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B U S I N E S S2014 Fall NewsletterN A M EIn This Issue:Snowflake Gala1Volunteers2Board ofDirectors2Holiday GivingSpree3ACCAC Staff3ACCAC Services3Letter fromDirector4MDT Spotlight5Darkness to Light5Tech Smart6SchoolPrevention6Halloween SafetyTips7Donations8
PAGE2VolunteersThe Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center (ACCAC) would not be complete without its volunteers. Sara Walter, Volunteer Coordinator, and her husband, Sam, spend hours every year supporting thecenter. There never seems to be an event sponsored by the center that does not include Sara’s participation.And Sam seems able to fix anything at the center. He quickly responds when called to address minor repairsinside and outside of our building. Both Sara and Sam tend to the landscaping and lawn care, providing abeautiful and welcoming outside setting.Interns also provide assistance at the center. This past spring and summer, the ACCAC was fortunateto have two college interns support clerical duties, sanitize toys, organize resource materials and displays,update orientation binders and the center display board, participate in outreach events and organize information for the center’s quarterly newsletter and annual report.Volunteers and interns are utilized on a regular and continuing basis at the ACCAC. They are invaluable in providing support and services to our staff, center, and ultimately the children and families served.Thank you to those individuals for their support of the Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center. You aregreatly appreciated!Thank you to all ofour volunteers fortheir dedication andgiving their time tothe ACCAC.If you are interested inbecoming part of this terrificgroup of people, we would loveto have you!Contact our center at(717)-337-9888ACCAC Board of DirectorsPresident: John Fitzpatrick, Avalon FosterVice President: Brecia Nevada, Hoffman Homes for YouthTreasurer: Carli Lehr, CPA, Rager, Lehman & HouckSecretary: Cindy Keeney, Director of Victim WitnessDr. Turkewitz, York HospitalTim Guise, Cumberland Police DepartmentCarolyn Wagaman, PNC BankJudy Alder, Gettysburg Hospital FoundationFred Snyder, Community MemberDr. Eric Hillson, Community MemberSherry Wisor, PHRShawn Wagner, District Attorney
PAGEHoliday SpreeCOMMUNITYFOUNDATIONADAMSCOUNTYFor Good. For Adams County. For Ever.PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE!ADAMS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC. PRESENTS“HOLIDAY GIVING SPREE Gifts That Show You Care”Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 4PM to 7PMat The Gettysburg Hotel Give the gift that shows you care. . . and reaches out to others.Tired of giving Mom jewelry or fragrances?Does Dad already have too many socks, ties and pajamas?Want to teach your child the gift of giving to others?Want to honor a friendship?This year when planning your Holiday giving, consider a gift to a community organization.This is a gift that shows you care. . . about your loved one. . . about your community.ACCAC ServicesThe ACCAC provides various services to thecommunity to help keep kids safe. ALL services areFREE. For more details on these services checkwww.kidsagaincac.org orcall (717) 337-9888.Forensic Interviews Medical Exams Family Clinician Therapeutic Mental Health Child Abuse Prevention CAC STAFFExecutive Director:Tammy Barbour, MSW, LSWForensic Interview Specialist:Child and Adolescent Counselor:Jennifer Baney, MA, ATR-BCRegistered, Board Certified Art TherapistMedical Examiner:Dr. David Turkewitz, M.D.Office ManagerJackie Hendricks3
PAGELetter from Executive DirectorThe end of summer brings mixed feelings for children returning to school. Some are eager to return to the anticipatedstructure provided and to their friends. Others are not so excited togive up the “freedom” that correlates with summer. For the AdamsCounty Children’s Advocacy Center (ACCAC), this summer didnot include a “break”, but unfortunately included continued response to child abuse victims and their families. To assist thosechildren facing the process of addressing child abuse and trauma,the ACCAC, with the support of the Gettysburg Moose Lodge,was able to provide “Tommy Moose” stuffed animals for them following their interviews at the center.In August, for children seen at the center and for those involved in the child welfare system, ACCAC,with donations from Aetna employees, was able to provide needed school supplies. The employees atAetna generously provided school supplies from erasers to back packs to scientific calculators for children in our community.The summer has also been a busy month for those involved in making sure changes effective December 31, 2014 to Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) will be provided to both mandated and permissive reporters. ACCAC staff has been collaborating with Adams County Children andYouth Services staff to ensure that professionals and community members understand the changes andwhat impact the changes have to them, and more importantly to children. Additionally, ACCAC is supporting three individuals who will be trained to deliver a community education program, Darkness toLight, Stewards of Children. Two of those being trained will be able to deliver the training in Spanish.Training funds were provided through a Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Institute (PDAI) grant. Additionally, local school districts are responding to educational training available through our center staff.Fall is a busy time for ACCAC staff, board members, and volunteers preparing for the center’s annualSnowflake Gala. The CAC’s ninth Snowflake Gala will be held on Friday, November 14th, 2014 at theWyndham Hotel in Gettysburg. To support the excellent work of our center and those involved inproviding assistance to child abuse victims and their families, I ask you to consider joining us in thisevent.Thank you to all who support our center and our vision in a community where children are safe, familiesare strong and our child victims become children again.Tammy Barbour, MSW, LSWExecutive Director4
PAGE5MDT SpotlightNicole Assi is a Child Protective Services Intake Caseworker withAdams County Children & Youth Services. Nicole became employed atChildren & Youth in May of 2012 after completing a year-long internshipwith the agency. Nicole received her Bachelors degree in Social Work fromShippensburg University and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree inSocial Work at Shippensburg University through the Child WelfareEducation for Leadership (CWEL) program.Nicole is active in various agency workgroups and has participated in extensive training events, including atwo-day Child/Infant Death training in the Poconos and a week-long training in Vail, Colorado this pastsummer for Family Group Decision-Making. Nicole has been a mentor for new employees at the agency andcontinuously seeks out new opportunities. Nicole is vested in securing the safety of children in Adams Countyand looks forward to prospects of continued growth within the county to best achieve this goal.Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children TrainingDarkness to Light’s Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educatesadults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program believes and teaches that childsafety is an adult's job. Stewards of Children is designed to be used by organizations that serve children and youth.What is distinctive about Stewards of Children? Includes the “5 Steps to Protecting our Children,”Darkness to Light’s core, evidence-basededucational tool for sexual abuse prevention. Integrates the simple principles of choice,consciousness, and personal power to promote anunderstanding of the nature and impact of childsexual abuse, and that uses those principles toprovide a context for empowered action. Thecurriculum is direct about holding each adultaccountable, and generous in providing powerful,specific support for personal change. Has a video component of curriculum that sharespersonal stories of sexual abuse survivors and theirexperiences of trauma and healing. Calls participants into personal responsibility forthe safety of children, while at the same timeappreciates their fears and concerns.For more information on this training or to schedule agroup training session, please contact ACCAC at717-337-9888
PAGE6Tech Smart 4 Kid’s SafetyTech Smart 4 Kid’s Safety is designed to educate parents so they can gain knowledgeto become increasingly aware of the potential risks associated with their children’s useof technology and more effective in supervising its use. Tech Smart 4 Kid’s Safety canbe presented in 1, 2, or 3 hour trainings.1 hour – Provides adults with information on how much personal data is given outwhen we use modern technologies and the dangers that go along with providing that information. Providessuggestions of how to limit the amount of personal data provided and increase the understanding of manytechnologies.2 hour – 1 hour presentation plus cyber bullying and sexting, and tools to prevent or stop it3 hour – 2 hour presentation plus easy to follow and practical suggestions on ensuring the safety of the children and teenagers that utilize these technologiesFor more information please contact ACCAC at (717) 337-9888 for more details.Speak Up Be SafeWe expanded our prevention programs to include a school-based prevention program.Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is a research based, comprehensive primary prevention education curriculum thatequips children in grades 1-6 and their adult community with skills they need to play a significant role in theprevention or interruption of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect.Biglerville Elementary– 275 studentsNew Oxford Elementary– 457 studentsThis school year theACCAC provided thisprogram to 732 students!This program meets state standards for health and safety education. It also involves parents and caregivers inthe effort to keep children safe with a variety of take-home materials allowing parents and caregivers to applythe lessons learned to real life situations.Is your child’s school providing this program? Have your local school district contact ACCAC at(717) 337-9888 for more details.
PAGE 7Halloween Safety TipsWalk Safely Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals andcrosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keeplooking as you cross. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk,don’t run, across the street. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers beforecrossing in front of them. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left aspossible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or crossbetween parked cars.Trick or Treat With an AdultChildren under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enoughto be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, chooselight colors. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which canobstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.Drive Extra Safely on HalloweenSlow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods.Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spotchildren from greater distances.Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
PAGERETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDNON-PROFITORG.US PostagePAIDGettysburg, PAPermit No. 75450 West Middle StreetGettysburg, PA 17325Sign up for our e-newsletter at www.kidsagaincac.orgBe a hero to our community’s children,make a gift to the CAC !Donations are welcomed by Visa/MasterCard or check made payable to“Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center.” You can also donate online at: www.kidsagaincac.org 25 50 100 250 500 Other Name (as it appears on credit card):Address:Credit Card Type: Visa MasterCard DiscoverCredit Card #Exp. Date: CVV2 Code: 3-4 digit code on reverse side of cardThe official registration and financial information of The Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.Please mail donations to: ACCAC, 450 West Middle Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325Our Vision: A community where children are safe, families arestrong and our child victims become children again.8
program to 732 students! This program meets state standards for health and safety education. It also involves parents and caregivers in the effort to keep children safe with a variety of take-home materials allowing parents and caregivers to apply the lessons learned to real life situations. Is your child's school providing this program?
