While millions of Americans watched the Olympics this summer, several stories emerged about adult athletes who were victims of sexual abuse as children. Again we’ve been reminded that we have a critical problem in our society – that children simply aren’t protected because too many adults don’t know how to recognize or respond to child […]
This week’s guest blogger is Mary Kudless, a longtime member of SCAN’s Board of Directors and new Board President: After several years of serving as an active Board member, I was elected by my peers to serve as President of the SCAN Board through June 30, 2013. This is a great honor and—more importantly—a responsibility to […]
Growing up, we simply didn’t have the same access to technology and the online world as kids do now. Some sites (like Facebook) have rules disallowing anyone under 13 to use their site. But many parents allow their children to sign up to keep in touch with family members and close friends. This is usually […]
“When the world feels loud, we must be quiet. When the world feels violent, we must be peaceful. When the world seems evil, we must be good.” – Glennon Melton, parenting blogger at momastery.com The tragic shooting in Colorado last week has many parents scrambling to figure out how to talk about it with their children. […]
We are so proud to be starting the conversation about child sexual abuse in communities across Northern Virginia. We’ve told you about our partnership with Darkness to Light before, including the Stewards of Children trainings we’re providing across the region to diminish the incidence and impact of child sexual abuse and to raise awareness of the […]
Ever take one of those photos that you just can’t stop looking at? A photo that makes you feel good, energized and just plain old happy? Well, we took a whole bunch of those photos at our recent Volunteer Appreciation Party and just had to share: You see, every face above is a person making […]
This week’s guest blogger is Kelly Harbitter. Kelly recently completed the Spring 2012 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer training and was sworn in on May 22, 2012. Kelly is currently working her first CASA case. I don’t remember when I first learned about SCAN’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, but when I did it […]
Get closer to your kids by teaching them the difference between healthy and unhealthy romantic relationships. It’s common knowledge that as children grow older, so does their interest in dating peers. But what if they become involved with an abusive partner? Before your children enter the dating world—or now, if they’re already there—it’s a good […]
Beautiful weather. A stunning course. Over 95 golfers, dozens of volunteers and many generous sponsors. What do you get when SCAN puts them together? The opportunity to raise close to $33,000 of critical funding for child abuse prevention programs in the coming year. As the day started, we set up tables, auction items and more with help from volunteers like Mark […]
Do you know who is required to report child abuse? Do you know how quickly it must be reported? In Virginia, beginning on July 1, 2012, the law is changing regarding mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect. A mandated reporter is one who meets the following requirements: Any person, 18 years of age or […]
“How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.” – Anne Frank Kaylyn Pennock is certainly not waiting. You know those people you can always count on to do a good job? The people who make everyone’s eyes light up? Now let me ask – are they teenagers? In the eyes […]
A report — on the road — from SCAN’s Community Educator Sharon Crilly: In the last full week of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, SCAN participated in a Prevent-a-thon and held its first Darkness to Light class at a faith-based site in Loudoun County! The class provided an opportunity for 9 church staff members to become educated about […]
This week’s guest blogger is Virginia Senator Barbara Favola, who also happens to be a member of SCAN’s Honorary Board and a longtime supporter of our programs. Here she shares an update with us on what’s happening in Richmond and how it could impact children across Virginia. Surprisingly enough, participating in the development of a […]
This week’s guest blogger is Allies in Prevention Coalition Member Rebecca Childress, a Prevention & Education Specialist with Quantico’s Family Advocacy Program. Rebecca and other guests at our recent awards luncheon received more than 10,000 The Little Picture campaign materials and are distributing them in communities across Northern Virginia during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. “Family” – […]
This week’s guest blogger is SCAN Board Member Nancy Hall. Nancy attended last week’s Allies in Prevention Awards Luncheon, and reflects on the inspiring words — and actions — of Keynote Speaker Judge Stephen Rideout. “Each of you has an idea of how to prevent child abuse and improve outcomes for families.” Judge Stephen Rideout, formerly […]
This week’s post is straight from the desk of our Development Director, Karen Price. She’s been busy in recent weeks working with local businesses who’ve signed up to be Pinwheel Partners. Interested in where she’s been and why she’s carrying all of those blue pinwheels? Read on! Watching the Amazing Race contestants this week carting […]
How can legislators vote FOR legislation to increase reports of child abuse and at the same time propose a budget that CUTS funding for the programs to serve those at-risk children? Last week we blogged about talking WITH children. This week, we’re all about speaking up FOR children. Our board’s Legislative and Advocacy Committee is working […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Eleven years and more than 20 CASA children later, Vicki Strimel is a volunteer who continues to be an incredible advocate for children in our community. Since being sworn in as a CASA volunteer in the fall of 2000, Vicki has helped those 20+ children have safe, stable homes where they’ve been able to thrive. Her calm […]
He’s a local celebrity. He’s a dad. And he just happens to be a friend of SCAN, too. We’ve watched him on the ABC7 evening news for years, but we didn’t meet him in person until he emceed our Child Abuse Prevention Month kick-off event last year where he–literally–gave out his email address to all 200 […]