SCAN's Building Blocks

SCANStop: A challenge from a guest blogger…

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:30:49 +0000

This month’s guest blogger making a “SCANStop” is Board Member Patti Boerger, who recently participated in one of our new Stewards of Children trainings through the Darkness to Light program to end child sexual abuse. Here she shares what she learned, and presents a challenge to us all:

Child. Sexual. Abuse.

These three words are taboo in many households, yet it is highly likely that you know a child who has or is being abused, or an adult who lived through this nightmare.
The horrifying statistics on a topic that is finally coming out of the darkness are one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before their 18^th birthdays.

I learned these statistics and what I can do in the community to help end child sexual abuse by recently attending the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training offered locally by SCAN. The program is intended to light a fire under adults so they take courageous action to stop abuse, learn the facts and report any suspected cases to the authorities.

What should adults do? The training stresses that child sexual abuse prevention and response are an adult’s job. It’s an adult’s responsibility to look after children, to be conscious of what’s going on around them, and to speak up–sometimes loudly and relentlessly–on children’s behalf. This may seem like common sense, but too often abuse cases go unreported, adults don’t know the signs, the questions to ask or just don’t feel empowered to make a difference in their communities.

There was great example of a mom in the video training who said her child was not going to take music lessons at a particular studio where the instructor and child were alone in a room, behind a closed door with no window for a parent or adult to see what was occurring in the classroom. This parent had learned the facts–more than 80% of sexual abuse cases occur in these one adult/one child situations–and she refused to put her child in a situation where conditions existed for potential abuse.

This training also teaches attendees about developing better policies and procedures to prevent child abuse, creating awareness among adults and showing them steps to take so abusers don’t want to work for them because they don’t make it easy for abuse to occur.

The bottom line is: learn the facts, minimize the opportunities for sexual abuse to occur, talk about it openly with adults and children to increase awareness of the topic, stay alert and act on suspicions.

THE CHALLENGE: I encourage you to read the information on SCAN’s website about child sexual abuse, and TELL 10 FRIENDS what you learned and what you plan to do. Help SCAN spread the word about child abuse prevention. And if you know of anyone who could benefit from the Stewards of Children Training, please have them learn more on our website here.

- Patti

To discuss a training in the City of Alexandria, please contact our partners in this outreach at the Center for Alexandria’s Children. To discuss a training for your group in any other part of Northern Virginia, please contact Sharon Crilly (scrilly@scanva.org), SCAN’s Community Educator.

Scoop on SCAN: Our founder, in his own words

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00:48 +0000

If you’ve ever been involved with SCAN, chances are you know who Dave Cleary is. More than 20 years ago, Dave founded SCAN in the basement (yes, the basement) of his home in Old Town Alexandria. But his connection with the issues of child abuse and neglect as well as its cost to the community and the value of prevention began much earlier. We’ve told you about it before (most recently in a “Snapshot of Hope” for our 20th anniversary), but today we want to share Dave in his own words, on why he first started SCAN as well as what he dreams for the future of children and families in Northern Virginia:

Share Dave and his SCAN story with your friends and colleagues…click on the title of this post, then use the “Facebook” button to share on your wall!

SCANSnapshot: Volunteers are a beautiful thing

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:53:53 +0000

Last night we kicked off our new session of ABCs of Parenting classes, and we can’t think of a more beautiful picture to post this morning. This is a group of Parent Education Program volunteers who supported our last round of English and Spanish parenting classes, which resulted in 24 parents (12 from each class) completing this popular program.

Want to know something especially great about this photo? See the young man in the back row, second from the left? That’s Zachary. He plays baseball for St. John’s College High School (SJC), and helps his mom coach his sister’s softball team in a Northern Virginia league where he is also a youth umpire. He’s been a Youth Teaching Assistant at the Smithsonian Institution Summer camp (a favorite among his campers). He’s also a volunteer at SCAN.

As a junior at SJC, Zachary was required to perform 40 hours of volunteer community services for the 2010 /2011 school year. Zach’s mom (who is a volunteer with another local CASA Program), thought earning those hours working with children while their parents attend class was a perfect fit for Zachary. He’s great with kids and had relevant experience.

Zachary says he likes being a volunteer because he gets to meet interesting people, he enjoys working with kids and he likes to be a positive role model for the children.

We’re pretty sure he’s a great role model for all of us, no matter what our ages might be. Don’t you?

SCANning the Web: Check out SCAN on iTunes

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:24:35 +0000

We’ve spent some time this month taking a look at our website and how parents are finding resources there. We were thrilled to see more than 1,500 documents downloaded in the last 3 months of 2011, including over 500 fact sheets from our Parent Resource Center. It’s exciting to know just how many families–in Northern Virginia and beyond–are searching for help and resources to manage the challenges of parenting on our very own site. Our success also affirms that it’s the perfect time to explore NEW ways of reaching today’s tech-savvy parents. We know they’re hungry for it!

In a blog post a few months ago, we announced our new Podcasts for Parents (thanks to a grant from AT&T). Since then we’ve posted 6 podcasts which are now available on iTunes! Bonus: they were recorded by local celebrities Leon Harris from ABC7 and Lori Brooks from WASH-FM.

And that’s where YOU come in. Now that our podcasts are available on iTunes, we need parents to listen to them and rate them. The more ratings we have, the more listeners we can reach via iTunes’ search tool. So please check out one or two (or all six!) below and start talking about SCAN and parenting support on iTunes:

Divorce Significant family changes such as divorce…
Self Care Many parents today are overwhelmed with the stress…
Positive Communication Positive communication with your kids is possible…
Positive Discipline Discipline is not just about punishment. It should…
Pause for a Child Take time for the children in your life…
Anger Management If you can work on these skills, you will help your children…

(And if you’re not on iTunes, don’t worry! You can download the MP3s or listen on our website here.)

SCANScoop: First D2L training makes us more committed than ever to end child sexual abuse

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:34:28 +0000

On January 5th, SCAN hosted its first Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training, empowering twenty professional members of the Loudoun County community to take action in the prevention of child sexual abuse.

The group of staff and volunteers from the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) included social workers, shelter and Child Advocacy Center directors, court community advocates, Nurturing Parenting program staff, attorneys, sexual assault services staff and children’s program staff/volunteers.

SCAN staff received D2L training in December.

The overall response to the training was very favorable. Evaluation comments included:

“Great training that I could use both personally and professionally”;
“Very good information with good suggestions”; and
“I look forward to sharing the workbook with family members – it leaves no doubt as to how to react to a disclosure of sexual assault (of a child). Just as important, we now have diagnostic tools to interpret ‘signs’ of child abuse.”

But perhaps the most telling sign of how the training went came as we concluded the training with a question to all participants: Which members of their community would they like to see trained as Stewards of Children? The consensus was that everyone should know this information, especially those that are mandated reporters. We couldn’t agree more.

SCAN is committed to working towards a goal in Loudoun County of having all mandated reporters trained as Stewards of Children. Stay tuned as we continue to raise awareness and host trainings in the coming year across our targeted regions of Loudoun & Prince William counties.

If you are interested in a Darkness to Light training from SCAN, please visit www.scanva.org/D2L for more information.

SCANStar: Lori Brooks from WASH-FM

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:02:34 +0000

You’ve probably listened to the voice of Lori Brooks while sitting in morning traffic or driving the kids to school. One half of the popular Loo & Lori morning show on WASH-FM, Lori has now also offered her voice to support SCAN’s work to prevent child abuse and neglect in our community. Lori recently taped 3 new Podcasts for Parents — on Positive Communication, Self Care and Divorce — that are available on our website as well as our iTunes channel.

We chatted with Lori about her new connection with SCAN, and are just delighted to share some insight and childhood memories from a favorite local celebrity…

BuildingBlocks: How did you find out about SCAN?
Lori: Clear Channel has been working with SCAN for many years and as a Public Affairs Director at WASH-FM, I thought SCAN’s programs would be something our listeners would benefit from and could spread the word about.

BB: Why did you decide to support SCAN as a volunteer?
Lori: Volunteering is a way to make the world a better place, like SCAN does. In my job I get lots of opportunities to volunteer with great organizations.

BB: Has anything about working as a SCAN volunteer surprised you?
Lori: How streamlined everything is. SCAN has something for everyone and they’ve really thought out what they teach and provide and made it easy for people to use their services.

BB: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?
Lori: Growing up I always thought I would be an attorney or a veterinarian! Now, I have been doing radio for more than 30 years, currently on the air with Loo Katz, as Loo and Lori, mornings at WASH-FM, 97.1.

BB: What is your favorite childhood memory?
Lori: My mother would whistle when she would do housework, like dusting, and I loved it! That and getting my Swingy doll in third grade.

BB: What was your favorite movie when you were a child?
Lori: Without a doubt, it was National Velvet!

BB: If you were given a free flight anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Lori: Wherever I could do the most good being there.

BB: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Lori: Nuts, all kinds of nuts!

BB: What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
Lori: I had a pair of Black Vultures (not Turkey Vultures) that had two chicks in my old dilapidated barn shed last year. They’re gone now, but I really miss them! It was so fun watching the babies learn to fly.

We’re thrilled to produce our new Podcasts for Parents thanks to a grant from AT&T and support from local celebrities like WASH-FM’s Lori Brooks and NBC4′s Leon Harris (you can read his BuildingBlocks interview here.) Learn more about (and subscribe to) our podcasts here!

Scoop on SCAN: 3 (easy!) resolutions you can make for SCAN today

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:20:39 +0000

Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year – many of us are making resolutions to celebrate 2012. We thought it might be nice to offer three EASY resolutions that, in a matter of seconds, you can cross off your list and actually keep! So here they are–3 simple steps you can take today that will make a difference for children and families in YOUR community all year long:

1. “Like” us on Facebook. One click here: www.facebook.com/scanva will help us reach many more people in 2012 via your busy network.

2. Subscribe to our Podcasts for Parents by clicking on “View in iTunes” here: http://bit.ly/qe0kf6 Great guests (like NBC4′s Leon Harris and WASH-FM’s Lori Brooks) record these short, useful podcasts that are great to share with parents-on-the-go!

3. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scanofnova then retweet our news with just a click all year long!

and just one more as a bonus…

4. Support an organization changing the lives of children and families in Northern Virginia. If you’ve done any of the steps above, you can already cross this one off your list!

Happy New Year, friends!

SCANning the Web: Holiday Stress, Family Style

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:18:58 +0000

Publishing this post just a few days before the biggest holiday week of the year might feel like perfect timing. Or it may feel as though your family (like many of us) finds itself so caught up in the craziness of school programs, work parties and endless to-do lists that you won’t even have time to sit down and read a blog post, let alone check out the links we provide below. But we’re making a special request to parents: please take a moment to do so.

The holidays are a mixed bag: families have the opportunity to spend extra time together, share traditions and celebrate special cultural and religious events. But they can also max out our already busy schedules and make us feel like we’re never doing quite enough to make it special for those we love. Holidays can also be just plain painful if they remind us of financial difficulties, strained relationships or the loss of loved ones.

Nevertheless, here we are. This year, why not gift yourself the time and tips to keep the focus on your family (rather than the gifts or party invitations or endless other things it can turn into)? Click here for fact sheets on Holiday Stress, Family Stress and Helping Children Manage Stress. And then, take just a few minutes to consider trying one of these tips this year:

1. Ask your kids how they feel about the holidays. Are they over-tired? Stressed? Have they had a chance to spend a quiet night at home with you recently?

2. Set family priorities. If you talk about options together (baking Christmas cookies at home vs. attending a large party, for example) you can make decisions together. And your kids’ answers might surprise you!

3. See the opportunity in front of you! Many children are home from school and parents take time off from work over the next two weeks. Try and plan one or two special, family-focused events to enjoy together. Even just a mid-day walk around your neighborhood or cooking a meal together can be a nice break from the fast-paced routine of daily life.

4. Give a gift with lasting value. Sure, you’ve probably already purchased the latest video game or toy for your child. But why not write them an end-of-year letter about why you love them and how they’ve made you proud over the past year? Enclose an old photo or two and read it together during a quiet moment at home.

Remember: no family is perfect. Neither are the holidays. Do what you can to make your time together full of meaning, not stress. Your kids will thank you for that some day.

A SCANStar Farewell to Susan Britton

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:01:45 +0000

This month we bid adieu to Susan Britton, a member of SCAN’s volunteer family for more than half a decade.

Every week, Susan served as the Children’s Program Coordinator for SCAN’s Monday night Parent Support Group. This month she’ll oversee her last evening of children’s activites to allow time for other personal and professional opportunities.

“I’ll miss the wonderful dedicated staff and volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with over the years,” said Susan, “but I think I will especially miss the children. They are amazing people and have taught me so much!”

Susan’s enthusiasm for organizing developmentally-appropriate activities has been a blessing for the parents, SCAN staff and volunteers who work side-by-side with her each week.

“Susan is obviously very dedicated,” said Juliet Mason, a SCAN volunteer who appreciated how welcoming Susan was when she first started helping with the group. “I think in the year and half I’ve been working with her, she’s only missed three Mondays,” said Juliet. “She knows all the kids, even those that don’t come regularly; she remembers them and their names instantly.”

“Susan is a volunteer you can always count on,” said Shannon May, SCAN’s previous Parent Education Coordinator, who spent 4 years working alongside Susan in numerous capacities.”Her energy and flexibility to be creative and adjust to working with children and their sometimes challenging behaviors is admirable.”

Susan enjoyed giving her time and talents to support SCAN’s Parent Support Groups because, as she puts it, “Children learn how to take good care of each other by sharing a toy, inviting someone else to play or standing up when someone is being teased. That sense of responsibility for each other and caring is really refreshing and re-energizing, especially when it comes from a child who did not have or use those social skills when they first came to group”.

We will miss Susan and the wealth of knowledge she has shared with SCAN as well as the parents and children we have been privileged to serve together over the past five years. Luckily, SCAN will remain in touch with Susan professionally at the three SCAN-supported developmental playgroups she coordinates as part of her work at the Center for Alexandria’s Children.

We’re sending a special thank you to Susan this month, for the hours upon hours of expertise and care she has put towards enhancing the lives of children in the Alexandria community!

Scoop on SCAN: Give 12 by 2012

SCAN of Northern Virginia — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:21:28 +0000

End-of-year giving is a big deal for most nonprofits, and SCAN is no different. Many organizations depend upon giving at the close of the calendar year for most of their total individual donations. But we also know that this time of year — especially in our current economy — can be stressful for families dealing with financial challenges. So we’ve come up with some quick and easy ways to support SCAN over the next few weeks.

We hope you’ll consider why an investment like this will make a long-term impact on our community, long after the holiday season is over:

1. Give 12 by 2012. We can’t stress enough that EVERY donation of ANY amount will make a difference. Just $12 can put educational materials in the hands of 12 parents. $112 provides a healthy meal for 20 families at one of our Parenting Classes. Our goal is to raise $12,000 by January 12, 2012. Click here to “GIVE 12 BY 2012″!

2. Shop from SCAN’s Holiday Wish List. From glue sticks to grocery gift cards, we welcome even the smallest of donations. They DO make a different to the volunteers and families involved in our programs. Print out the list here and keep it with you — most items are easy to pick up the next time you’re at the store!

3. Buy a “Gift that Gives Hope” online. We’ve partnered with the local Gifts that Give Hope organization, which means you can purchase a “gift” for SCAN (supplies for a Children’s Program or a month of support for a CASA volunteer, for example) to honor someone on your shopping list. But shopping must be done online by December 18th, so visit the website soon!

We are so grateful for the hundreds of supporters and volunteers who take time from their busy lives and funds from their own budgets to make our programs possible.

Every child and family we touch (more than 1,200 last year alone!) is because of you. We hope you’ll help us in any way you can to do even more in 2012.