Care in ActionUpdate

Winter 2011 d Volume 2, Issue 4 d www.careinactionmn.org Connect on Facebook

Care in Action Minnesota is on Facebook! Please become a fan, and spread the word to your friends. Our address is: https://www.facebook. com/careinactionmn. While youre there, check out the video of CIAM founder Peter Singer talking about why he started the organization.

Mother, son get away from abusive exboyfriend with help of email partners
Care in Action email partners helped an impoverished mother and her son flee an ex-boyfriend who had beaten them and kidnapped the boy. Partners provided the $300 this family needed to get out of the state, and out of danger. The former boyfriend had beaten the mother and her 15-year-old son often. After she left him, he tracked her down and kidnapped the teen. The police found them, and the boy was OK, but they were still in danger from the mans family. They were under police protection until they could flee to another part of the country where they would have the support of family. Because of the high level of danger posed by the mans family, police escorted the woman and teen to the bus station and waited with them until the bus left. The call for help came out the day before Thanksgiving, when many of you were likely busy with family and preparations, but you responded. Thanks especially to Crosspointe Church in Woodbury, whose members met most of the need.

Recurring Donations
Have you read one of our email messages with a story of someone in need, vowed to donate when you got a few minutes, but then never gotten back to it? With a recurring monthly donation, youll know youve already helped. Its easy to do through our website.

Church reunites father, son St. Pauls First Covenant Church helped reunite a 3-year-old boy with his father, keeping him out of the foster care system. The boys mother had been arrested, and he was placed into foster care. His father had been staying with friends, and the county wouldnt release his son to him until he had his own housing. He had a

job, and was able to pay rent, but was struggling to get the last $100 he needed for the damage deposit. Thanks to the churchs generous donation, the man was able to move into his apartment that weekend, and be reunited with his son the following Monday.
(Image credit: Dan/Freedigitalphotos.net.)

CIAM Gets National Attention

Founder, Pete Singer, was featured as the Huffington Posts Greatest Person of the Day on Nov. 25. See the article here.

A few notes
End-of-Year Giving As we close out 2011, we sincerely thank you for your support. Together, weve helped numerous families over the past 12 months. As youre considering your end-of-the-year donations, please consider giving to Care in Action. We are 100 percent volunteer-run, and when we seek out funds for a specific need, 100 percent of the money raised goes to that need.

Thanks, Pearle
Pearle Vision in Woodbury has generously adopted a family for Christmas through CIAM, agreeing to provide them with gifts. Thank you!

We do have a few ongoing organizational expenses, and your willingness to give toward those costs helps us to continue reaching out to children and families impacted by child maltreatment. Thanks for considering donating toward these costs. For more information, please contact Pete Singer at (651) 747-6370 or info@ careinactionmn.org. You can make donations through our website at www.careinactionmn.org or mail them to: Care in Action Minnesota P.O. Box 28838 Oakdale, MN 55128

Dakota County Partner Sought Care in Action has been approached by a group of three Dakota County social workers in the drug court system, and were looking for a church, organization, family or other group to partner with them through our Adopt a Social Worker program. If you are part of a group, or know of one, that might be interested in a partnership please let us know! Contact Pete Singer at (651) 7476370 or info@careinactionmn.org.
(Image credit: kangshutters/freedigitalphotos.net)

Maltreatment and the holidays

ecause schools are the anniversary primary reporters of child reactions that maltreatment, and theyre closed can be further during the holidays, its difficult heightened if the to say whether incidents increase anniversary is tied around this time of year. to a holiday. Children A study of homicides of children who are abused often rely under age 5 led by the Indiana on school as a lifeline to adults University School of Medicine and friends who care, or even for concluded that a link between a period of time that they know the holiday season and abuse they will be safeyet this lifeline is clearly a myth, ScienceDaily is gone during the winter break. reported. The holidays can also be a time A researcher told the publicaof hope and redemption. Make a tion that perhaps those children difference in the life a child this who came in on a more promiChristmas. nent daylike Christmaswere more memorable to healthcare providers. I hate this time of year... but I really dont think A pediatrician who spethat the anniversary of my fathers passing is cializes in child abuse, what kicks off this funk. I think it is all of the Dr. Nancy Kellogg, told terrible memories that center around the holidays. the San Antonio Express- School was my lifeline, where I had friends and teachNews that there arent ers who cared about me. I was actually safe there. firm statistics showing The holidays meant that school would be closed, so I that cases of maltreatwas stuck spending my time around my abusers. ment increase over the I have specific memories of being abused around holidays, however, more the Christmas tree. I have no memories at all of severe cases happen celebrating Christmas with either of my parents through age 23. I remember spending Christmas around this time of year. Eves at my grandparents house starting when I was Statistics aside, many around 7 or so. However, I know we had a Christmas survivors experience tree at home and opened some of our presents there, emotional triggers relatbut those memories have been wiped clean. ed to the holidays. Many From faithallen.wordpress.com children who have been removed from their birth family feel a heightened sense of loss during the holidays. Many survivors have

(Image credit: Master Isolated Images/Freedigitalphotos.net.)

Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress

Stress around the holidays can play a role in child maltreatment. Here are some things you can do to cut back on the stress of this busy time of year:

d Talk about your feelings

related to the holidays.

d Set your familys holiday priorities. d Get everyone involved with holiday preparation and celebration. d Learn to say no. d Limit travel as much as possible. d Spend smart.

Happy holidays!