Oklahoma City’s 1st Annual Masquerade Ball

To Purchase Tickets or for More Info, Please visit:
http://okcmasquerade.vpweb.com/default.html

Or email DEBBIE SPLAWN-BUNCH at: debsadoll@cox.net

The State Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved Erin’s Law, legislation sponsored by John Proos that’s designed to help prevent child sexual abuse. The law would allow for the creation of a panel that would establish a curriculum for educators and students around Michigan on how to spot signs of sex abuse. READ MORE HERE

FOR MORE ON ERIN’S LAW, PLEASE CLICK HERE

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Dreamcatchers for Abused Children received it’s 2nd award from GREAT NON-PROFITS. We were awarded with the “Top-Rated Children & Families 2012 Nonprofit” Award thanks to the wonderful feedback we received from the public. We would like to publicly thank all of our supporters for this amazing nomination!! We are extremely honored and very grateful to have the opportunity to continue to serve and educate the public on child abuse awareness and prevention. Visit our Great Nonprofit Profile Page here!

Are you interested in donating, giving to, or volunteering for a Children & Families 2012 charity, but you’re not sure what charities are nearby, and who needs help? Browse this list of Children & Families 2012 nonprofits in YOUR community – learn about their programs, see their ratings and reviews. Find top charities as rated by people in your community by clicking here!

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Learn Signs of Child Abuse and Reporting Requirements with One-Hour Online Training

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an IACET approved, nationally accredited, online child care training institution, offers new users the opportunity to try online learning by taking the course CCEI112A: Child Abuse: Signs of Abuse and Reporting Requirements for Early Childhood Professionals at no cost in July, in recognition of National Make a Difference to Children Month. Child care professionals are mandated reporters, meaning they are legally responsible for identifying and reporting signs of child abuse and neglect. In order to uphold their duties, teachers and caregivers must receive adequate training on appropriate practices for identifying signs of maltreatment. Course participants will learn about the four major categories of abuse, along with the signs, symptoms, and examples of each type of abuse, as well as basic procedures and responsibilities when a suspicion of abuse arises. READ MORE HERE

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For more information on this online training course visit:

www.cceionline.edu

or call 1.800.499.9907

SOURCE:  ChildCare Education Institute

Dreamcatchers for Abused Children has been nominated for a CLASSY Award!  Our Achievement has been published to the Stories page of the CLASSY Awards website.  Here’s the link to our story: http://www.stayclassy.org/stories/dreamcatchers-for-abused-children-spreads-christmas-cheer-in-port-huron-michigan

Gazing straight at the camera, a poised young woman with long brown hair delivered a public service announcement that local officials hope will alert kids to the perils of online pedophiles. “At the age of 13, I was lured and abducted from my home by a vicious Internet predator, ” Alicia Kozakiewicz said, in a video previewed at the San Marcos City Council meeting Tuesday. “On New Years Day, I walked out of my house, on the coldest, iciest night of the year, to meet a monster, whom I thought was my friend.”  READ MORE HERE

How Govt Should Be Tackling the Growing Child Rape Crisis

AFRICA–Today marks the beginning of the annual Child Protection Week. The concept, under the leadership of the Department of Social Development, stems from the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”, which emphasizes the role of the wider community in keeping children safe. This year’s Child Protection Week is unfortunately marred by recent and increasing media reports of growing incidents of sexual offenses committed against children, specifically what is being called “child rape”. READ MORE HERE

2012 TOYOTA’S  “100 CARS FOR GOOD”  FINALIST

Dreamcatchers for Abused Children Is One of 500 Finalists for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program!! Help us win a new car to make an even bigger difference! Dreamcatchers for Abused Children is proud to announce we’ve been selected as a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program. Now we need your support! Tell your friends and vote for Dreamcatchers!!

Go To:   www.100carsforgood.com
Date:      MAY 23, 2012
When:   10am- 11:59pm EST  (ONLY)

Voting is for ONE day only !!!

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will be awarding 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days based on votes from the public. A total of 500 nonprofits were selected from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.   We are hoping to win a new Toyota to help allow our organization to fulfill our mission, community outreach programs, and educate the public on child abuse awareness at a greater level.

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM KEVIN EPLING:

International Stand4Change is this Friday! And what a day it will be. We now have over 1 MILLION students in every state in 70 countries, making a global stand on the #1 issue in schools after funding. Be sure to check out the website www.stand4change.org  for the flier and more info.

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We will break the Million mark before Friday, we have messages from one of the stars of GLEE, we are gathering celebrities in major cities to attend events and singer Cody Simpson has taken the message to Australia. As many of us stood together years ago for Hands Across America we finally give our children their time to stand up. Not only for themselves but more importantly for each other. Some schools are planning very sample events, some will just acknowledge the day, some at a different time, and others are going all out. It is up to the schools and the students to decide. Yet we have had some schools/districts say they will not participate because they feel it is a “one-time thing” or if they do participate it will only “bring attention” to the issue.

Even other anti-bullying groups are not sharing the info because it is not “their” group. Personally I think these are very archaic ways of looking at a very real and very different problem. If you choose as a teacher or administrator, law enforcement officer or head of an anti-bullying group, to treat it as a “one time thing” than yes that is all it will be. But this can be used as a catalyst to get them to act. It can be the beginning of something great. And if someone really thinks that participating will only “bring attention” to the issue and create discussion, and yes action on the issue, than I am sorry but that is exactly why it should be done. This is no longer an issue to simply skirt around, it must be addressed and when students can see themselves with a million other students they can know they are not alone.

For every reason I get from schools and communities of why not to do it, I will give you one reason why: the kids. It is about them and how we want them to act and help us take control of this situation. If we keep doing it they way we have always done it, because of the way it affects us and our “routines”, we will continue to fail. Don’t be a Bystander any longer, Stand up and be counted on May 4th, 2012… I will, will you?

Gay male survivor of child abuse and bullying speaks out.  

Statistics show that over 80% of boys and men do not come forward about abuse out of fear and shame.  Patrick Dati was one of those statistics but after years of depression and attempts with suicide he has decided it was time to tell his story.

Patrick is honored to have been working in conjunction with the SAMHSA/ US Department of Human Services sharing his story for their 2012 National Trauma Campaign as a trauma victim who has survived.  He is a public advocate and speaker for several anti-child abuse and bullying organizations such as National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse and RAINN-Rape and the Abuse & Incest National Network and now an advisor board member with Dreamcatchers for Abused Children, Inc.

Patrick Dati speaks publicly to stop bullying, to promote education and awareness about the serious issues of child sexual abuse and bullying to break the silence, and create change and action.  Patrick Dati lived to finally “break the silence” that plagued him through his life.  Patrick was a victim of notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy, as one fateful day when Patrick was just a child, he was raped in a public restroom, and threatened to never tell anyone about the assault.  This would profoundly affect Patrick’s life and haunted him as he suffered alone with this secret.

Patrick’s world began to spiral downward, and his true inner pain was hidden, as he was able to masque the true pain he was in and kept it hidden from his family and those around him. His life was not his own, and it became apparent that he was not living his own life but the life his family expected him to. After many years of keeping the truth hidden from his family, Patrick finally allowed his family to know that he is gay, and is comfortable with his choices in his life. Patrick suffered sibling bullying due to his “differences” and was bullied at school as a young man.

Years ago as part of my own therapy he put his thoughts and experiences down on paper.  He is now working with publishers to get his story out and help support these causes.  His mission in life is to help others who suffer and show them it is okAY to come forward. Patrick’s goal is to continue to speak publicly about the issue of bullying and child sexual abuse, and he has had many interviews on major national networks and television stations. Please see Patrick’s website www.youandmecanstopbullies.com for more information or to contact Patrick Dati at media@youandmecanstopbullies.com.

STOP EDUCATOR SEXUAL ABUSE, MISCONDUCT, EXPLOITATION (S.E.S.A.M.E.)

Dream Catchers for Abused Children is joining forces with the Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation Campaign to urge Pennsylvania’s elected officials to pass legislation prohibiting the practice of “Passing the Trash.” This loophole, whereby school employees accused of sexual misconduct are allowed to resign and move to another unsuspecting school district where they are likely to abuse again, allows predators to remain in the classrooms and potentially threaten even more students. Please join us in signing a petition at calling on Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to support the legislation that will strengthen background checks for school employees. You can help spread the word about this important legislation by joining us on  Facebook and Twitter pages.

On April 23, Dreamcatchers Talk Radio host and Executive Director Patricia “Tricia” McKnight will sit down one-on-one with the author of “Stolen Innonce” and “Living for Today,” Erin Merryn. Erin is well known for her crusade to get “Erin’s Law” passed. This law is intended to prevent child sexual abuse by having schools educating children on sexual abuse in a child friendly manner. Governor Quinn signed “Erin’s Law” on Feburary 14, 2011.  READ MORE HERE

An Indiana man is working to put an end to bullying with the help of an unusual toy. Creator Mark Little says “Ugly Ted” the bear is made fun of for his looks, but is still staying positive. Little came up with the idea for ted to try and teach kids about bullying and show that true beauty comes from within.

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First Annual Candlelight Vigil in the State of Oklahoma, Sunday April 15 @ 7:00pm! Event will be held at the beautiful COLE’S GARDEN! Fox 25 will be covering our Candlelight vigil with our National Spokeswoman, Debbie Splawn~Bunch!! There will be an amazing group of volunteers, speakers, performer and preacher….. Don’t miss it!! It will be life changing!!!