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CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS FOCUS OF NEW PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

LAUNCHING TODAY IN DENVER

Community Outreach Program Offers Children and Families Resources to Get Help

DENVER - October 5, 2011 - A new public awareness campaign debuts today in the Denver area that educates the community on child sexual abuse and its prevention. This campaign is a partnership between INOBTR ("I Know Better") and Denver Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC). This campaign has been funded through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). DCAC serves children who have been sexually abused, neglected, or traumatized by witnessing violence and is one of 14 child advocacy centers in Colorado providing family-supportive services for abused children.

This Child Sexual Abuse Prevention campaign has been directed by INOBTR ("I Know Better"), a non-profit organization that educates about safety through public awareness in a proactive effort to keep kids safe. INOBTR has worked closely with local Hispanic advertising agency, Hispanidad, on the creative development of this bilingual campaign. The public awareness campaign (PSA) officially launches today in Denver and will run through the end of the year.

"INOBTR is excited to launch this child sexual abuse campaign," said INOBTR Communications Director Kelly McMahon. "Our goal was to deliver a simple and impactful message that demonstrates how pervasive child sexual abuse is in the community, how to prevent its occurrence and where to report suspected abuse. The Denver community is fortunate to have the Denver Children's Advocacy Center for families and children to turn to as a resource. With this campaign, the message is clear that each of us is responsible for the safety of children in our homes, schools and community."

This multilingual campaign is featured in English and Spanish. Out-of-home and broadcast media play an integral role in raising awareness amongst families in general, but specifically among those who may be facing trouble. Key PSA/ad elements include:

• Billboards
• Movie theater advertising
• Radio spots
• Community materials and resources (flyers, posters, etc.)

"The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is pleased to support such an important initiative that illustrates the impact of child sexual abuse on children and their families," said Jeff Slowikowski, Acting Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. "Our office strives every day to protect children and families through our programming and resources. This campaign is a great example of coordinated prevention and intervention services for children and their families."

Child Advocacy Centers

A children's advocacy center (CAC) is a child-focused, facility-based program in which representatives from many disciplines, including law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy, child advocacy, work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions about investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child abuse cases. Currently there are more than 700 child advocacy centers in the United States. For more information about CACs, please go to the National Children's Alliance website at www.nationalchildrensalliance.org.

Campaign

The Denver campaign is one of six public awareness initiatives addressing child and youth safety issues. This project is a part of the Project Youth Safety initiative - a comprehensive multimedia, multicultural overarching youth safety awareness initiative. INOBTR is currently working on upcoming Project Youth Safety campaigns to create issue awareness with today's children and youth including topics such as child abuse, domestic violence, cell phone safety as well as teen dating violence. The child sexual abuse campaign is the third to launch of the six campaigns. Additional information on this project is available at www.projectyouthsafety.org.

Project Partners

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families. Learn more about OJJDP's programs and resources at www.ojjdp.gov.

Denver Children's Advocacy Center provides a continuum of care for traumatized children and their families. DCAC serves children ages 1-17 who have been sexually abused, neglected, or traumatized by witnessing violence. DCAC has built a reputation for working successfully with at-risk families and treating complex cases of child trauma. The children referred to DCAC have typically endured terrible abuse and the Center's mission is to "restore childhood" for these young victims through careful assessment, in-depth treatment and intensive family support. Additional information on DCAC's services and programs can be found at www.denvercac.org.

INOBTR ('"I Know Better") is a non-profit organization that educates broadly through public awareness in an effort to keep kids safe. The organization is best known for its training and community outreach programs on Internet Safety outreach. INOBTR is uniquely skilled in marketing, special events and communications. The organization's most recent campaign, entitled "Decisions," targeted potential online child predators and was part of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Project Safe Childhood national campaign in 2008. INOBTR can be found online at www.INOBTR.org.

For more information on Project Youth Safety and the Denver Child Sexual Abuse campaign, please contact Kelly McMahon at 314.721.9004 ext 335 or via email at kelly@INOBTR.org

 

Former US Congressman Praises DCAC
Former US Congressman and renown children's advocate praises work of DCAC and the commitment of one founding member of our Board of Directors. Read more »

To Read More about Robert "Bud" Cramer and his service to the US House of Representatives and boundless advocacy of abused children,
Click here »

DCAC Takes Information Security Seriously

DCAC PSA 2010

DCAC on Fox News
In this featured segment Dr. Indart talks to parents and caregivers about possible signs of abuse and/or neglect in a child's behavior and offers some suggestions for the best approaches they can take when abuse is suspected.

DCAC featured in Colorado View Magazine
The Colorado View goes in-depth with Executive Director, Dr. Gizane Indart about the history and prevention programs DCAC brings to the community. 
Read more »

Executive Director, Dr. Gizane Indart received prestigious award
Executive Director, Dr. Gizane Indart was slected to receive the National Children’s Advocacy Center’s Outstanding Service Award for her work in building and supporting an outstanding Multidisciplinary Team. The award was presented at the 26th National Symposium on Child Abuse in March in Huntsville, AL. It is exciting to see Dr. Indart nationally recongized for her passion and commitment to helping traumatized children.
Read more » DCAC Public Service Announcement:

 

	new video

DCAC in the News - February 2010, 9News

DCAC Receives National Recognition for Prevention Program
The Office of Justice Programs approved DCAC for one out of only six Federal grants under the FY 09 Promoting Child and Youth Safety: Community Initiatives and Public Awareness.

The grant is a two year award for the expansion of DCAC’s already excellent prevention program which educates children, teachers and parents in high risk communities about safety in a matter-of-fact, easily understandable way. The program is unique in its three-fold focus on sexual abuse prevention for such a young population. It works to

• Improve educators’ knowledge about childhood sexuality, provide them with access to resources to prevent child abuse
• Improve parents’ protective parenting skills, help them talk with their children about sexual abuse, provide them with access to resources
• Teach children age-appropriate self-protective skills

Since 2005, this small-scale program for Head Start children 3-5, has shown strong results in sexual abuse prevention as well as improved, protective parenting in general. This grant will allow DCAC to expand the curriculum to K-3 and test a “train the trainers” component to enable the program to reach many more low-income, at-risk families. DCAC expects to see strong gains in participant knowledge about abuse prevention and changes in attitudes and behavior. Progress will be measured through research-based pre- and post-tests developed and analyzed by the University of Denver’s Department of Psychology. 

DCAC Goes Green with Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping improve the energy efficiency of homes. The Denver NEEP initiative in partnership with the Denver Office of Strategic Partnership extends this to non-profit organizations. With utility bills on the rise, improving the energy efficiency of nonprofit facilities will also reduce energy consumption, thus reducing energy bills and the carbon footprint of such organizations. NEEP is funding the contractor Sun Power to upgrade the existing 2149 Federal house to get it more energy efficient. The following upgrades have been approved for funding and are almost complete!

• Replace the current Air Conditioning Unit with a 17 SEER unit and change the location to the west side of the building under the stairs (to be completed in August)
• Replace bathroom vanity lights with CFL's
• Install 1 gpm aerators at bathroom sinks to slow use of water
• Install smart strips at work stations that will keep phantom loads to a minimum by turning off power after a certain period of no use
• Re-attach crawlspace wall insulation to foundation and insulate rim joist where missing.
• Reduce infiltration: (Air seal rim joist and rim to foundation transition in crawlspace; Replace trim kits with airtight trim kits-top floor is the most important, but infiltration at all recessed lights; Reduce window air leakage by installing foam at sill, caulk b/w frame and rough opening, and consider weather-strip where two sashes meet at double hung windows)
• Re-connection of ductwork found loose in crawlspace with immediate results in comfort level on all floors of house.
• Education of staff in energy conservation.

Additionally, EOC and NEEP are paying for a new tankless water heater for the new 2139 Federal house.
We are very grateful for all the work that Energy Outreach Colorado and Sun Power have done to help us go green and look forward to implementing a plan of energy efficiency that will help us in our endeavors to become even more energy efficient!

DU Study needs participants
The Denver Children’s Advocacy Center and the Stress Studies Group (University of Denver) are launching the The Family Health Study/Estudio de la Salud de la Familia. This exciting new study is designed to better understand how stress affects Latino families. By interviewing Hispanic/Latina mothers with at least one child between the ages of 8-12 years, we hope to learn more about the kinds of health concerns that Latina families face. If interested in learning more about the study, please contact us 303-871-7407.