MA Citizens' Information Source on Children's Issues

August 2003 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

• MCC urges new Archbishop of Boston, to Implement Responses to Victims of Clergy Abuse that are Independent of Church Control

• In the News: AG releases Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse

• MCSAPP Updates: Community Pilot Sites to be Selected in August!

• Heywood and Harrington Memorial Hospitals Pilot New
  Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Prevention Program

• PCA Massachusetts Announces Spanish SBS Prevention Brochure

 

MCC urges new Archbishop of Boston, to Implement Responses to Victims of Clergy Abuse that are Independent of Church Control
MCC is supporting the establishment of independent capacity for responding to victims of clergy abuse. One proposal that MCC and other groups are considering is that evaluation and counseling could be supported through a fund administered by the Massachusetts Office of Victims Assistance (www.state.ma.us/mova/index.html). The proposal would call for the Archdiocese of Boston to provide money to the fund. This would allow victims of clergy abuse who do not wish to seek counseling from the Church to receive independent care from qualified mental health professionals.

MCC also continues to push for an Independent Review Board that includes non-Church appointed experts in child abuse and victims’ rights to investigate abuse allegations. MCC has sent a letter to the new Archbishop, Sean Patrick O’Malley, expressing its strong support for these proposals. View the letter.

In The News
On July 23rd, Attorney General Thomas Reilly released his Grand Jury report on the Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The entire report can be found at: http://www.ago.state.ma.us/


MCSAPP Updates: Community Pilot Sites to be Selected in August!
The Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership (MCSAPP) is moving forward with its three-year initiative funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the past few months, Partnership staff has traveled across the state meeting with leaders and groups that have expressed interest in being chosen as a site for the initiative. Interested communities have included large cities, rural towns and entire counties. A second round of meetings is currently being held in Boston. A decision on the final three selected sites is expected by the end of the summer.

Heywood and Harrington Memorial Hospitals Pilot New
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Prevention Program
The Central MA SBS Prevention Campaign, which MCC coordinates, is launching an innovative SBS prevention education pilot at Heywood Hospital (in Gardner) and Harrington Memorial Hospital (in Southbridge) , two of Worcester County’s six birthing facilities. All parents of newborns at the two hospitals will receive special one-on-one education by trained nurses about the dangers of SBS and how to cope with infant crying--a common trigger for SBS. Parents will also view an SBS prevention video and receive copies of MCC's "Never Shake a Baby!" brochure to share with family members and other caregivers. The evaluated pilots are expected to go full scale across the county next year.

The National SBS Memorial Quilts will be on display at the hospitals in late September as a reminder of the devastating impact SBS has had on indiviudals and families and to emphasize the need for continued prevention. The Quilts are on loan from the National SBS Alliance (www.shakenbaby.com) to MCC.

PCA Massachusetts Announces Spanish SBS Prevention Brochure
Under its Prevent Child Abuse Massachusetts Program, MCC has recently developed¡ Nunca Sacuda a Un Bebé!, the Spanish version of our popular Never Shake a Baby! Brochure. Over 700,000 copies of our English version have been distributed in Massachusetts or purchased by organizations in other states. Email Sarah Spurgeon to pre-order or request more information: sarah@masskids.org Large orders can be localized for your specific program!