Happy Fails To You

Why take time to consider our mistakes? Because we learn from them.  As the songwriters have often said, it is in the places that we are broken that the light shines through.  Engineers Without Borders, a Canadian non-profit, publishes an annual Failure Report.  Although this is an international organization, there is much our local, regional, and statewide organizations can glean from these reports about communication, failure to get buy-in, relationship building, and thinking about the ramifications of our actions.  Any of those issues sound familiar?  You can read some of EWB's Failure Reports at http://dxpj7nxwqticg.cloudfront.net/wp-content/themes/whiteboard/reports/EWB%20-%20Failure%20Report%202012.pdf

If you are considering the value of this approach for your organization, Failforward.org offers a free download of Failure Report  A How-To-Guide at http://failforward.org/learning-modules/failure-reports/

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.

Is there a link between bruises in infancy and later severe abuse?

Is there a link between early bruises in infants and later severe abuse?  Read more here.
http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/12/how-small-bruises-lead-to-big-ones-in-child-abuse-cases/

Terrifying Site Visits

Vu Lee, Executive Director of Vietnam Friendship Association in Seattle, shares his humorous and insightful take on living through a potential funder site visit.  Been there, done that.
http://blueavocado.org/content/humor-uncomfortable-terrifying-site-visit

Mandated Reporter Training - Is it happening in your local schools?

In some states, there are inconsistencies and confusion within school districts about mandated reporter policies and a lack of consistent training for staff, raising the risk that child abuse goes unreported.  As a CAC, schools may be a good place to partner with for mandated reporter training.  You can read an article about the problem with California schools here:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22749685/school-abuse-reporting-training-murky-despite-horrifying-cases


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.

Financial Assistance Available To Attend Trainings

Later in the year, Western Regional CAC will offer scholarships to attend professional trainings and conferences other than those conducted by WRCAC.  In the meantime, or in addition, consider applying for one of these scholarships:

The Office for Victims of Crime offers professional development scholarships to those who work with victims of crime. Scholarships can be applied toward the expenses for travel and per diem and for training fees or tuition. For more information and to apply for a scholarship, visit the OVC TTAC Web site. (OVC) For example, you would like to send a team member to the NCA Leadership Conference, the Dallas Crimes Against Children Conference, or any other professional conference.  You could apply to WRCAC for up to $1000 toward travel and transportation and up to another $1000 from Office of Victim of Crime to pay for registration and additional travel and transportation costs.  Both are competitive grants, but come up with a compelling case and you could have the funds you need.  OVC also has grants for up to $5000 per training for multidisciplinary teams.