CHAPTER 20

Next Steps

With completion of the State Call To Action, the Summit Initiative moves to its next phase. Although the coalition building, data gathering, discussion and agenda setting will continue, the main new focus during the next year and beyond will be to engage an even larger constituency to support implementation of the proposed agenda.

In the months ahead, MCC is committed to providing leadership around the following objectives:

1. Education and mobilization of:
   

   • policymakers and advocates, including State Administration officials, legislators, public and private child welfare leaders, and family support advocates;
     

   • leaders of faith-based groups, multicultural leaders and groups, and business representatives;
     

   • citizens including, members of MCC's Campaign For Children, and those who have been affected by abuse and neglect.
     
     

2. Dissemination of the Call To Action through the media, including:
   

   • Editorials, op editorials, news, and feature stories in major newspapers and community weeklies;
     

   • Articles in selected magazines and professional publications;
     

   • Television and radio presentations.
     
     

3. Implementation of the Call To Action by convening:
   

   • The "Summit Work Group on Funding" to document total State, Federal and private dollars required to implement recommendations.
     

   • The "Summit Work Group on Legislation" to draft child protection and family support legislation and to secure funding for implementation.
     

   • The "Summit Work Group on Child Sexual Abuse" to review successful prevention and treatment models in other states and to develop recommendations for actions.
     
     

4. Education of Candidates During the 2002 Massachusetts State Election Season:
   

   • Ongoing public opinion polling, with published results, so citizens can determine voter priorities for children;
     

   • Candidate briefings to secure endorsement of the Call To Action and its recommendations;
     

   • "Kids and the Candidates" questionnaires and published results of candidate responses, so citizens can decide for themselves when choosing their elected officials, "Who's for kids, and who's just kidding?"

Return to Top

Section VI: Taking Action:

• Section VI home

• Chapter 18: Social and Fiscal Costs of Child Abuse and Its Consequences
  

  • Links between Child Abuse/Neglect and Juvenile Delinquency
  • Links between Child Abuse and Adult Disease
  • Links between Child Abuse/Neglect and Welfare Dependency
  • Fiscal Costs to our Nation
• Chapter 19: Options for Funding Reform
  • Potential Funding Sources
• Chapter 20: Next Steps