Massachusetts Citizens for Children (MCC)

MA Citizens' Information Source on Children's Issues

October 2003 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE:

Historic Presidential Primary Forum to be Held at the University of New Hampshire
MCC Presents MA Campaign for Children at Annual Kids Count Conference
Court Rules Favorably on Precedent Setting Child Sexual Abuse Case
Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Update
Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence

Historic Presidential Primary Forum to be Held at the University of New Hampshire

Do you know where the presidential candidates stand on children's issue and child abuse prevention? Now you can! The Every Child Matters Education Fund is hosting a series of historic Presidential Primary Forums at the University of New Hampshire. Over the course of a month, each candidate will address an audience for one full hour at UNH’s Huddleston Hall, discussing topics critical to children, youth, and families, including child abuse prevention and treatment, education, after-school programs, child health, and economic security for families. The forums are open to the public and will also be taped and aired back-to-back on C-SPAN at a later date. For more information on scheduling and TV coverage, visit: www.everychildmatters.org

MCC Presents MA Campaign for Children at Annual Kids Count Conference
Barry Hock, MCC's Kids Count Coordinator, presented two workshops at the annual Kids Count conference convened by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore last month. At the first workshop, on how to get attention for children's issues during an election season, he discussed the strategies used by the Massachusetts Campaign for Children during the 1998 Gubernatorial election. His second presentation on "Polling as a Tool for Advocacy Organizations" described how polling can be used for linking to the media, benchmarking and trend-tracking, strategic decision-making, marketing and program evaluation. The handouts for these presentations can be found at: http://www.masskids.org/kidscount/index.html

Court Rules Favorably on Precedent Setting Child Sexual Abuse Case

In 2002, MCC filed an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief with the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals to challenge a lower court’s decision that two girls sexually abused by their father in Sweden should be returned there to undergo evaluations. The case addressed specific provisions of the Hague Convention (Article 13b) intended to protect children from future harm if returned to their country of origin. Earlier this month, US District Court Judge Douglass Woodlock issued a ruling that the children should not be returned to Sweden, the place of abuse and their abuser. This judgment will serve as an important precedent for many similarly situated parents who have brought, or may contemplate bringing, children to the United States to escape sexual abuse elsewhere in the world.

Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Update
Activities are moving full steam ahead with the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Project. The newly selected pilot sites, Newton, Gloucester, and North-Quabbin have been busy participating in project orientations, reviewing recently collected local polling data as well as planning press conferences with their local government officials to announce their selection as pilot sites.

Members of the partnership’s Survivors, Parents and Partners committee have recently produced a series of radio public service announcements aimed at conveying the critical message that child sexual abuse can be prevented and that parent, adults and communities must take primary responsibility. Theses compelling messages were recorded by Richard Hoffman, writer-in-residence at Emerson College; Bob Curley, of The Jeffrey Curley Foundation; Kathy Rooney, the reigning Mrs. Massachusetts; and Anne McCarron, Director of Recreational Services at Assumption College. They direct parents, other adults, and survivors of child sexual abuse to local resources where they can get information on how to prevent child sexual abuse and on prevention training opportunities in their communities. Theses spots are expected to air in the three local pilot communities of Newton, North-Quabbin and Gloucester within the coming months. These sound clips will also be placed on MCC's website www.masskids.org within the coming weeks.

Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence

On May 7, 2002 Governor Mitt Romney announced the formation of the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, charged with making recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretaries of Public Safety and Health and Human Services on all aspects of sexual and domestic violence in the Commonwealth. During the commission’s first meeting on October 1, 2003, community and business leaders unveiled a new campaign to combat teen relationship violence called "See It and Stop It". Citizens can order their free action kit at www.seeitandstop.org

The new commission has established the following committees: Children & Adolescents, Data Analysis, Research & Evaluation, Immigrants & Refugees, Justice & Accountability, Legislation, Prevention & Education, and Survivor Services. Citizens interested in participating on the various committees are encouraged to contact the Commission’s Executive Director Beverly Kennedy at beverly.kennedy@state.ma.us

Massachusetts Citizens for Children
14 Beacon Street, Suite 706 ~ Boston, MA 02108
phone: 617-742-8555 ~ fax: 617-742-7808 ~ www.masskids.org



Go To Newsletter Archive Index	MA Citizens' Information Source on Children's Issues October 2003 Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE: Historic Presidential Primary Forum to be Held at the University of New Hampshire MCC Presents MA Campaign for Children at Annual Kids Count Conference Court Rules Favorably on Precedent Setting Child Sexual Abuse Case Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Update Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence Historic Presidential Primary Forum to be Held at the University of New Hampshire Do you know where the presidential candidates stand on children's issue and child abuse prevention? Now you can! The Every Child Matters Education Fund is hosting a series of historic Presidential Primary Forums at the University of New Hampshire. Over the course of a month, each candidate will address an audience for one full hour at UNH’s Huddleston Hall, discussing topics critical to children, youth, and families, including child abuse prevention and treatment, education, after-school programs, child health, and economic security for families. The forums are open to the public and will also be taped and aired back-to-back on C-SPAN at a later date. For more information on scheduling and TV coverage, visit: www.everychildmatters.org MCC Presents MA Campaign for Children at Annual Kids Count Conference Barry Hock, MCC's Kids Count Coordinator, presented two workshops at the annual Kids Count conference convened by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore last month. At the first workshop, on how to get attention for children's issues during an election season, he discussed the strategies used by the Massachusetts Campaign for Children during the 1998 Gubernatorial election. His second presentation on "Polling as a Tool for Advocacy Organizations" described how polling can be used for linking to the media, benchmarking and trend-tracking, strategic decision-making, marketing and program evaluation. The handouts for these presentations can be found at: http://www.masskids.org/kidscount/index.html Court Rules Favorably on Precedent Setting Child Sexual Abuse Case In 2002, MCC filed an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief with the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals to challenge a lower court’s decision that two girls sexually abused by their father in Sweden should be returned there to undergo evaluations. The case addressed specific provisions of the Hague Convention (Article 13b) intended to protect children from future harm if returned to their country of origin. Earlier this month, US District Court Judge Douglass Woodlock issued a ruling that the children should not be returned to Sweden, the place of abuse and their abuser. This judgment will serve as an important precedent for many similarly situated parents who have brought, or may contemplate bringing, children to the United States to escape sexual abuse elsewhere in the world. Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Update Activities are moving full steam ahead with the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Project. The newly selected pilot sites, Newton, Gloucester, and North-Quabbin have been busy participating in project orientations, reviewing recently collected local polling data as well as planning press conferences with their local government officials to announce their selection as pilot sites. Members of the partnership’s Survivors, Parents and Partners committee have recently produced a series of radio public service announcements aimed at conveying the critical message that child sexual abuse can be prevented and that parent, adults and communities must take primary responsibility. Theses compelling messages were recorded by Richard Hoffman, writer-in-residence at Emerson College; Bob Curley, of The Jeffrey Curley Foundation; Kathy Rooney, the reigning Mrs. Massachusetts; and Anne McCarron, Director of Recreational Services at Assumption College. They direct parents, other adults, and survivors of child sexual abuse to local resources where they can get information on how to prevent child sexual abuse and on prevention training opportunities in their communities. Theses spots are expected to air in the three local pilot communities of Newton, North-Quabbin and Gloucester within the coming months. These sound clips will also be placed on MCC's website www.masskids.org within the coming weeks. Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence On May 7, 2002 Governor Mitt Romney announced the formation of the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, charged with making recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretaries of Public Safety and Health and Human Services on all aspects of sexual and domestic violence in the Commonwealth. During the commission’s first meeting on October 1, 2003, community and business leaders unveiled a new campaign to combat teen relationship violence called "See It and Stop It". Citizens can order their free action kit at www.seeitandstop.org The new commission has established the following committees: Children & Adolescents, Data Analysis, Research & Evaluation, Immigrants & Refugees, Justice & Accountability, Legislation, Prevention & Education, and Survivor Services. Citizens interested in participating on the various committees are encouraged to contact the Commission’s Executive Director Beverly Kennedy at beverly.kennedy@state.ma.us
	Massachusetts Citizens for Children 14 Beacon Street, Suite 706 ~ Boston, MA 02108 phone: 617-742-8555 ~ fax: 617-742-7808 ~ www.masskids.org