Governor and CYFD Secretary Announce User-Friendly Hotline Number for Public Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
1-855-SAFE (7233)
SANTA FE — Governor Susana Martinez and Children, Youth, and Families (CYFD) Secretary Yolanda Deines today enlisted the public in the state's fight against child abuse and neglect. At a press conference at the University of New Mexico's Children's Campus this morning, they announced #SAFE, a new user-friendly hotline number for public reporting of child abuse and neglect. New Mexicans can also dial 855-333-SAFE from any phone.
Governor Martinez has declared April Child Abuse Awareness Month and encouraged all New Mexicans to be vigilant about reporting child abuse and creating a positive environment for children across the state. "Child Abuse Awareness Month is a time for speaking up, confronting abuse, and standing up for innocent children across New Mexico," said Governor Martinez. "As a prosecutor, I dedicated my career to fighting for the defenseless. Now, I am asking all New Mexico citizens to join this fight. We can do this by joining together as parents, teachers, family members and neighbors to create a safe and positive environment for our children. I encourage everyone to be vigilant about reporting child abuse and neglect by dialing #SAFE from any cell phone or calling 1-855-333-SAFE."
"Children are the most precious resource we have in New Mexico," stated Children, Youth, and Families Department Secretary Yolanda Deines. "We want New Mexicans this month to take a deep breath and really think about child abuse in our society. There are no easy answers. But working together and increasing our awareness strengthens our ability to protect our children. If you know, or even suspect, that a child is in danger, starting now you can dial #SAFE or 1-855-333-SAFE. It's our moral responsibility to watch out for the kids around us."
Calls to the hotline, useable from anywhere in the state, will go to CYFD's State Central Intake unit, housed in Albuquerque. From there, a trained operator fields the call and asks for as much information as possible. The calls are immediately reviewed by a supervisor, assigned a priority code, and rerouted to the county office where the child resides. Some calls are screened out for various reasons, including calls that are not allegations of child abuse. Calls are also cross-reported when appropriate. For example, a call about a parent dealing drugs from the home may or not be a child abuse call, but will always be cross reported to the local law enforcement agency.
There are 561,318 children in New Mexico under the age of 19. In any given year, CYFD receives an average of 33,000 phone calls to their state-wide reporting system. Of those, 18,000 are screened for further investigation, and approximately 4,700 are substantiated for abuse. The vast majority of substantiated cases of child abuse are for physical neglect (72.7%). Twenty-five percent of substantiated claims are for physical abuse, and 1.6% of cases are for sexual abuse.
"Keeping kids safe is a team effort," continued Secretary Dienes. “We need the community to take this responsibility very seriously, because our social workers can't even knock on a door unless we get a call first. #SAFE from your cell phone - it doesn’t get any easier than this."
"We have an obligation to all the children out there, who right now may be living in fear, scared of the adults in their lives who are supposed to love and protect them," said Governor Martinez. "Preventing child abuse and neglect and protecting our kids is up to us."
Deines also discouraged so-called malicious reporting, or people who falsely accuse neighbors or ex-spouses or others. "Every hour we spend sorting out false and malicious allegations is an hour taken from a frightened child who truly needs our help," says Deines, who has personally investigated hundreds of child abuse cases during her career.
"Please find a healthier way to express your anger, and don't take time away from a child who might be in danger."
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
New Report Indicates that Fifteen Percent of New Mexicans are Likely to Be Raped
Department of Health Supports Sexual Assault Prevention Activities
(SANTA FE) – The New Mexico Department of Health reported today that 15 percent of New Mexicans are likely be raped at some point in their lifetime. It was reported in the Sex Crime Trends in New Mexico during 2005 through 2009, that one in four women and one in 20 men are likely to be raped during their lifetime. The data was provided by the Survey of Violence Victimization in New Mexico. Public agencies and community organizations are joining together to raise awareness about the importance of preventing sexual violence in New Mexico. They are sponsoring a variety of activities throughout the state during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
New Mexico sexual assault statistics:
• The number of reported criminal sexual penetration crimes has increased each year from 1,337 in 2006 to 1,408 in 2009.
• The vast majority of rapes against both women and men remain unreported to police or sexual violence support organizations. In 2009, only 1 in 9.5 adult rapes came to the attention of law enforcement.
• Victims of sexual violence are overwhelmingly female (86 percent rape victims and 78 percent victims of non-penetration sex crimes).
• Almost one-third (31%) of rape victims and 29 percent of victims of non-penetration sex crimes are victimized before age twelve. Another 30 percent of rape victims and 32 percent of victims of non-penetration crimes are victimized before age eighteen.
• More than half (57%) of sexual assault victims were victims of a prior sexual assault.
• Almost two-thirds (60%) of prior assault victims were victimized by age twelve and 85 percent of these were victims of on-going sexual abuse.
• More than half of survivors and two-thirds of offenders had a history of domestic violence.
Reports on sexual assault and domestic violence in New Mexico can be found on the Office of Injury Prevention website: http://www.health.state.nm.us/Injury/injury_reports.shtml and on the NM Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs website at: http://www.nmcsap.org/reports.html.
(SANTA FE) – The New Mexico Department of Health reported today that 15 percent of New Mexicans are likely be raped at some point in their lifetime. It was reported in the Sex Crime Trends in New Mexico during 2005 through 2009, that one in four women and one in 20 men are likely to be raped during their lifetime. The data was provided by the Survey of Violence Victimization in New Mexico. Public agencies and community organizations are joining together to raise awareness about the importance of preventing sexual violence in New Mexico. They are sponsoring a variety of activities throughout the state during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
New Mexico sexual assault statistics:
• The number of reported criminal sexual penetration crimes has increased each year from 1,337 in 2006 to 1,408 in 2009.
• The vast majority of rapes against both women and men remain unreported to police or sexual violence support organizations. In 2009, only 1 in 9.5 adult rapes came to the attention of law enforcement.
• Victims of sexual violence are overwhelmingly female (86 percent rape victims and 78 percent victims of non-penetration sex crimes).
• Almost one-third (31%) of rape victims and 29 percent of victims of non-penetration sex crimes are victimized before age twelve. Another 30 percent of rape victims and 32 percent of victims of non-penetration crimes are victimized before age eighteen.
• More than half (57%) of sexual assault victims were victims of a prior sexual assault.
• Almost two-thirds (60%) of prior assault victims were victimized by age twelve and 85 percent of these were victims of on-going sexual abuse.
• More than half of survivors and two-thirds of offenders had a history of domestic violence.
Reports on sexual assault and domestic violence in New Mexico can be found on the Office of Injury Prevention website: http://www.health.state.nm.us/Injury/injury_reports.shtml and on the NM Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs website at: http://www.nmcsap.org/reports.html.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Thursday
Join us as we Celebrate our Superhero CASA Volunteers!
Thursday, April 14th, 11:30 to 1:30, in the CASA Office, 500 N. Main St. #310
Congratulations to the following:
Volunteer of the Year Nancy Morales
Rookie of the Year Pam Coggins
Report Writing Award Fred Bennett
Starfish Award Judy Pittman
Angel Heart Award C&J Drug Screening
Super Hero Award Bill Jones
Social Worker of the Year Virginia Villareal
Mentor of the Year Janet Sanders
Energizer Bunny Award Judy Scripps
Lifetime Achievement Award Harriett Pinkerton
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Training Videos: First Visits with Children
Many new volunteers express anxiety around their first visit to meet a child or a family. National CASA has just posted two new training videos designed to assist a volunteer in envisioning what a first visit might actually look like.
In the first video, a volunteer is seen introducing herself to a caregiver and then talking with a preschool-aged child. In the second video, a volunteer demonstrates a conversation intended to build rapport with a pre-teen-aged youth. Using both videos, volunteers will be able to observe, take notes and compare their notes to the observations of an experienced volunteer supervisor, all from the comfort of their own computers.
To view these videos or to refer your volunteers to these resources, visit the Volunteer Resource Library at CASAforChildren.org.
In the first video, a volunteer is seen introducing herself to a caregiver and then talking with a preschool-aged child. In the second video, a volunteer demonstrates a conversation intended to build rapport with a pre-teen-aged youth. Using both videos, volunteers will be able to observe, take notes and compare their notes to the observations of an experienced volunteer supervisor, all from the comfort of their own computers.
To view these videos or to refer your volunteers to these resources, visit the Volunteer Resource Library at CASAforChildren.org.
Wings For Life Event - Parenting Skills
Parenting Styles- Find What Works for You Presented By Dare to Be You Team Door Prize- Easter Basket Giveaway -Easter Crafts for the Kids -Roswell Boys & Girls Club -201 S. Garden -SUNDAY, April 10, 2011 -6:00 PM to 7:30 PM -For Questions call: Shelly @ 317-2042 -Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment (Sitter available)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
2011 "State of CASA" Presentation
National CASA CEO Michael Piraino gave a "State of CASA" Presentation at the NCASAA Conference in Chicago.
Go here to see a video of his speech.
My annual "State of CASA" presentation is an opportunity for me to share highlights of the past year and thoughts about the future direction of National CASA with guests at the National CASA Conference in Chicago. I always wish that each of you could be there to participate.
I hope you find this recording of my presentation informative, whether you were at the conference or you are seeing it for the first time. I also invite you to review the following resource materials that I have pulled together.
-- Michael Piraino, National CASA CEO
Friday, March 4, 2011
March Happenings
March Happenings!
Wednesday, March 9
Brown Bag: Lunch with social workers
A Meet and greet lunch with your social workers. Let us join together and become stronger in the best interest of our children. PLEASE come! I believe this is one of the most important brown bag we have ever had.
Monday, March 14
Brown Bag: Lunch with a wise CASA
Come listen to a CASA volunteer who has been here for 10+ years. She is a wise, wise women and wants to share her experiences with us all. CASA will provide lunch for this special brown bag so come on over at noon!
Anniversaries:
Sara Armstrong 12 Year Volunteer
Bill Jones 6 Year Volunteer
Mary Bell 2 Year Board Member
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for all you do!
Wednesday, March 9
Brown Bag: Lunch with social workers
A Meet and greet lunch with your social workers. Let us join together and become stronger in the best interest of our children. PLEASE come! I believe this is one of the most important brown bag we have ever had.
Monday, March 14
Brown Bag: Lunch with a wise CASA
Come listen to a CASA volunteer who has been here for 10+ years. She is a wise, wise women and wants to share her experiences with us all. CASA will provide lunch for this special brown bag so come on over at noon!
Anniversaries:
Sara Armstrong 12 Year Volunteer
Bill Jones 6 Year Volunteer
Mary Bell 2 Year Board Member
Happy Anniversary! Thank you for all you do!
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