"O'Malley has unfinished business here in Boston" MCC Letter to the Editor
An Open Letter to Massachusetts Citizens About the Penn State Scandal and How We Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in Our State
November 14, 2011
While the Penn State child sex abuse scandal and cover-up grab national attention, the fact is that cases of child sexual abuse continue to be exposed with unrelenting regularity in every state and community across our country. In Massachusetts alone just in the past six months, we have learned about the decades-long sexual abuse of boys treated by renowned pediatrician Dr. Melvin Levin of Children's Hospital, the revealed boyhood sexual abuse of Senator Scott Brown by a counselor at a Cape Cod summer camp, the sexual abuse of young female tennis players by former Massachusetts coach and International Tennis Hall of Famer Bob Hewitt. Many more current incidents of child sexual abuse involving less well-known abusers appear weekly in local newspapers all across our state.
Predictably, the Sandusky/Paterno case has prompted the media to focus on who knew what and when. Legislators rush to file bills to strengthen reporting requirements, the alleged abuser is arrested and charged, and we all express sorry for the children who have been violated and for their families who are distressed beyond what we can even imagine.
But the truth is that these after-the-fact responses are insufficient to address what the American Medical Association has labeled "…a silent, violent epidemic." It's time to support efforts aimed at preventing child sexual abuse from happening in the first place. This is what Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MCC), lead agency for the Enough Abuse Campaign, has been working to do since the Campaign was launched in 2002.
"Supporters urge vote on lifting statute of limitations on child rape"
By Matt Murphy State House News Service
BOSTON — Victims of childhood sexual abuse pleaded with lawmakers on Tuesday to allow a vote on a bill that would repeal the statute of limitations for sexual abuse crimes committed against children, suggesting that a majority of House members already support the bill.
“All we’re asking for is that when children become adults and they want to confront their abuser they get a fair fight,” said Carmen Durso, an attorney and board member of Massachusetts Citizens for Children.
Massachusetts Citizens for Children and Massachusetts KIDS COUNT is pleased to announce our latest report, "Moving Kinship Care Forward in Massachusetts". The report, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, hones in on a segment of the child welfare system that is growing in importance and practice both in Massachusetts and around the country. There is growing support for kinship care providers who can provide needed stability for vulnerable children who cannot live in their homes.
The report points out that a smaller percentage of Massachusetts children are placed with kin than children in most other states. Of the 8,024 children who were in some type of out-of-home placement in 2009 in Massachusetts, 1,618, or 20% were placed in Kinship Foster Care settings. This rate is less than the national average of 24%.
In addition, Massachusetts may be overusing the Probate and Family Court system rather than the more appropriate Juvenile Court to handle kinship care placements. The number of petitions to the Probate and Family Court – which does not provide families and children with the same level of legal, financial, health, education support and safety oversight as the Juvenile Court – has increased over time compared with DCF Care and Protection petitions.
To move Kinship Care forward in Massachusetts, MCC recommends:
Better advising kin about what options to take, each of which comes with different custodial and financial ramifications;
Better supporting kinship foster parents, most of whom are not licensed as foster parents, and receive little financial support to care for their relative's children;
Reducing administrative barriers to kinship placements;
Expanding the capacity of programs in DCF Area Offices to reach more caregivers, and
Implementing the Fostering Connections Act of 2008, the most recent federal legislation to encourage permanent arrangements. The Act allows states to claim federal reimbursement for a portion of the costs to subsidize relative caregivers, regardless of their income, and requires DCF to identify relatives as soon as an out-of-home placement needs to be made.
More Massachusetts Children Feeling the Recession's Impact
The number of Massachusetts children living in poverty increased from 12% to 13% between 2008 and 2009, according to the latest data released by the National KIDS COUNT Data Book today. This means that 16,153 more children (from 169,460 to 185,613) became poor at the federal poverty level in only one year’s time. However, since child poverty jumped nationally, Massachusetts’ national standing on child poverty actually improved from 7th best to 5th best in the country from 2008 to 2009.
which compares indicators of child well-being apples-to-apples across states to give a clear picture of what is happening in our nation. Also included in the Data Book is an annual essay titled "Promoting Opportunity for the Next Generation" on how children are faring in the wake of the economic downturn and the worsening picture for vulnerable children and families.
where you can focus in on Massachusetts and see how we as a state are faring compared to national trends.
Shaken Baby Remembrance Quilt Now Available for Display
Families affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma have collaborated with Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MCC) to produce by this Massachusetts-specific SBS Commemorative Quilt to honor the children in our state who have died or been injured due to shaking. Our thanks to Dianne Judd and her volunteers at The Quilted Shamrock designed and assembled final Quilt.
To build public awareness about SBS prevention, MCC will make this "traveling Quilt" available to hospitals, schools, libraries, malls, city halls, and groups across the state. Copies of MCC's brochure "Infant Crying and Soothing: What you Need to Know to Keep Your Baby Safe" will be available for distribution during the Quilt's public showings. They will help parents and caregivers learn that when infant crying and fussiness lead to frustration, there are actions adults can take to prevent frustration from turning into anger and resulting in the injury or death of a child.
For information about rental of the Massachusetts Shaken Babies Remembrance Quilt, contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 617-742-8555 ext. 3.
Child-At-Risk Hotline 1.800.792.5200 (to report suspected child abuse in Mass during non-business hours.)
Parents Helping Parents Parental Stress Line 1.800.632.8188 (In Mass., support and guidance for parents)
Childhelp's National Child Abuse Hotline 1.800.4-A-CHILD (To speak with professional counselors or to locate the child protective services in your area)
While the Penn State child sex abuse scandal and cover-up grab national attention, the fact is that cases of child sexual abuse continue to be exposed with unrelenting regularity in every state and community across our country. In Massachusetts alone just in the past six months, we have learned about the decades-long sexual abuse of boys treated by renowned pediatrician Dr. Melvin Levin of Children's Hospital, the revealed boyhood sexual abuse of Senator Scott Brown by a counselor at a Cape Cod summer camp, the sexual abuse of young female tennis players by former Massachusetts coach and International Tennis Hall of Famer Bob Hewitt. Many more current incidents of child sexual abuse involving less well-known abusers appear weekly in local newspapers all across our state.
BOSTON — Victims of childhood sexual abuse pleaded with lawmakers on Tuesday to allow a vote on a bill that would repeal the statute of limitations for sexual abuse crimes committed against children, suggesting that a majority of House members already support the bill.
