Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Fun

And now for something completely different - watch artist Mark Crilley's Realism Challenge #3.  Happy Friday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuMuGYCW63w


The information provided in this blog is intended to help readers access a wide variety of information related to the work of Children's Advocacy Centers and should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular model or approach and does not necessarily reflect the views of Western Regional CAC, Safe Passage CAC, or OJJDP.

Developmental Difficulties Related to Child Abuse


When reaching out to funders and other stakeholders, it is helpful to have research to back up the anecdotal information we have from working with children at our centers.  The National Institute of Justice Child Abuse and Maltreatment site provides summaries of current research related to child abuse and other forms of violence.  You can find information about developmental difficulties related to child abuse by following this link:
http://www.nij.gov/nij/topics/crime/child-abuse/developmental-difficulties.htm

The information provided in this blog is intended to help readers access a wide variety of information related to the work of Children's Advocacy Centers and should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular model or approach and does not necessarily reflect the views of Western Regional CAC, Safe Passage CAC, or OJJDP.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Finding Out What Funders Think

Even though you generally can't join grantmaker organizations as members, visiting their websites and reviewing the materials available to the general public will help you gain valuable insights into current trends in philanthropy.

A trip to the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations web site,  http://www.geofunders.org/home,  will provide you a link to a guide for funders on the use of evaluations to strengthen their understanding, and ability to partner more effectively with, the organizations they fund.  In addition, click on the News tab, go to the press kit, and you will find a list of foundations that belong to this grantmaker organization, as well as links to their websites (click on the foundation name).

The GEO News section also includes a link to a series of short videos (Engage for Results) that highlight a paradigm shift towards transformational funding and greater engagement with grantees and their communities.

Most states or regions have grantmaker forums and many have sections for potential grantees.  To find the one for your area, go to http://www.givingforum.org/s_forum/sec.asp?CID=575&DID=2625 and click on your state.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Power of Collective Impact

Effective collaboration is key to the operation of a CAC.  When we work well, it is because we have engaged partners from diverse disciplines to work towards a common goal.  How can we use what we have learned about the power of collaboration to address the wider issues related to sexual abuse and other forms of child maltreatment?  How do we engage funders and other partners outside of the CAC core disciplines to become part of this effort?  Can we have a greater impact by inviting others into the circle to create a cultural shift in our communities? Can we become part of a larger collaborative effort?

An article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review (Winter 2011) talks about the power of collective impact and how using this model can create the kind of social change that the work of individual agencies cannot.  They write:

"The power of collective action comes not from the sheer number of participants or the uniformity of their efforts, but from the coordination of their differentiated activities through a mutually reinforcing plan of action. Each stakeholder’s efforts must fit into an overarching plan if their combined efforts are to succeed. The multiple causes of social problems, and the components of their solutions, are interdependent. They cannot be addressed by uncoordinated actions among isolated organizations."

To read more about the power of collective impact, go to http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact/

Monday, August 13, 2012

What do East Wenatchee, Denver, and Farmington Have In Common?

What do these cities in Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico have in common?  You can find them by clicking the interactive map on the Foundation Center's Nonprofit Collaboration Resource Page.  This page provides information on how to form and sustain viable collaborations and gives examples of effective collaborations around the country.  Check out the infographic on strategic restructuring and find out what experts say about collaborative partnerships with other agencies and funders.  You can find it at http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/collaboration/

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Recognize Your Local Champions of Victims Rights

Does your team include an outstanding advocate for children?  How about a volunteer, program, or organization in your community that is a champion for the rights of child victims?

Each year the Office of Victims of Crime recognizes individuals, teams, organizations, and programs that promote the rights of victims.  They also have awards for volunteers and for victims of crime that have moved beyond their victimation to help others.  To nominate someone you think deserves extra recognition for their efforts and inspiration, go to http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/notices/2013NatlServiceAward/index_reminder.html and fill out the online nomination form. 

Friday, August 3, 2012

Flight Canceled? Your Cell Phone May Be Your Best Friend

Here's this week's travel tip. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, your cell phone may help you get a seat on another flight and save you cancelation fees at the hotel you booked. Put the phone numbers and confirmation numbers for airlines reservations, ground transportation, and hotels in your cell phone or smart phone before leaving for your trip. Make sure you have your airline and hotel membership numbers as well. If your flight is canceled or the delay means you will miss your connecting flight, you can call the airline reservation line directly and try to get on another flight. Although you still want to get in line for the customer service desk, you can call the airline's reservation number while you are waiting for the line to move slowly to the counter. You may have a new seat before you get to the front of the line and, more importantly, before one of the twenty people ahead of you gets that seat first. If the line is still long, you can get your boarding pass at the new flight's gate. Be sure and call your shuttle or rental car and hotel to reschedule or cancel, so you won't be charged a cancelation fee.

When you arrive at the airport and head for your original gate, look for your airline's customer service desks - there may be more than one. Often, when a flight is canceled or delayed, people head for the nearest desk. Heading for the one at another spot in the terminal may mean you are at or near the front of the line instead of waiting behind the other 100 or so customers from your flight who made a bee-line to the first customer service counter they could find. Also, and this shouldn't have to be said, but given what I have seen happen in front of me on more than one occasion, I will - be nice to the airline employees, no matter how tired or frustrated you feel. Remember, they have the computer with the flight info in it, and you don't. Plus, there is that whole being kind and respectful to people thing.

A final tip, if your flight is delayed, sit within earshot of the gate agent. When I overheard one gate agent in Virginia say to another, "it will take an act of God", when talking about the chances that the plane's mechanical issues would be resolved anytime soon, I made my way quickly to the airline's customer service desk to book another flight, several minutes ahead of the official cancelation announcement.

Happy Trails!

Would you like to see some of the places we roam?  Go to http://pinterest.com/mofitz17/where-do-we-roam/