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As we move into 2020, we celebrate a new year and a new decade; a time that feels futuristic, but we're here! Since 1997, Children's Cove has worked with the professionals from the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office, local, state and federal law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, Cape Cod Healthcare, Department of Ment
al Health and countless other community and mental health service agencies to provide the most professional and victim focused response to child victims of crime. When Children's Cove opened its doors all those years ago, it opened with the hope of providing the highest quality service and support to child victims and their non-offending families. We have continued to carry that hope and mission into a new millennium, and into the newest decade.
I would love to report to you we that we have eliminated crimes against children in our community; unfortunately, I cannot. However I can report to that we are providing more supports, services, coordination, and education than ever before. Outlined in this newsletter are just some of the many updates our dedicated team of professionals have provided to give a snapshot of how we are supporting families, strengthening dedicated partners, and working to create a community where children are free of abuse, have a voice that is heard, and where they enjoy healthy, safe, and empowered lives.
We look forward to 2020 with hope and optimism. Regardless of what year it is, Children's Cove will always be a place of support, kindness and compassion for child victims of crime ready to step forward to tell their story and support their needs.
Sincerely,
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Evidence-Based, High-Quality, Investigative Trauma-Informed Care
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Our direct service delivery and staff are ready and willing to assist when called upon. This year, we celebrated another successful re-accreditation process that highlighted our programs, reassured our service delivery and is proof that we are exceeding the national standards set by the National Children's Alliance. With this, we continue to strive and are continuously finding ways to improve in all aspects of our work. With this affirmation of our high quality in services in support, Children's Cove continues to support children, young adults and their non-offending family members throughout Cape & Islands with national standards. We are readily available to assist any partner agencies and other members of our communities in responding to allegations of crimes against children. We could not do this without community support and strong collaborative efforts.
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Increased Capacity and Expertise
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In 2018, Children's Cove received its first federal funding through an Office of Victims of Crime grant. This funding was used to hire Beth Mitchell last November, who is our full time CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) Case Manager / Forensic Interviewer. Over the past year the CSEC initiative made significant strides in training law enforcement agencies, Department of Children and Families, mental health providers and other community partners on the CSEC protocol and Cape & Islands response to CSEC. The increased direct training and outreach have increased the identification of these challenging cases as well as meaningful responses to victims. The ability to have a direct focus on these high risk and challenging cases allows for increased collaboration and organization amongst partner agencies for the better outcomes of potential victims. Moving into 2020 Beth will continue to provide consultations for professionals and parents in the community that suspect a child may be at risk, and how to effectively report these cases to mitigate risk.
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Contributing to Community Capacity
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In 2019, Children's Cove continued to provide opportunities to therapists across the Cape & Island to join our trauma-informed provider network (TIPNet members) as well as provide additional training opportunities to TIPNet partners established previously. Twenty therapists representing 10 organizations completed our 40-hour certificate ARC - Attachment, Regulation, Competency Learning Collaborative coordinated in conjunction with the Justice Resource Institute Trauma Center. Thirty therapists from across the Cape and Islands participated in the two-day training in October of 2018, with twenty therapists moving on to complete the subsequent ten-month learning collaborative.
In addition to ARC, Children's Cove also sponsored a training for therapists, DCF, law enforcement, schools and other partners to learn more about children who have or experienced sexually problematic behavior. As a growing challenge across the Cape and a need for a more trauma informed and support base response, in September, our Mental Health Coordinator, Kristine Monteiro along with five other multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members participated in a regional two-day training related to children and teens with problematic sexual behavior. At this training, local MDT's sat together to learn about the needs of this population and to begin the process of planning resources for their own local communities. The idea of creating a community change team was introduced and is now being discussed as part of Children's Cove strategic plan.
In November, Children's Cove sponsored a two-day Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Training. This training was presented in conjunction with Child Trauma Training Center at UMASS Medical School. Thirty therapists from across the Cape as well as Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket participated in the two-day training. Beginning in January of 2020, fifteen therapists will go on to participate in an intensive six-month learning collaborative to expand their knowledge and use of TF-CBT with the children and families seen in their practice.
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Last year, it was apparent more than ever the needs of children and families in our community have increased. The Family Advocacy program, led by Melanie Sachs, is utilized to walk alongside families and to support the non-clinical needs of the family. This Fall we assisted families with back to school supplies, clothing for children through our partnership with Katelynn's Closet, and winter coats. Thanks to our partnership with Harbor Church, 12 families we supported were provided with full Thanksgiving meals. We also had great success with our Holiday Giving program for families in need of gifts for the children. Toys for Tots, Brewster Police Department, Cape Cod Healthcare Finance Department, Mass Maritime Academy SAAC, and The DoubleTree in Hyannis all provided incredible donations of toys, gifts, gift cards and other needs for the holiday season. The DoubleTree also provided much needed space for this year's holiday giving season, as we outgrew our own!
Partnerships with organizations that provide support to children and their non-offending families continue to grow. Organizations that provide hope, healing and healthy outlets to children and their non-offending families are a cornerstone of recovery from trauma. Cape Cod Conservatory has been a continuous partner with us and is providing more than ten tuition free spots for children we support. Partnerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cape Cod Children's Place, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, all contribute to providing safe and healthy outlets for children, teens and families.
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Ensuring that children and their bodies are safe and healthy is part a conversation that poses additional challenges in the process responding to crimes against children. However, not to our incredible PediSANE, Debby Sorrentino. The thought of a medical exam following a trauma can seem invasive and unnerving, however, with Debby's professional and calming presence children are able to understand that their bodies are healthy, or are on the pathway to recovery. Debby continues to provide regular consultations with pediatric practices, hospitals, school nurses and emergency rooms across the Cape & Islands. Working with the Department of Public Health and Cape Cod Healthcare Debby has ensured we have the highest quality equipment and practices to support the children we see at Children's Cove.
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Community Engagement and Education
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In order to best serve our community and make an impact on crimes against children, we know that awareness, education, and effective training will make the difference in prevention, as well as early detection and intervention. Jacob Stapledon, our Community Education and Outreach Coordinator, works throughout the year to build relationships with individuals and business and raise awareness of not only the issues, but of Children's Coves services across the Cape & Islands. In addition to awareness and outreach, Jacob has been trained and provides education on a variety of topics to professionals who work with children or as a part of the MDT. To date, Jacob provided more than 40 training's connecting to more than 750 individuals utilizing the Massachusetts Children Alliance Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse curriculum. Throughout the year Jacob worked with CSEC Case Manager Beth Mitchell in conducting trainings utilizing the CSEC: Utilizing an MDT Response curriculum for partners in law enforcement and other response agencies.
Children's Cove entered its fourth year of running the Teen TASK (Taking A Stand for Kids) program. This program has evolved from a pilot program at D-Y High School in 2017 to a curriculum organized program operating in partnership with three local high schools year-round. The engagement with high-school age youth is to provide education and awareness around child sexual abuse and sexual assault issues to high school aged youth. In turn Teen TASK Force members develop and coordinate a community awareness project to reach their peers.
Community based partnerships with organizations and businesses also allows Children's Cove to opportunity to raise awareness in areas we otherwise would not be able to access. Organizations such as the Steamship Authority, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & The Islands, Cape Cod Children's Place, public libraries, Eight Cousins Book Shop, Cape Cod Mom's and more have all partnered with us to work towards our vision of a community free from abuse.
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As we moved into 2019, we were in the second year of working with the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) Program, and in particular Halsey O'Loughlin, our VISTA volunteer. Halsey initial assignment was as our Volunteer Coordinator, in which she added some wonderful new additions of volunteers and maintained those who were already with us. Halsey increased opportunity for trainings for volunteers as well as staffed more than 50 events across the Cape & Islands. As we looked at the program, we felt that not only with Halsey's desire to stay at Children's Cover for another year, but with new ways we could utilize volunteers and programming, we expanded her role to the Community Programs Coordinator to work in support of our Community Education and Family Advocacy efforts. Halsey now works and coordinates volunteers directly in support of the Teen TASK Force program, back to school support, holiday support for families, Child Abuse Prevention Month awareness, and general community outreach and awareness. The VISTA program has been integral in supporting our small team, as well as generating new ideas and interventions.
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Children's Cove
The Cape and Islands Child Advocacy Center
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