[2019 GRATITUDE REPORT] GRIT HEART RELATIONSHIPS EXCELLENCE How We Help Defining Our Core Values, Planning for Our Future FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS AND ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION Back in 2015, staff and board members met to set BCAC’s five-year strategic plan FAMILY ADVOCATES BCAC’s anti-trafficking & exploitation to take us through 2020. One part of this process was to create a statement about Our forensic interviewers meet one-on- team provides a comprehensive what a bold future would look like for BCAC, and we came up with a vision statement: one with children when they are ready response, from prevention to aftercare, In 2020, BCAC will be a nationally recognized leader in cutting edge innovation to talk, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. to individuals who have been trafficked, and best practices to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, trauma, and Interviewers are specially trained social used in child sexual abuse images and other Adverse Childhood Experiences. workers and their conversations are victimized through internet crimes. Reflecting back on our planning process four years ago, I can say that BCAC has conducted in a trauma-sensitive made many steps toward our bold future. We said that we wanted to add an onsite environment. After the interview, the COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND mental health program; we did. We said we wanted to grow our family advocate family’s main point of contact is a family EDUCATION program and develop more supports for families; we did. We said we wanted to Our Mission advocate. BCAC’s family advocates are We strive to get ahead of abuse before strengthen our legislative strategies to bolster support for laws that protect children; guides on a family’s path to healing; it happens. To best prepare professionals For over 30 years, Baltimore Child we did. We said that we wanted to create stronger community partnerships; we did. they refer family members to social and community members in Baltimore Abuse Center has provided victims services, set up medical and other and beyond to identify and report This past year, we sat down as a team to define our core values. What is it that of child sexual abuse, trauma and other appointments, provide court support, suspected abuse, BCAC hosts educational makes BCAC continue to strive toward our bold future? Qualities that exemplified Adverse Childhood Experiences in and even do house calls. Family presentations and workshops designed to our team and our approach: Grit, Heart, Relationships, and Excellence. GRIT, Baltimore — and their non-offending advocates spearhead various support better inform professionals, youth-serving exemplified by our forensic interviewers patiently establishing trust with a child caretakers — with comprehensive groups and provide material needs such organizations and community groups who has experienced sexual abuse until they feel comfortable enough to talk. forensic interviews, medical treatment as groceries, diapers, transportation in the prevention, identification and HEART, embodied by our child development team who engage children in games and mental health treatment with a goal and emergency housing. reporting of suspected abuse. We work Adam Rosenberg and crafts to make them feel welcome and safe in a trauma-informed, child-centered of preventing future trauma. BCAC is a with youth-serving organizations to Executive Director, BCAC environment. RELATIONSHIPS, demonstrated by many partnerships we have nonprofit subsidiary of LifeBridge Health. MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH help them assess their strengths and built not just in the city but across the state and country, which allow our impact SERVICES vulnerabilities in their child protection to go well beyond Baltimore. And EXCELLENCE, for always asking ourselves: Our Core Values Medical examinations play an policies and procedures. We also run what more can we do, and how can we do it better? important role in the investigative programs like DIVAS (Developing Inner As one of the first child advocacy One answer to this question came to fruition in January 2019, when BCAC became process, providing law enforcement Values to Acquire Success) to help young centers in the nation, our team at BCAC a subsidiary of LifeBridge Health. We are thrilled to be expanding our successful and prosecution with physical evidence people find support and prevent past strives to help as many children and those strategic partnership with one of Baltimore’s preeminent healthcare communities. of sexual abuse. Additionally, medical traumas from defining their futures. impacted by trauma as we can. We are This alliance with LifeBridge Health helps meet some of our final goals in our strategic exams can be helpful in cases where guided by our core values, approaching ADVOCACY plan about our future, enabling BCAC to expand our presence in the community and physical signs of abuse indicate that every challenge and every child with Grit, create a greater impact on child protection. This unique new partnership creates the child is at increased risk even if One law can change thousands of lives. Heart, Relationships, and Excellence. sustainability for BCAC programs while empowering us to explore how our nationally he or she did not disclose abuse during We advocate for all of Maryland’s children In doing so, we aim to provide the most accredited program can maximize your investment. We will tap into LifeBridge the forensic interview. Our team also through our diligent legislative efforts trauma-informed and high quality Health’s resources and public health commitment while providing expertise and provides medical exams for kids in the Maryland General Assembly, experience possible. professional staff to meet the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and needs entering foster care. BCAC added our Baltimore City Government and U.S. Todd Pattison, MaxSent Chair, Advisory Board of child victims of trauma and violence in and around Greater Baltimore. sixth clinician this year to its Mental Congress. Our advocacy often plays Health Clinic to be able to provide a strong role in convincing officials that With Grit, Heart, Relationships, Excellence — and you — we look forward to this both short and long term treatment. education, treatment and the health of coming year and we continue to look boldly toward a future where we can make an Approaches used include: trauma- the 1,800 or more children BCAC sees even greater impact treating and preventing abuse, trauma and violence for children focused cognitive behavioral therapy, annually is reliant on their decisions. and families. Stay tuned for what comes next. play therapy, art therapy, expressive The threat of indifference and ignorance therapies, and holistic therapy. to these issues is too great. Our presence With gratitude, Todd and Adam in Annapolis and within communities has enabled BCAC to champion many legislative and policy victories. 2 BALTIMORE CHILD ABUSE CENTER 2019 GRATITUDE REPORT 3 [FY19 STATISTICS] 1,875 clients and families supported by BCAC 639 784 1,315 forensic interviews medical exams mental health conducted conducted sessions conducted Holding mandated reporters accountable After more than a decade of opposition and defeat in the Maryland General Assembly, in 2019 we finally saw successful enactment of the mandatory 4,147 22 clients reporter penalties act, which follows family advocacy received bilingual the lead of 48 other states and provides interactions services criminal penalties for professionals and administrators (such as those in the Larry Nassar and Jerry Sandusky cases) who willfully fail to report known child abuse. Senator Susan Lee (D-Montgomery) and Delegate Vanessa Bill signing for the Expanding Access to Child Advocacy Centers bill. 173 services 157 services Atterbeary (D-Howard) championed provided to trafficking victims provided to child witnesses this bill on its landmark passage and victims of technology- to domestic violence, homicide LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES to help address child abuse and trauma. facilitated crimes and other forms of violence through the General Assembly. This past session, BCAC took the lead on Drawing in part on similar legislation building coalitions to pass two important around the country and on nationally bills and worked with coalition partners recognized accreditation standards, on several others. Here are some of our BCAC worked closely with members of main successes: the Maryland Children’s Alliance to draft and pass this bill. Senator Susan Lee 7,602 925 (D-Montgomery), freshman Delegate total services provided to clients hours volunteered Expanding access to children’s Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) and their and their families at BCAC by 95 individuals advocacy centers staff were the legislative champions of Passing into law on its very first attempt, this work. Other advocates to prevent the Expanding Access to Child Advocacy child abuse and sexual abuse such as the Centers Act helps make sure that all State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Maryland children have access to an and the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Over professionals trained to identify, accredited children’s advocacy center BCAC Advocacy Day in Annapolis. 8,000 Children lent support to this bill. report, and prevent abuse, resulting in GRIT 30,000 children being safer 4 BALTIMORE CHILD ABUSE CENTER 2019 GRATITUDE REPORT 5 Thank you to our volunteers who donated a total of 925 hours of their time and talents. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT BCAC, CONTACT NICOLE AT [email protected] positive and truly enjoyable to work art, and expressive therapies, EMDR, with; that’s what makes me keep coming CFTSI and TF-CBT to best help back. Just knowing what I do can make children and caregivers. a small difference in the kids’ lives Every child who experiences a makes it all worth it.” traumatic event can heal. At BCAC, In April 2019, we began hosting a children can play through their wounds volunteer Day of Service one Saturday and heal at their own pace. Parents and every month. Volunteers participate in families are supported in the process arts and craft preparations for the kids, and encouraged to engage in their own help with facility improvements, and treatment or their child’s treatment.