The
Summit Initiative on Child Protection and Family Support
Over
the past decade, there have been numerous declarations by
child advocates, child welfare providers and families themselves
that child abuse and neglect in the U.S. represents a national
emergency. Despite dramatic calls for reform, sensational
media coverage of high profile cases, and occasional law
suits, child protection systems in the states have not met
the standards or expectations of most citizens.
In 1999,
Massachusetts Citizens for Children made a commitment to
build a broad and deep consensus for reform. The effort
was launched with the convening of the highly successful
two-day Policy Leaders Summit on New Directions in Child
Protection and Family Support.
Following
that Summit, MCC led and organized key leaders in a post-Summit
effort to craft an agenda aimed at reforming the state's
child protection system and expanding community-based family
supports. Five active working groups met over the course
of six months, and during the spring of 2000, three
day-long symposia were convened to address the impact of
child abuse and trauma on child development, behavior, and
school performance. Over
200 leaders in child welfare, health/mental health, and
law enforcement have participated in the Summit Initiative.
In our
continuing effort to reform the state's child protection
system, MCC has released the 200-page State Call To Action:
Working to End Child Abuse and Neglect in Massachusetts
and has begun working to implement its many recommendations.
The
State Call To Action is available in book format.
To order your copy, please send check or money order for
$19.95 per book (made out to Massachusetts Citizens for
Children) to:
Massachusetts Citizens for Children
14 Beacon Street, Suite 706, Boston, MA 02108
Please be sure to include your name, shipping address and
phone number, and the number of books you are ordering.
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