Speak Up For Children Northern Virginia’s leading voice in the prevention of child abuse and neglect w w w. s c a nva . o rg
S U M M E R / FA L L 2 0 1 6
Volume 20, Issue 2
Putting the FUN in Fundraising Family and Adult Teams Enjoy Croquet Tournament, Lawn Games and Fun at Hensley Park in Alexandria
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ore than 200 participants and volunteers attended the 4th Annual SCAN Croquet Day, helping to raise over $40,000 to support SCAN’s child abuse prevention programs in the coming year. Lead sponsors Dave Cleary and Marc & Leana Katz were joined by 40 other generous sponsors and in-kind donors, making this the most successful, well-attended Croquet Day in the event’s 4-year history. Special thanks to District Taco and Rocklands Barbeque for bringing their food trucks to the event, as well as local band Two Blue for providing live music. Support from Bikers Against Child Abuse was also a great addition. We can’t wait for next year!
1: Tournament champions “The Five Ps” with SCAN founder Dave Cleary. 2: The band Two Blue looks on as Del. Alfonso Lopez presents awards with his son. 3: Bob Kroeger—otherwise known as “Croquet Bob,” inducted into the Croquet Hall of Fame in 1999—gives instructions to volunteers. 4: The “Best Bank in Town” team from BB&T won the Team Spirit Award with Jennifer Ferrara, Marion Brunken, Adron Krekeler and Tina Townsend. 5: The Best Team Name award was presented to “The Team Formerly Known as Prince” led by Keshaun Clark from WashingtonFirst Bank. 6: The 2016 Banker’s Cup went to “The Malet-ov Cocktails” Team sponsored by Access National Bank, with Ben Lawler, Dr. Jim Lee, George Kostel and John Long. 7: Volunteers from Wells Fargo. 8: The “The Bliss Psycho Dogs” Team, winners of the Family Team Spirit Award. 9: The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce won Best Team Uniform Award for their “Alice in Wonderland” theme.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Much to Celebrate from CASA Program
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Strengthening Families PAGE 3 with Parent Education Funding what Matters with Public Education
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New App for Parents
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Awards, Movies & More in April SCAN Spreads Message for National Child Abuse Prevention Month
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pril -- National Child Abuse Prevention Month -- provides an important opportunity to educate the public in Northern Virginia about child abuse prevention, and this year was no exception. SCAN presented its annual Allies in Prevention Awards to kick off the month, hosted two Breaking the Silence movie screenings with partners in Alexandria and Loudoun, and provided multiple prevention trainings across Northern Virginia through Darkness to Light and SCAN’s Operation Continued, page 5 SC AN of Nor thern Virginia | w w w.sc anva.org
Welcome New CASA Volunteers!
Update from the Alexandria/ Arlington CASA Program: Dear Friends, The Alexandria/Arlington Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program continues to grow! Last month we welcomed 14 new volunteers who committed to serving youth in our community in need of a voice in the Juvenile Courts. As the fiscal year comes to an end, I would like to acknowledge each of the 94 CASA volunteers who advocated on behalf of 203 of Alexandria and Arlington’s youth who were in need of an advocate. Thanks to the CASA staff members who supported each of these volunteers in serving 108 families in our community. If you know anyone who is interested in learning more about the CASA program, encourage them to visit one of SCAN’s volunteer orientations. We continue to have an urgent need for multicultural and multilingual volunteers to meet the needs of our culturally diverse families. June was a month of celebration for the CASA program! In June, our CASA program joined the National CASA Association in hosting the 2016 National CASA/ GAL Conference at Gaylord National Harbor. CASA staff members participated in a host and planning committee that welcomed representatives from the nearly 1,000 CASA programs from 49 states. More than 1,200 individuals from the CASA/GAL network across the country participated in this year’s conference. The theme, One Network – Many Voices for Children, highlighted the impact of the CASA network’s advocacy efforts and planning for the future of our program. On June 27, the CASA Program joined Independent Living Coordinators Regine Gerard, Arlington DHS, and Lanie Dosland, Alexandria DCHS, to celebrate the achievement of 12 older youth who graduated from high school, trade/vocational programs and colleges this year! The 2016 Graduation and Awards ceremony acknowledged several youth who “beat the odds” and persevered despite obstacles and setbacks during their foster care journeys. (See photo at right.)
Welcome to our Spring 2016 CASA Volunteer Class (pictured L to R at swearing-in ceremony): Maeve Sullivan, Donna Saunders, Wendy Rubin, Emma Pazos, Latisha Hooks, Melissa Hodge, Kevin Hanley, Joseph Graham, Dominque Fryre, Amy Eno, Meghan Dulaney, Amber Holmes, Kelley Spainhour and Tashia Bunch (not pictured). The Honorable Judge Varoutsos and the Honorable Judge Damiani hosted and administered the CASA oath to 14 new CASA volunteers on April 26, 2016 at the Alexandria Juvenile Court. Each of these volunteers share the program’s mission to provide a voice for the most vulnerable children involved in our Juvenile Court and Child Welfare System.
“Don’t concentrate on the movers & shakers. Concentrate on the moved & the shaken.” @scanofnova RT @JohnQABC #CASAConf16
Save the date for upcoming SCAN VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS: Thursday, August 4, 2016 – 7:00 pm Wednesday, September 7, 2016 – 12:30 pm Monday, October 3, 2016 – 6:30 pm Thursday, November 17, 2016 – 12:00 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2016 – 7:00 pm
We appreciate the continued support and dedication to the CASA program from our volunteers, community partners, Judges, funders and SCAN staff. The CASA program strives to continue our growth and meet the needs of our community’s children!
LaTeeka Turner
CASA Program Manager
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Members of the Foster Care Team in Alexandria DCHS celebrated local teens at the 2016 Graduation and Awards ceremony in Arlington on June 27. Pictured, L to R: LaTeeka Turner, SCAN CASA Program Manager, Janada Williams, Cathy Bartholomew, Joseph Ernest and Lanie Dosland.
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Update from the Parent Education Program: Dear Friends,
Celebrating with SCAN’s Parenting Class Graduates
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n May, 11 parents graduated from SCAN’s spring ABCs of Parenting class series. During the 8-week program, 20 children also participated in a parallel Children’s Program. We asked parents about the most important change they’ve made in their family since attending, and their answers were inspiring! They included: “I’m more understanding with my children.” “I use empathy, positive reinforcement, giving compliments, and establishing a routine.” “I’m trying to be understanding and controlling my temper.” “I started to praise myself and my children on a day-to-day basis.” “I spend more time with my child and my family.” The next 8-week series of ABCs of Parenting classes begins on Thursday, October 13. Registration will open in August. Contact Alice Clark (aclark@scanva.org) for details.
In an exciting first for SCAN, we implemented the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) this year. The SFP is a comprehensive, family-focused curriculum that includes 3 components: parent training, children’s skills training, and family skills training. The objective of the program is to (1) build skills in youth to reduce risk (alcohol/drug use) and build protective factors; (2) improve parenting practices known to reduce risk in youth; and (3) build stronger family units to support and guide youth. Thanks to a three-year grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, SCAN offered this program for parents and their children between 10-14 years (in Fall 2016) and parents and their children between 6-11 years (in Spring 2016). A total of 17 parents and 20 youth graduated from the program this year. In line with the curriculum’s emphasis on keeping children drugfree, our partners from the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services and the Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) from Alexandria City Public Schools played an important role in expanding the drug-free messaging outside of our classrooms. Activities included engaging families in the “Conversations that Count” Forum held at Francis Hammond Middle School, where parents and youth learned about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Families were able to share their concerns and develop goals they would follow to help lower their risk. Youth-focused activities such as “Kick Butts Day” and a “Red Ribbon Week Campaign” poster contest were also implemented. Parents, youth and community partners all felt the program made a positive impact: “This program was so important for me because I learned about my son’s future...I hope you all continue providing these programs for parents.” Youth also felt it helped them make a connection with their parents: “Thank you so much for this class, it’s helped a lot. I learned how to connect with my family.”
Special thanks to Delegate Mark Levine for attending a Strengthening Families class session to learn more about the triumphs, challenges and needs of participating families. Pictured above, L to R: Marisol Morales, SCAN Parent Education Program Manager, Lisa Brown from VFHY, Del. Mark Levine and SCAN Board Member Donna Fleming. w w w . s c a n v a . o r g
We are excited to continue this new parenting program series and hope you can join us this coming year! Please consider volunteering as a facilitator, children’s program coordinator or logistics coordinator. Join us for our next volunteer orientation session to learn more.
Marisol Morales
Parent Education Program Manager
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Update from the Public Education Program: Friends, A public educator’s work is never done. There are always more issues to bring attention to, new pockets of the community to reach, and new and creative ways to deliver messages of child abuse prevention and parenting. We are fortunate at SCAN that the role of public education and prevention has moved from something that is difficult to fund to something that is irresponsible not to fund. With new connections in the community, SCAN has been able to sustain programs such as Operation Safe Babies and Darkness to Light as well as create new opportunities with our Parent Resource Center app and expanded workshop menu. We know our messages are reaching the community. We have seen an exponential increase in our workshop attendance, website activity, and social media following. We printed even more child abuse prevention materials because the need is there to get clear and simple messaging into the hands of parents. If you have directly supported public education at SCAN, thank you. If you haven’t, please give me a call or send me a message. I would love to share stories with you about the effect SCAN has on our community stories directly from service providers and families, stories from survivors of child sexual abuse and those who are working to prevent it from happening. You would understand the impact of public education and how you can make a difference through your support.
Tracy Leonard Public Education Manager
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Focus on Immigrant & Refugee Families It’s estimated that one in every 122 people in the world has been uprooted from their homes due to conflict or persecution. At a joint June meeting of our Allies in Prevention Coalition and the Loudoun County Partnership for Resilient Children and Families, more than 90 service providers gathered to discuss the special experiences, needs and challenges of immigrant and refugee families. Special guests from Ayuda, Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington, Fairfax County Public Schools and the Tahirih Justice Center provided invaluable insight and resources for participants.
SCAN Staff Member Becomes Darkness to Light Facilitator This Spring, SCAN Public Education Manager Tracy Leonard became a certified instructor with Darkness to Light and now trains facilitators in Northern Virginia. Thanks to Tracy’s quick work, there are already 7 newly authorized facilitators for a total of 23 facilitators in our network. SCAN has trained 1,129 adults to prevent child sexual abuse through the Stewards of Children workshop, and this network of faciliitators is training even more! Other local organizations – including the Center for Alexandria’s Children, Arlington CAC and Quantico Marine Base Family Advocacy Program – also provide trainings in the area. Have you been trained in Stewards of Children? Do you know of an organization, school, faith community or group of parents that should have this training? Contact Tracy to learn more at tleonard@scanva.org.
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SCAN sends special thanks to: All who made our Parent Education events possible, including ACPS FACE, Alexandria Yellow Cab, Casa Chirilagua, Computer Core, Doug Maheu (Doug the Food Dude), Dream Dog Foundation (Lorraine Friedman), James Mott Foundation, Jazmine Simpson, La Cocina VA, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Yoga in Daily Life and YoKid...Stretch Your Limits. Alexandria County Public Schools, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Briar Woods High School PTSO, The Center for Alexandria’s Children, City of Alexandria Child Protection Services, Healthy Families Alexandria, Lee Auditorium Staff, Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, Loudoun County Child Protective Services, RAINN’s Candice Lopez, Loudoun County Public Schools, Dr. Jill McCabe and Senator Jennifer Wexton for their support of SCAN’s April movie screenings. Child Protection Partnership, The Early Childhood Partnership, Freedom Aquatic Center and Prince William County Parks and Rec for inviting SCAN to provide trainings in their communities.
AT&T Supports Launch of SCAN’s New App for Parents! One of the most exciting achievements during National Child Abuse Prevention Month was the launch of SCAN’s new app for parents. Thanks to support from AT&T, SCAN launched its new Parent Resource Center app, which gives full access to the information, fact sheets and MP3 files from our online Parent Resource Center. Parents and caregivers can learn about more than 75 parenting topics, and many of the tools are also available in Spanish. Have you downloaded SCAN’s free app yet? Simply go to iTunes or Google Play and search for “SCAN Parent Resource Center.”
Lisa Groat from Ayuda, Dr. Patricia Maloof, Maria Mateus from Fairfax County Public Schools and Tahirih Justice Center’s Casey Swegman for participating in our workshop on immigrant and refugee parents with SCAN’s Allies in Prevention Coalition. Esperanza DeSisneros for translating dozens of public education resources for our Spanish-speaking audiences. Carol Hogue from Darkness to Light for assisting in our Stewards of Children facilitator training. Speakers who assisted in new CASA volunteer training, including Melissa Thompson, foster care worker from Arlington DHS, Marcella Rustioni, Arlington Child Advocacy Center; Lyn Greenfield, Alexandria Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program, Jonathan Westreich, Esq., Taren Lambert, Family Engagement, Alexandria DCHS, and Lina Cuda, Substance Abuse Counselor, Alexandria DCHS.
More in April, continued from page 1: Safe Babies program. In addition, SCAN continued to distribute its Kids Need Connections public education materials to thousands of parents and resource providers across the region. Much of this April outreach was successful thanks to more than two dozen Pinwheel Partners. These local businesses, faith groups and families planted pinwheels, raised funds and spread the word about prevention and SCAN’s programs in their communities. Special thanks to our 2016 Pinwheel Partners: Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church Arlington County DHS Beehive Indoor Playground Burke & Herbert Bank Calvary Hill Baptist Church Cheesetique Child Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
Kappa Delta Sorority
(Greater Fairfax and Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter)
Laundry Love Loudoun County Public Schools Matilda Jane Clothing Murtagh-Cleary Family NVFS Serve Community Center Palmer Care
(The Center for Alexandria’s Children, The City of Alexandria, Northern Virginia Family Service & SCAN)
Prince William County DSS
Claude Mayo
Rockledge Elementary School
Fairfax County DFS
Swisher-Gomez Family
Georgetown South Early HeadStart
Talbots – Alexandria
Healthy Families – Reston
Tauxemont Cooperative Preschool
Heartwind, LLC
There Was a Little Girl
Hope Lutheran Church
UMFS
Wendye Quaye
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P E O P L E O N T H E M O V E AT S C A N A N D B E Y O N D. . .
“Mahalo,” volunteers!
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one of the work we do would be possible without the incredible support and energy of SCAN’s more than 200 active volunteers. This summer, we said “Mahalo!” to those special people with a luau-themed Volunteer Recognition party. What a great chance to say thank you to the people changing the lives of children and families in our community!
Speaking of volunteers...
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f you’ve been to a SCAN event over the past ten years, then you’ve probably seen Steve Stice (below). He’s the volunteer in the background -- getting the ice, setting up tables, directing parking, doing what needs to get done for an event to run smoothly. Our development team calls him their “go-to” guy, and we are all so thankful for his support. Thanks, Steve, for your unwavering energy to support SCAN’s work!
In June, SCAN welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors: BETH PALMA taught 7th through 10th grade English in Florida, Virginia and Texas after getting a Masters of Arts in Literature and Composition from the University of Massachusetts. The mother of 3 school-age children, she is currently “CEO of the Palma Family.” Her experience with fundraising for her children’s school and her deep compassion for supporting parents and protecting children will be an asset to SCAN’s fund development strategizing. JENNIFER STRICKLAND is Principle of Schoolhouse Partners, LLC, which provides budgetary and strategic support to educational nonprofits. Jennifer brings a Masters of Arts in Educational Policy and Administration from Ohio State University and more than 15 years of non-profit management experience, both of which will be valuable perspectives as SCAN embarks on a new strategic planning process over the coming year. We are pleased to have volunteer intern AMANDA BOMFIM working with SCAN’s development team this summer. Amanda will enter her senior year this fall at James Madison University majoring in social work. Amanda will help plan SCAN’s participation in the Rock at the Row concert series at Pentagon Row in Crystal City as part of our collaboration with On Tap Magazine. The Parent Education Program is pleased to welcome SARA SEMEGA as our summer intern. Sara is studying psychology at Liberty University. This summer she will help SCAN prepare for the many Parent Education programs we have coming up this fall. Fluent in Amharic, Sara will also work on translating some of our parenting materials to reach an even broader audience.
GRANT UPDATE: 100 WOMEN STRONG | $7,000 for Operation Safe Babies ALEXANDRIA BAR FOUNDATION | $1,500 for Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program ALEXANDRIA ROTARY CLUB | $1,500 for Child Abuse Prevention ARLINGTON COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION | $2,500 for Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program NORDSTROM | $10,000 for Parent Education Program POTOMAC HEALTH FOUNDATION YEAR 2 AWARD | $25,000 for Public Education Program’s Operation Safe Babies & Child Abuse Prevention RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES | $10,000 for Children’s Programs that Build Resilience VICKY COLLINS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | $30,000 for Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program WELLS FARGO | $10,000 for Child Abuse Prevention
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DID YOU KNOW? A monthly donation of just $84 makes you a Circle of Hope member! SCAN OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA HONORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rep. Don Beyer U.S. House of Representatives Lisa Collis, Former First Lady Commonwealth of Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly U.S. House of Representatives Sen. Barbara Favola Virginia State Senate
Welcome CYP President!
SCAN is grateful to Laura Cummings (third from left, above) who has served as President of SCAN’s Council of Young Professionals over the past year. Through her leadership, CYP had another successful year playing an integral role in both Toast to Hope and Croquet Day. This July we welcome Paul Davis (far left, above) as CYP’s new president! Contact CYP@scanva.org to get details about our next meeting.
Circle of Hope members give gifts of $1,000+ that are a critical part of our funding, enabling programs to adapt and teams to collaborate for the most successful services: Marty Abbott John Andelin and Virginia Geoffrey Stan Barg Jim Barthmaier Mia and Tim Bass Blair Blake Jeff and Joyce Bliss Patricia Boerger and Emmett Long Darren and Caroline Broemmer Joel and Joann Brown David and Rixey Canfield Joe and Sara Carlin Ken Chadwick and Melanie Dunn-Chadwick Ravi and Kiyomi Chandra David Cleary Paul Murtagh and Erin Cleary William and Bethanne Cople Laura and Chris Cummings Janelle and Michael Day Christopher Devine Joan Huffer and Rob Dugger Donna Fleming and Pete Cuviello Tim and Jennifer Gale Kelly and Alan Harbitter Nick and Anna Harris Robert and Judy Heiser Sean and April Hosty Jill Jermano Leana and Marc Katz Brooksie Koopman and Mark Eaton
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Mary and John Kudless Grace and Dave Lawson Glenn and Teri Lewis Ana Lucia Lico and Timothy Bickham The Hon. Tim & Mrs. Beth Lovain Ted and Willa Lutz Shirl Mammarella and Tom Tuck Tom Hirst and Magaly Mason Kevin Monroe Lori and Nigel Morris Noel Murphy Chelsey Ney Jason and Yipping Osser Bryan and Elizabeth Palma William Parsons Jennifer Peters Ellen and Patrick Pinschmidt Sonia and Jose Quinonez Steve and Blair Raber Lynn and Gerald Rubin Andrew and Tamara Saltonstall Sten and Veronica Sellier John and Laurette Sheehan Charles Spearman and Nancy Burnett-Spearman Terry and Linda Stewart Michael and Patty Tae Kay and John Tibbits Kent and Mary Pat Woodman Laura Yager
Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety Commonwealth of Virginia Rep. James Moran (Ret.) U.S. House of Representatives Rep. Frank Wolf (Ret.) U.S. House of Representatives Leon Harris News Anchor, ABC7/WJLA-News BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joe Carlin, MS, MBA (President) Ravi Chandra (Vice President) Donna Fleming, MSA (Past President) Wayne S. Ebenfeld, MBA, MPA (Treasurer) Laura Yager (Secretary) David Cleary (Founder) Patti Boerger Valerie Cuffee, MSW Darryl Dove, MBA Tim Gale Sean Hosty, CFP Mary Kudless Ana Lucia Lico, MS, MBA Candice Lopez, MPA Hon. Tim Lovain, JD Chelsey Ney Beth Palma Jennifer Strickland Gwena Kay Tibbits SCAN STAFF Sonia Quiñónez - Executive Director Sarah Bracken - Bookkeeping Assistant Ann Caulkins - CASA Case Supervisor Alice Clark - Parent Education Coordinator Carlota Cox - Development Associate Tracy Leonard - Public Education Manager Vanessa Martinez - CASA Case Supervisor Marisol Morales - Parent Education Manager Sally Richards - Director of Development Sarah Self - Public Education Coordinator LaTeeka Turner - CASA Program Manager
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Mark your calendars, friends!
Rock at the Row Summer Concert Series | AUGUST 4, 11, 18, 25 Strengthening Families (Thursdays) | SEPTEMBER 22 - NOVEMBER 3 Parent Support Group (Mondays) | OCTOBER 3 - DECEMBER 12 Parent Support Group (Wednesdays) | OCTOBER 5 - DECEMBER 14 Strengthening Families (Tuesdays) | OCTOBER 11 - DECEMBER 6 ABCs of Parenting Classes | OCTOBER 13 - DECMBER 13 14th Annual Toast to Hope | NOVEMBER 12 5th Annual Advocacy Day with PCAV | NOVEMBER 18 Virginia CASA Conference | NOVEMBER 18 - 19 Giving Tuesday | NOVEMBER 29
S C A N I S P R O U D TO B E A F F I L I AT E D W I T H :
Visit us online at www.scanva.org phone 703-820-9001 fax 703-820-9002 info@scanva.org SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia 205 S. Whiting Street, Suite 205 Alexandria, Virginia 22304
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