March 2020
Greetings!

Imagine being 17 & 1/2 and about to age out of foster care. You have a brand new independent living apartment and a brand new job. It is hard to be on your own, but you are excited to spread your wings. 

Then coronavirus hits – this is the first national crisis of your almost-adult life. Let’s face it – it is a bit scary. You don’t have a job anymore because your employer closed. School is closed. You can’t visit your siblings still in foster care. You love to paint but are out of supplies. Independence suddenly feels very lonely.
Enter Lance – on his way to make a safe doorstep drop. This teen’s request – acrylic paints and some basic supplies. Yes – you guessed it: toilet paper, paper towel, soap and some fun snacks along with activities. Even more important – feeling connected and knowing that people care. 

Thanks so much to our donors and volunteers for helping our most vulnerable youth experience a caring community.  We will get through this together with kindness.

Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
Keeping Children Safe
With increased concern over the impact of social isolation on child abuse and neglect, we wanted to share some resources on the risk of child sexual abuse amidst COVID-19, especially when victims are quarantined with an abuser.

For basics, read our July 2019 newsletter about how to prevent sexual abuse of children with topics such as:
  • How do I respond when a child discloses abuse to me?
  • What do I do when a youth I'm working with discloses that she or he is impacted by the sex trade?
  • What does a healthy relationship look like?
  • How to talk to foster youth about sexuality

Child sexual abuse prevention organization, Darkness To Light, also has many helpful resources and concrete advice on what you can do to keep children safe. Read the timely article below. Darkness To Light is also offering a 30-minute online training "Talking to Kids About Safety from Sexual Abuse" for free (more information in the article). Darkness to Light has several online trainings--if you are a CASA volunteer and would like to take one of the online trainings, email volunteer@kidsmatterinc.org and we will get you set up!
Minimizing Opportunity During Coronavirus Quarantine

We have all felt the impact of the Coronavirus in our lives, but none more than the victim of abuse who may be quarantined with their abuser. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, I know what it feels like to live with a perpetrator, and I know...

Read more
www.d2l.org
New Virtual CASA Training
Do you or someone you know suddenly have extra time at home ? Are you looking for ways to stay connected and learning? Do you want to make a difference? Kids Matter has added an accelerated all-virtual training for badly needed volunteer advocates for local abused and neglected kids. Consider signing up today!

This new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer training will be just six afternoon sessions (Mondays and Wednesdays for 3 weeks) from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. All classroom training sessions will be held via teleconferencing technology (such as Zoom). You'll need a computer (ideally with a camera) and internet access. The course and all course materials are free. (If you already signed up for the April 15 training cycle, you are all set! If you might prefer an earlier training, check out the April 15 training cycle here .)

Accelerated Spring Training Cycle
Monday, April 27 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Wednesday, April 29 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Monday, May 4 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Wednesday, May 6 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Monday, May 11 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM
Wednesday, May 14 from 1:00 PM to 4:00PM

Applications are now being accepted for a limited number of spaces. Background and reference checks and a personal interview via Zoom are required for all volunteer applicants. If interested, email volunteer@kidsmatterinc.org or call 414-344-1220 by April 10th.

You'll be sworn in as a CASA volunteer on May 14th and ready to serve when we get the all clear!
Participate in the 2020 Census Today!
Looking for something impactful to do with kids who are home? COUNT THEM!

The 2010 Census undercounted almost 1 million young children, ages 0-4 ( read more ). Children should be counted in the homes they reside in most often, even if it is not the home of their biological parent. When children go unaccounted for on the Census, local programs such as schools, childcare, and food assistance miss out on important funding.

If you have children in your home, make sure they are counted in the right place. The following guidelines are from the U.S. Census Bureau.
  • Count children in the home where they live and sleep most of the time, even if their parents don’t live there.
  • If a child’s time is divided between more than one home, count them where they stay most often. If their time is evenly divided, or you don’t know where they stay most often, count them where they are staying on Census Day—April 1, 2020.
  • If a child’s family (or guardian) is moving during March or April 2020, count them at the address where they are living on April 1, 2020.
  • Count children in your home if they don’t have a permanent place to live and are staying in your home on April 1, 2020, even if they are only staying with you temporarily.
  • Count newborn babies at the home where they will live and sleep most of the time, even if they are still in the hospital on April 1, 2020.
Dose of Joy--No COVID-19 News Below
In awe of this nutritious donation from Teacher and Early Childhood Global Education Club Advisor, Janine Farrell, and her students at Hamilton High School! Janine and her students prepped 200 snack packs, each including a note of kind words, for us to pass on to children awaiting placement with the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services.
A huge thank you to the Homestead High School Students Helping Impact Foster Teens (SHIFT) Club in Mequon. So grateful for the donations to help teens. An extra big thanks to Club President Maya who proved there can be generosity amidst social distancing by utilizing her school break to drop off donations from a drive organized by SHIFT.
It is always a pleasure when a member of the community reaches out to us. Thank you so much to Nadia Voytovich and friend for the generous donation of teen girls clothing! She collected and brought in donations when sharing a close-up with a friend was an every day occurrence!