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SFTS News

Safe from the Start Criminal Justice/ P.O.S.T. Training
Supported by a grant from the U.S. DOJ, the CA Attorney General's Safe from the Start initiative has completed four training days for criminal justice professionals on "Children and Domestic Violence." The POST-certified course was recently held in Sacramento and in Oroville. Two more dates are scheduled: September 26th in Westminster (Orange County), and October 11th in Fresno. If you are a law enforcement agency interested in bringing the free-of-charge training to your region, contact Arlene.Greene@doj.ca.gov or call (916) 327-9722.

Below are two pictures from the Oroville training. The first picture shows trainers David Love, MFT; Linda Chamberlain, Ph.D., MPH; and Oroville Police Chief Mitch Brown. The second picture shows a panel of local experts: Melissa Romero, Butte Victim Witness; Chief Brown; Nikole Hilgeman, Catalyst DV Services; and Margie Ruegger, Butte Child Abuse Prevention Council.

RELATED RESEARCH

Effects of The Family Environment
By action and by example, parents shape the lives of children from birth through adulthood. In adolescence, the influence of friends and peers takes on greater importance, but research demonstrates the continued significance of parents in shaping the behaviors and choices of teens as they face the challenges of growing up. A new report, The Family Environment and Adolescent Well-Being: Exposure to Positive and Negative Family Influences, by Child Trends and the National Adolescent Health Information Center, highlights both the positive and negative influences on adolescent well-being.

For more information, check out http://www.childtrends.org/Files/FamilyEnvironmentRB.pdf.

Early Childhood Behavior Could Predict Adolescent Substance Use
A new study published in Child Development says children with higher resiliency, or ability to adapt to the environment, in early childhood; are less likely to start drinking and experience drunkenness at early ages, and are also less likely to show signs of sadness, anxiety, aggressiveness or delinquent behavior. Researchers from Idaho and Michigan State Universities tracked 514 children over 10 years, testing their ability to control impulse and behavior and to adapt to environmental demands between ages 3 and 5. When the children reached ages 12 to 14, they reported their drug and alcohol use.

For more information, check out http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=47304&nfid=rssfeeds.

Protect Children, Not Guns
The Children’s Defense Fund has recently released its annual report on gun violence against children. According to Protect Children, Not Guns, 2,827 children and teens died as a result of gun violence in 2003. This report looks at the statistics and what can work to prevent gun violence.

For more information, check out http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7013.

RELATED RESOURCES

The Healing Power of Touch
In the first months of life, touch is sustaining. The warmth, pressure and pattern of repetitive nurturing touch provides a set of neural signals necessary for normal physical growth. This powerful somatosensory experience helps shape a healthy child. In our modern society, however, the power of touch is undervalued and no group tends to have more trouble with healthy touch than maltreated children.

For more information, check out the Touch Research Institute at http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/research.htm.

Child Abuse and Neglect: General Information Packet
Looking for a comprehensive list of information, facts, and services relating to child maltreatment? This packet from the Child Welfare Information Gateway, US Department of Health and Human Services, is a great place to start.

For more information, check out http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/can_info_packet.pdf.

Before It Occurs: Primary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse
The updated and expanded version of The Physician's Guide To Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse features a chapter co-authored by Prevention Institute and Corinne Graffunder, Branch Chief, Division of Violence Prevention, CDC. Focusing on primary prevention and applying lessons learned from past successes, Before It Occurs: Primary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse presents a framework for meaningful involvement in initiating the environmental change necessary to stop intimate partner violence and abuse before it occurs.

For more information, check out http://www.preventioninstitute.org/physiciansguide.html.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

First 5 Sacramento - Request for Applications
First 5 Sacramento Commission invites qualified organizations to submit applications for nutrition programs (breastfeeding support services) and training and a marketing consultant for the Community Connectedness Initiative. There will be a MANDATORY Applicants Workshop on August 22, 2006 at First 5 Sacramento, 2750 Gateway Oaks Dr., Ste. 330, Sacramento, CA.

For more information, check out http://www.sackids.saccounty.net.

School Safety and Violence Prevention Training
The California Department of Education is inviting local educational agencies to apply for funding that will support one county office of education to administer regional training on school safety and violence prevention planning methods related to bullying prevention, safe schools, and crisis response. Deadline to apply is September 5.

For more information, check out http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=840.

UPCOMING SFTS TRAINING AND CONFERENCES

Safe from the Start Criminal Justice/ P.O.S.T. Training
Orange County - September 26, 2006
Fresno County – October 11, 2006
Children and Domestic Violence -8-hr. Training for Criminal Justice Professionals (law enforcement, probation, parole, prosecutors, judges) with trainers Dr. Linda Chamberlain and David Love, MFT
Contact: barbara.thorsen@sonoma.edu or arlene.greene@doj.ca.gov

UPCOMING TRAINING AND CONFERENCES

11th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma
September 14-19, 2006
Hosted by the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma and Alliant University
Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Contact: http://www.ivatcenters.org/

20th Annual Children’s Network Conference – San Bernardino
September 20-21, 2006
“Improving Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration”
Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA
Contact: http://www.sbcounty.gov/childnet/

Santa Rosa County's 1st Annual Family Violence Conference
October 19-20, 2006
Keynote: Lt. Mark Wynn (retired)
Cost: $225
Contact: Detective Armando Jauregui ajauregui@srcity.org or
Detective Tamara Warner twarner@srcity.org

Child, Family, Consumer Sciences - Imperial Valley College Conference
October 27, 2006
Keynote: Dr. Bruce Perry
Contact: Becky Green becky.green@imperial.edu