You're Invited! Child Abuse Prevention Blue Ribbon Luncheon in Sarasota

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and blue is the color of the Prevent Child Abuse ribbon. You can show your support for this cause by liking us on Facebook and getting involved—perhaps by attending this event!

(If you are unable to read the flyer, the text is as follows):

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

PROTECTING CHILDREN IS EVERYONE'S JOB

Join us at the Robert L Taylor Complex

1845 34th Street, Sarasota Fl 34234

on Thursday, April 17 from 11am to 1pm for a Blue Ribbon Luncheon

Guest speakers include:

The Honorable Judge Haworth of Circuit 12

and

Doug Staley - Executive Director of the

Child Protection Center

Event activities include:

Reading of the Proclamation Moment of Remembrance and a Ceremonial Activity

Kindly Wear Blue

RSVP to Amertyris@thesarasotay.org or 941-371-4799 x110

See you there!!!

10 Years After the Death of Carlie Brucia, We Struggle to Know How to Help Children

Carlie Brucia

Ten years ago on February 1, an 11-year old girl was abducted, raped, and murdered in Sarasota, Florida while walking home from school. The 10th anniversary of Carlie Brucia's death has raised again the awareness of stranger danger. I have often thought how different this might have turned out if Carlie had gone to Escape School. But she didn’t. We must remember that as horrible as this is, it is also rare. Thank God it is rare. However, at-risk children are not rare. Each day in the 12th circuit of Florida (Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto counties), every hour, 24/7, 365 days per year, a report is made of suspicion of abuse and neglect. Most reports cannot be legally substantiated, but all reports are investigated. Most children are under the age of five, the most vulnerable. Approximately 1,300 children are in out-of-home state care, and many more are living with friends and relatives in the 12th circuit at any given moment.

The Real Threat to Kids

It is not strangers who are the biggest threat to children. It is not some vicious predator animal that got loose from the local zoo. It is not an infestation of killer bees from Mexico. It is not falling meteors or space debris reentering the atmosphere. The greatest threats to our children are fathers, mothers, boyfriends, girlfriends, uncles, grandpas, trusted family friends, and neighbors. It is normally someone the child knows. The safest environment for a child should be their own home, church, school, and neighborhood. What makes these environments so toxic and dangerous? There is no guesswork here. The threats are well documented. It is substance abuse, domestic violence, and just plain not paying attention.

Caregivers and trusted adults are increasingly becoming uncaring and untrustworthy. Child abuse and neglect are the outcome of adults whose lives are not being properly managed. The decision to ingest substances like alcohol and drugs impairs judgment and places children at risk. The lack of conflict resolution skills and the lack of impulse control place children at risk. Being too busy with one’s own life and interests to raise the children put children at risk.

Seeing Their Value

I believe there is something even more basic that these risk factors, something less tangible but more powerful, and that is the value one places on a child. If I could speak to a potential abuser and neglecter of kids before they offend, I would ask these questions. How important is your child to you? Is your child important enough to get help for your addiction? Is your child important enough for you to walk away from an argument, and seek help in learning conflict resolution skills? Is your child important enough to you to shut down the cell phone, put up the video game, quit hanging with your friends, and spend time attending to their needs? Selfishness and self-centeredness are the core of the problem of abuse and neglect of kids.

Out of this spring of selfishness and self-centeredness flows the system we call child-welfare, a multi-million dollar industry made up of caring and trustworthy people who try to undo the lack of care and trustworthiness which affects our children. Children enter the world of case-workers, guardians ad litem, attorneys and judges, child protection investigators, foster parents, and an assortment of service providers. This is a sad but necessary alternative to a loving mother and father. It is true and commendable that many mothers and fathers see the light, wake up, and begin to care again for their children, and reestablish loving and protective homes. Unfortunately, damage has often been done to the child, and the work to restore the heart and health of this little one may take years—perhaps a lifetime.

What are we to do? I have many ideas, but this isn’t the article in which to lay them out. We can begin by praying that the Father of us all will intervene and teach us all how to love our children. Will you join me in praying for the children of our community, that one day we won’t need a child welfare system other than the child’s own home?

-Rod Myers

Despite Bleak Outcomes for Most Foster Children, There Is Hope

Statistics don't look favorably upon foster children who have aged out of the system.

"According to national statistics provided by Arrow, 40 to 50 percent of [foster] children will never complete high school. Sixty-six percent of them will be homeless, go to jail or die within one year of leaving the foster care system at 18.

Arrow also said 80 percent of the prison population once was in foster care, and that girls in foster care are 600 percent more likely than the general population to become pregnant before the age of 21."

Source: Amarillo Globe-News

However, studies have found that adolescents in foster care who develop compassionate attitudes toward themselves and others have better resilience and mental health. Adolescents who engage in meaningful participation also seem to be more resilient.

Involvement in church or community service can provide both of these things for children and adolescents in foster care. Traits of psychological resilience also include self-understanding, strong social support, and faith—all of which can be found in a compassionate church environment.

Foster kids can connect with churches through BAANK's Operation Relaxation program (our a once-a-month foster parent night out), youth groups, or Sunday School. The Central Church of Christ recently hosted a VBS for foster kids during Operation Relaxation where the kids had an opportunity to hear a Bible story by watching a puppet show. Likewise, parents can connect through parenting classes that are provided through a church, or by church attendance.

Although sadly many foster children face a bleak future, there is hope for some futures to be bright by nurturing compassion and resilience through involvement in church and community service. Of course, the benefits of church involvement are not limited only to foster children, but there is no better environment in which to cultivate compassion, engage in meaningful participation, and gain useful tools for life.

National Faith Symposium 2012

Over 400 people from around the state of Florida were called together in Orlando on October 24-26, 2012 by DCF Secretary David Wilkins and DJJ Secretary Wansley Walters. The gathering was a mixture of state workers, including Attorney General Jennifer Carrol and faith-based representatives from the panhandle to Miami. Governor Scott, who was scheduled to be there until his mother was hospitalized, defined this symposium in a letter:

The “Our Children, Our Future: Restoring Hope” National Faith Symposium is an initiative of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice’s Faith Community Network and Volunteer Chaplaincy Services Program and the Florida Department of Children and Families designed to involve faith communities in providing voluntary programs and services to troubled youth and their families.”

In addition to the wonderful keynote speakers, which included Tony Dungy and Papa Joe Bradford, a full array of breakout sessions were provided to educate participants on the needs within our state and the faith-based programs designed to meet those needs. I learned about a program for families whose fathers are incarcerated. I heard about web-based programs to help connect needs with volunteers. I learned about the Partners in Promise program directed by DCF that connects community partners in each region of Florida. Foster and Adoption recruitment was highlighted by Tanya Wilkins, wife of Secretary Wilkins.

There was plenty of time to network and talk with our state leaders. The atmosphere was spiritual in nature and very encouraging as groups came together around a common goal: to make life better for our at-risk youth. There is a move throughout state government to shift resources to prevention. Each of us recognized that we cannot continue to deal with the consequences of bad parenting, bad decision making, and bad policies that simply remove kids and lock up offenders alone. Our state leaders are not just inviting the faith community to help them, but urging us to take the lead in addressing the needs of our state. We must seize the opportunity to get involved and make a difference.

That’s why BAANK exists. Call us and see how you can partner with us and others around the state of Florida. Why not make plans to attend next year’s symposium?

-Rod

Remind Me Why I Do This?

Why should we care about abused and neglected kids?

I know: it sounds crude to even ask the question. Isn't it obvious? It should be, but if it were, perhaps there would not be as many abused and neglected kids in our community as there are.

Let's make it personal: If you were working out in your yard and heard the screams of a small child who was obviously in pain and ran to his aid, only to find his father beating and kicking him senseless, what would you do? Of course, you would intervene to save the child even at risk to your own safety. What if you found a small child on the side of the road who looked as if they had not eaten in three days, what would you do? Of course, you would immediately intervene to get this child help.

But this and similar occurances happen in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties every day. The only difference is that you do not personally witness these children. They are mostly "out of sight." And you know how the rest of that phrase goes.

According to James 1:27 it is a Christian's business to take care of the vulnerable within our midst. This is why BAANK exists. It is our purpose to identify strategic places Christians/churches can intervene right here in our community, to research and design—along with folks within the child welfare community—standards and trainings to provide the greatest quality of programs, and to recruit volunteers to step into these places to serve and make a difference.

Honestly it is my goal to be able to say one day that the abuse and neglect of our kids in this community is cut down to a trickle. But this will not happen unless we all commit ourselves to very practical work. Yes, work. Involvement. BAANK needs your partnership and your wisdom and your talents to find the best ways to do this work. Won't you help? Give me call.

-Rod Myers