Training Academy Bill Passes in Colorado

On May 19, 2009, Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 164 which creates a training academy for child welfare caseworkers. The bill, sponsored by Senator Linda Newell and Representative Joe Miklosi, also requires all caseworkers to complete the training academy prior to obtaining a full child protection case load. SB 164 was to protect children and families and to ensure that all caseworkers are adequately trained.

The Colorado Welfare Training Academy will train caseworkers and their supervisors with the skills to better serve Colorado’s abused and neglected children. The academy will be run by the Colorado Department of Human Services. The academy and state legislation will standardize and mandate training across the state and recruit new child protection caseworkers. With the implementation of the academy, Colorado is among 20 other states with pre-service training academies. Studies have shown that states with training academies have seen dramatic improvements in their child welfare systems.

“In a tough economic time like this, we should all be extremely proud of this legislation and the new Training Academy,” Gov. Ritter said. “This will save lives. The academy will give child-welfare caseworkers the tools they need to protect kids and keep them safe.”

“The training academy created by Senate Bill 164 is the result of the hard work of the Governor’s Child Welfare Action Committee,” said Karen Beye, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services. “The committee’s goal is to make sure all children in the public welfare system have access to quality services and to professionals with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make decisions that will help keep them safe and secure.”

Quick facts about the Colorado Training Academy

The cost of the academy per year is $700,000

The funds to support the training academy will come out of the state’s general operating fund

Initially, 400 caseworkers and their supervisors will be trained

Training will be performed online and in-person in 2010

States with training academies include: New Jersey, New York, Florida

Channel 7 Everyday Hero: Colorado Woman Helps Abused And Neglected Children
Sister Michael Allegri Recognized As 7Everyday Hero



Click here to read the story and view the video clip.

Kempe is now on My Colorado Project!




My Colorado is a vehicle to build community conversation, and encourage local community activism and strategic social investment.

My Colorado allows people to talk about social issues in their neighborhood, share news and information, create a plan to make change, engage their social graph, and monitor success within a platform which is modern and powerful. Through this network we hope to engage and encourage a new generation of philanthropists who seek not to make a transactional difference but a transformational difference.

No individual should feel powerless to influence change in their community. My Colorado is about seeing problems on your walk to work, reading about issues in your local paper, and sharing that information with other philanthropists and nonprofit partners to organize a response and deepen community engagement.

Click on the web link to view Kempe's profile
http://tinyurl.com/ckw364

Story of the Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child. In spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother, received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents.

In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother did something that has given us a symbol, around which we rally for the cause of child abuse prevention. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember “the bruised and battered body of her grandson” and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse.

In Bonnie’s own words: “The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child’s life!”
The act of one grandmother thousands of miles away leads us to this day. Just think what could happen if each one of us helped spread the word to a few of the people we come in contact with each day.

The Pepsi Center Gets their blue on!

Visit the Pepsi Center at
http://tinyurl.com/dyeu4n

Get Your Blue On for Kempe Kids!

The goal of The "Get Your Blue On" campaign is to create awareness around the critical issue of child abuse and neglect and to educate on how to prevent it from occurring.

When a child has been abused or neglect, there is a lasting impact on the life of that child. Abuse and neglect are associated with short- and long-term consequences that may include developmental delays, learning disorders, problems forming relationships, aggressive behavior, and depression.

Furthermore, survivors of child abuse and neglect may be at greater risk for problems later in life—such as low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, and criminal behavior. These affect not only impact the life of the survivor, but also the life of those who surround them.

Despite knowing these consequences, child abuse and neglect are tough topics for people to talk about. We see stories in the news about children suffering unspeakable harm ant the hands of their abusers. And we often want to turn our heads, because we are not sure what we can do to help. And that is why Child Abuse Prevention month is such a critical month to drive awareness about the issue and to let people know that there are ways that they can help.

The Kempe Foundation is collaborating with businesses, government leaders and Colorado citizens to spread the message during the month of April. We are hoping that again in 2009, through this aggressive awareness campaign, we will effectively complement the efforts of all our partners.

We plan to once again saturate the market with a multi-media public service campaign on this important message and engage the community to show support for child abuse prevention. The end of the month will culminate with the annual Kempe Foundation Benefit Event entitled STAND UP! With Josh Blue and Kathleen Madigan - scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009 at The Temple Buell Theatre at The Denver Center of Performing Arts.

For more information on the Get Your Blue On campaign for Kempe Kids, visit www.kempe.org

Child Abuse Prevention Month in the News

Channel 7: Local Fairy Godmothers Help Child Abuse Victims

Channel 7: Family Talks Openly After Facing Child Abuse

Channel 7: Families Struggle With Child Abuse In Tough Economy - Studies Show Child Poverty Can Lead To Abuse, Neglect

50 Kilometers for Kempe Kids

Valerie Zanon will be running the Moab Red Hot 50K+ race on February 14, 2009. While reaching for her finish line goal, running just over 34 miles across the beautiful southern Utah terrain, she will also be raising money for Kempe.

Valerie selected Kempe as the beneficiary of her run because of her love for children. She believes in the mission of The Kempe Center and work being done for abused and neglected children and their families.

Valerie is currently training for the race in the Denver metro area. She has been recreationally running for over 10 years. The Moab Red Hot is one of her longest races to date.

She is supported in her effort by her friends and colleagues at Imerica Life & Health Insurance.

Her fundraising goal for the race is $1,000 – really just 20 people donating $1 for every Kilometer!

For more information:
http://www.kempe.org/index.php?s=114