that provide valuable information and resources to families and referring agencies. The implementation steps for the strategy are:
• Form a task force to lead the project.
• Convene local funders and database providers to discuss concerns shared during the community assessment process and determine appropriate next steps.
• Identify funding streams to assist in the capacity building of an integrated system.
• Develop a comprehensive plan resulting in the coordination of currently existing databases to ensure that the most comprehensive information is accessible.
• Promote the usage of the resource database to professionals, service organizations and to the community at-large.

Additionally, MCCOY’s EIP staff continues to gather information regarding current assets and gaps in availability and accessibility for early intervention and prevention services for children and families in Marion County. To let us know what you think, please take 5-10 minutes to complete a brief survey by clicking on the following link:
http://www.survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e30sfei0gdxfqp95/start(if you are a youth serving professional) or
http://www.survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e317lpecgebrpjq8/start (if you are a community member not providing direct services to youth.).

To learn more about the EIP Initiative or to get involved in implementation of the EIP Strategic Plan, please contact Shanna Malott at 317-921-1233 or shanna.malott@mccoyout.org.

Improving Student Success in Marion County

Since the beginning of this school year many changes have been made, or proposed to be made, in order to help improve the graduation rate and student performance. Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, delivered the first State of Education address outlining his thoughts and plans to improve Indiana’s education system by evaluating teachers and administrators based on the performance of their students. Research shows that the top two factors for student success are a high quality teacher and attendance, so it’s important that both of these issues rise to the top of our priority list.

Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, proposes that one of the best ways to address student absences and/or tardiness is to contact Child Protective Services to report the parents for educational neglect. This may be a scare tactic, but is it really going to lead to increased attendance? White was quoted as saying, “If we report it, then that puts the ball in their court.” What responsibility are the schools taking for lack of student attendance? What efforts are being made to engage parents to find out why students are late or tardy before CPS is contacted? Weekly reports on attendance are being made available to parents online. Have all parents been made aware of this resource and how they should respond if they discover their child is chronically absent or tardy? And what about those parents who don’t have easy access to the internet?

In the same article where Dr. White talks about contacting CPS, Northwest High School is highlighted for the efforts they have made to maintain an attendance rate of approximately 97% for several years. They have accomplished this by implementing weekly in-school court to handle tardiness cases, hall sweeps to ensure students are in class, and providing an environment to make students feel safe and cared for. Why are these strategies not being implemented throughout other IPS schools?

The Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) is heading up two initiatives—Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative and Drop-out Prevention/Student Success—focused on improving outcomes for children, including reducing and preventing child abuse, neglect and delinquency, and increasing student success and graduation rates. The work of both of these initiatives has focused on identifying best practices, highlighting assets in our community, and noting the things that are proving to be effective in our school systems.

There are many youth serving organizations in Marion County that are able and willing to partner with school systems to focus on attendance and other behavioral issues. For example, Reach for Youth collaborated with a middle school last year to operate a Teen Court program on-site monthly to address behavioral issues that would have typically resulted in suspension. Using Teen Court as an alternative to suspension yielded outstanding results. Throughout the school year 19 youth were served and the school reported that 17 of the students completed all consequences and had no further school behavioral problems and in most cases academic performance improved. Parents and youth participants indicated over 90% satisfaction with the program on the post-evaluation survey. In fact, the program was so successful that officials from the middle school have asked Reach for Youth to increase programming in the 2010-2011 school year to serve 54 students. Are other schools interested in having this model replicated in their school?

The Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative has been working with a group of school representatives since January 2010. The school representatives have provided the EIP staff with invaluable insights into the positives, strengths, and challenges faced by the school systems. They have highlighted best practice models, as well as discussed practices they would like to see implemented that would ultimately impact their students positively. A three-year strategic plan has been developed including a strategy and task force specifically recognizing the very important role school teachers, administrators, and staff play in keeping kids safe, engaged, healthy, happy and successful.

Terry Spradlin from the IU’s Center for Evaluation & Education Policy has put forth several recommendations from an April 2010 report on truancy from the Finn Institute for Public Safety:
• consistent attendance policies, known to all students, parents, staff and community agencies;
• a continuum of prevention and intervention services;
• meaningful parental involvement;
• data-driven decision making;
• quasi-judicial proceedings; and
• public awareness campaigns

Between the EIP Initiative and the Student Success Team, MCCOY is making efforts to ensure that all of the above is implemented throughout all of the school systems in Marion County.

To learn more or join in MCCOY’s efforts please contact Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator @ shanna.malott@mccoyouth.org.

Delivering some strong medicine: 'Teachable moment' in ER helps change crime victims' lives

An article in today's Indianapolis Star illustrates the powerful, positive, life-changing impact of Wishard Hospital's Prescription for Hope program.

Click here to read Shari Rudavsky's full story on the hospital's intervention program that is having impressive results.

The Prescription for Hope program helped Chris Lee (center)
and his family after he was shot. He poses with (clockwise from lower left)
Dicimber Lee, Jauvyion Lee, Victoria Wright, Jonathan McCann,
Jaunelle McCann, Ishiah Bethea and Janyiah Lee. - Jennifer Cecil / The Star

Our Children, Our City

The Indianapolis Star is running a special section on the state of children in our city. Check it out, stay informed, and contact MCCOY if you want to learn more and help create some solutions for the big obstacles facing our city's children.

EIP Provider Fair- REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 7th!!

300 individuals representing more than 100 organizations that serve youths and families will come together on June 15, 2010, to learn more about community-based early intervention and prevention services that are available in Marion County. Through an interactive “speed-dating” process, attendees will learn about 30 lesser-known organizations that offer programs and services that address many issues that negatively impact children and families. The following agencies will be exhibiting:

About Special Kids
Best Buddies Indiana
Children's Bureau
Connections, Inc.
Day Nursery Association
Ella, Inc.
EmberWood Center
Exodus Refugee Immigration
Families Reaching for Rainbows, Inc.
Family Development Services-Head Start
Indianapolis Healthy Start
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
IRCIL
Midtown Community Mental Health Center
N.O.A.H. INC.
Outreach, Inc.
Password Community Mentoring
Planned Parenthood of Indiana
Reach For Youth, Inc.
Riley Hospital for Children
Safe Families for Children
St. Mary's Child Center
St. Vincent Hospital
Stopover, Inc.
The Villages

By spending just a short amount of time at each exhibit table, attendees will learn key information that will allow them to better coordinate services and pursue partnerships. The event (including lunch, refreshments and activities) will be offered at no charge to make sure it is accessible to all nonprofits.

Additionally, during a lunch-time session, MCCOY will unveil the strategic plan for the Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) Initiative. The EIP Initiative will improve coordination of community-based services for children and families to improve physical and mental health outcomes, promote education and self-sufficiency, and reduce the need for child welfare and juvenile justice interventions.

The keynote speakers for the Provider Fair are Debra Medeiros and Ann Marie Grimberg from The Strengthening At-Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children Initiative. The Initiative aims to improve the housing, health, and development of homeless and at-risk young families while underscoring the need for comprehensive, community based systems to make real and lasting systemic change. The Initiative targets at-risk and homeless mothers 18-25 years old who have at least one child 5 years or younger. The goals of the initiative are to improve the housing, health, and development of homeless and at-risk young families.

Please join us for this first annual event. REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 7th so please register now at http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?465437. You can learn more about the event by visiting the MCCOY website at www.mccoyouth.org or click on the following link: http://www.mccoyouth.org/our-impact.aspx?id=156&sid=183&pid=156.

MCCOY: Religion in the News, WISH TV Channel 8

Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator, talks about MCCOY and early intervention and prevention on WISH TV's "Religion in the News." (Broadcast 4/24/10)

Everyday Champion: Carlos Trincado

This story is a part of our Everyday Champions series. Helping youth succeed takes commitment and action from our whole community. Everyday Champions are people who are committed and who act in small and big ways to support youth in central Indiana. Do you know someone who you think would make a great Champion for Youth? Click here to get started.

As an IMPD Officer, Carlos Trincado began to see a need in the community. Schools needed additional help dealing with behavioral and low-school performance issues. And students needed extra help with academics and finding outlets to reduce stress. So Officer Trincado developed B.R.I.D.G.E. (Behavior, Responsibility, Integrity, Discipline, Guidance, Education). The program is one of the only support and prevention approaches of its kind in the metropolitan Indianapolis area.

During each nine-week session, students meet three times a week for academic tutoring, physical activity and speaker presentations for students. Additionally, there’s a weekly parents group and two-hour spiritual growth session for the whole family, which includes a class for parents in parental skills. With this, B.R.I.D.G.E. participants can develop lifelong wellness habits.

The program operates at NO COST to families. Teachers and staff members are volunteers.

What is your profession or vocation?
Police Officer

How are you an Everyday Champion for Youth?
I worked very close with public schools and teen students, assisting the school system and parents with their children. As the Latino affairs officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, I try to be a role model for young students; I focus a good portion of my time with the Latino youth at-risk.

I developed a teen crime prevention program over a year ago. I meet with the students three times per week and I meet with their parents one day per week as well. We work with the students to instill a sense of pride and accomplishment by teaching them a series of good values. Through every contact with the children in the schools or the street, I yearn to be a positive experience for the youth.

What impact do you hope to make on youth?
The impact I hope to have on the children, regardless of what the choices in their lives may be, is to remember to be responsible, positive, trustworthy and serious about it and honest with others and with themselves. I wish that some of them will be inspired to follow my steps in what I do in my professional life.

What’s the one thing that you wish an adult had told you when you were a young person?
Relationships in life are the most important things and should be the focus. Nothing else will fulfill a human being as much as the relationships we develop with other people. Accomplishment in life is measure by the true relationships you can build—family, friends and neighbors. A relationship is what makes you a reach person, not the money you make.

What do you want to do next to support youth?
I would like to expand B.R.I.D.G.E. teen crime prevention program throughout all Marion county schools. This is a children support project and parent-oriented program. I know it can benefit students, parents, school systems and the neighborhoods were we live. Teens and their parents can start building relationships with role models for the youth, and the community can be involved in meaningful relationships with children.

Everyday Champion: Melissa Webber

This story is a part of our Everyday Champions series. Helping youth succeed takes commitment and action from our whole community. Everyday Champions are people who are committed and who act in small and big ways to support youth in central Indiana. Do you know someone who you think would make a great Champion for Youth? Click here to get started.

Everyday Champion Melissa Webber is a tireless advocate for the youth in her care, an excellent collaborator and a supportive mentor to her staff. As Supervisor and Case Manager with Interact Family Services, a therapeutic foster care agency, Melissa feels that she was put on earth to do the work she does, and she lives it twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Melissa is always looking out for the children’s best interests even if that means she loses sleep several nights in a row,” says Jennifer Troesch, Interact Case Manager. “As a supervisor, Melissa is very supportive. She is full of innovative ideas on how to deal with difficult situations in a therapeutic setting. Melissa attends any type of meeting where she is able to find outside sources that may assist the children in our care and she is diligent about providing this information to the case managers and foster families of Interact.”

Jennifer recounted the following story of Melissa’s skill in resolving issues and determination to ensure that children in Central Indiana have a place to call home.

Several weeks ago, Melissa received a call at 11:30pm on a Saturday for an emergency placement of an Autistic child who had been physically abused and was at a local hospital. Melissa immediately found a home for this child and did not hesitate to transport this child from the hospital to a foster home in Anderson, IN.

Melissa stayed at the foster home until the child and family were stable and she did not return to her own home until 4:00am. She was then on the phone with the foster family at 7:00am Sunday morning assisting them with how to handle specific needs of a child with Autism. For the following two days, Melissa was on the phone with the family every few hours assisting them with the difficulties they were having. She then was able to identify another home that had specific training with children with Autism.

What is your profession or vocation?
I work as the Supervisor and carry a caseload as a Case Manager with Interact Family Services, a Therapeutic Foster Care Agency. I have worked with both children and adolescents for 20 years, who have had mental health issues, developmental disabilities; among other problems.

I believe as a nation all adults must work to help the youth in our communities, because one day they will be the ones we as aging adults will look to for making the decisions that will impact our society.

I try to spread the word to not only the people in our field, but to everyone I meet, that it is their responsibility to reach out to our youth and in any way they can help make a positive impact on at least one young person they know.

How are you an Everyday Champion for Youth?
This is embarrassing! I have been working with youth for so long that I know it was what I was put on this earth to do. I try every day to talk to someone about their role as an adult to be a positive influence in a youths' life.

It does not matter if it is someone I am working with professionally or someone I meet at the grocery store; I always try to work in a conversation how adults must stop complaining about the problems with the young people these days and start becoming a part of the solution; even if that means just sending a positive message to the young people in their extended family.

What impact do you hope to make on youth?
I want all the youth in our community to understand that they ARE the future of this country; no matter what they decide to do with the rest of their lives that they need to lead the way.

I also want to make the youth I work with understand that even though their lives to this point have been a real challenge that is not a barrier to becoming a responsible and productive member of this country. I always let the youth I work with, who constantly complain about how unfair life has been to them so far; that while I sympathize for what they have been through; I will not accept that as an excuse for not trying to reach their goals and dreams.

What’s one thing that you wish an adult had told you when you were a young person?
That life is not always fair; but that everyone on this earth carries their own burdens. And, even though you may not readily see another person’s problems, we all face challenges and must never use those challenges to stop dreaming and trying to reach our goals.

What do you want to do next to support youth?
At this time; I want to continue to help the youth caught in the foster care system to find permanency in their lives. I also want to help change the view of the general population that we as adults are responsible for how the next generation goes on to lead this world.

“Self-Sufficiency”- What Does It Mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary self-sufficient is an adjective that means, “able to maintain oneself or itself without outside aid; capable of providing for one’s own need; having an extreme confidence in one’s own ability or worth”. Self-sufficiency is “the quality or state of being self-sufficient”. The Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) initiative in Marion County has as one of its goals to “promote the welfare of children and self-sufficiency of families with children at risk of abuse or neglect, dependency, or delinquency”. But what does promoting the self-sufficiency of families really look like?

In a recent survey sent out by EIP to solicit community responses for the development of the EIP three-year strategic plan a series of questions were asked regarding the concept of self-sufficiency. The first question was about the development of a common definition in Marion County of self-sufficiency. Respondents agreed that a common definition for self-sufficiency should be developed (44% strongly agreed and 50% agreed); however, they had many comments regarding the following definition that was proposed:

“A family’s ability to meet the basic needs of the members (including social, emotional, financial, medical, educational, transportation, housing, etc.) and/or the ability to identify unmet needs and identify and access resources.”

Comments included such things as: “I like the comprehensive nature of this, I’d be tempted to include food or nutrition.”… “This is ok as a very basic definition, but it can be interpreted in so many different ways that I question its efficacy.”… “I would include safety and cultural tolerance.”… “Who defines the baseline for meeting ‘basic needs’?”… “It’s a good definition of “Family” self-sufficiency, not self-sufficiency in general.”

Additionally, out of 129 responses 62.7% of the respondents agreed that there is a discrepancy between what self-sufficiency means to families and how it’s defined by the programs they may access. 3.1% did not agree there was a discrepancy, 28.6% did not know, and 5.4% did not respond. Comments were varied and included the following: “I think there is not a standard measurement among agencies.”… “Yes, because every family’s idea of self-sufficiency is different.”… “From my experience of working with families, self-sufficiency is only viewed from a financial perspective.”… “I would say the discrepancy lies with the education of the families. They may not know what the word self-sufficiency means there for are unable to define it or understand an agency’s use of the word.”… “’Self-sufficiency’ for an organization or services that has a middle-class or above operational culture is likely to define ‘self-sufficiency’ differently and/or lack sensitivity to how non-middle class families define ‘self-sufficiency’. For example, illegal practices to secure housing, money or transportation could be considered “self-sufficiency”.

What do you think? To weigh in and provide insight into the development of the EIP strategic plan please complete the survey so that your voice can be heard.

For more information about the Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) initiative visit our website at www.mccoyouth.org or contact Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator at 317-921-1233 or shanna.malott@mccoyouth.org.

MCCOY Early Intervention & Prevention: WISH TV Channel 8

Scott Sander interview with Shanna Malott, Early Intervention Community Coordinator, about the EIP Community Roundatable, EASY Book, Youth Activity Directory and ROY: Resources Online for Youth. (Broadcast 2-24-2010)