Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.’s Post

I love a mystery. I don't mind an investigation. I look great in the hat. So when we heard that some would-be volunteers were having trouble getting through the online process with the Peterborough Police Service, it was time to (politely) kick open a door to get some answers. First, a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) is absolutely necessary for any position involving children, disabled people or the elderly, who need more protection than others. An ordinary police record check is free and easy. But it's not as intensive as a VSS. A regular PRC involves running your name through the files and seeing if anything pings, but the other one is a deep dive into the applicant's past, including contacting outside agencies like the RCMP (hence the charge- more work is involved). This means someone moving into our community and may not be on the radar with local law enforcement isn't free to carry out abuses they did elsewhere. Again, check. Does the position call for just a PRC or a VSS. Save $20 if you don't need to spend it. The next question: I have no credit card/abilities with a computer. How do I get my PRC or VSS? VALID QUESTION. If you have no credit card, or can't get through the online process, you are prompted to call the police station (705-876-1122) and arrange either an appointment for an in-person interview or to hand in the required documents or information. Be warned- as of this post, it's April 18th before you're getting an appointment. Remember: having your ducks in a row is always the way to go. Ensure you have the documentation, check if you need a letter from the organization, and call if you need help. (Not 911. They frown on that.) We hope that this helps you with the process. If you'll excuse me, a dame just walked into my office with a fur coat and a purse full of trouble. #CommunityBuilding #CommunityServices #Volunteering #VulnerableSectorChecks #Investigations #DoingTheWork

The State Budget has been delivered, and while we’re disappointed that the focus remains on non-family based residential care, we see opportunities ahead. At The Reily Foundation, we believe in the power of early intervention, reunification, and Family Group Conferencing. Our programs have demonstrated positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families. Future Funding Needs: While the budget addresses many critical areas, there are still gaps that require attention. The Reily Foundation is committed to advocating for additional funding to support early intervention and child protection initiatives to ensure that every family has access to the resources they need. Our Next Steps: 1. Collaborate with new and existing partners to maximize the impact of the allocated budget. 2. Advocate for additional funding to bridge gaps in early intervention and child protection initiatives. 3. Work tirelessly to create a safer, nurturing environment for all families. We believe that with sustained effort and collaborative partnerships, we can create a safer and more nurturing environment for all families. #ReilyFoundation #EarlyIntervention #FamilySupport #ChildProtection #Advocacy #CommunityPartners #SaferFamilies

Happy Giving Tuesday! At 3Si, we know that giving back is so important. That's why we work so hard to ensure every child has access to early education through our Child Universal Data System (CUSP). Our data helps make sure that every child is counted so we can benefit children and families all around the United States. Visit www.team3si.com/cusp for more information. How are you giving back today? #ChildSuccess #ChildAdvocacy #GivingTuesday

🏎️ 💨 RACE TO THE RESCUE with NV Child Seekers 🏎️💨 ‼️Volunteers Needed ‼️ Be a part of the mission to bring our missing children home safely. Join us for an empowering and informative volunteer training session, where you'll learn the best practices for locating missing children. This training is crucial for anyone 18 and over who wants to make a difference in their community. By attending this event, you'll be equipped to assist in spreading awareness by sharing our missing child flyers with the public before F1. It’s our goal to find our kids before they become victims or exploited. 🔗 **Sign up via the link below** https://lnkd.in/gjzSW9rR Here’s why we host regular community-wide missing child flyer searches during events like F1 & the Super Bowl: 1. Increased Human Trafficking Risks at Large Events High Demand: Major events like the F1 race attract large crowds, which can increase the demand for exploitation. Traffickers often exploit this by bringing victims to these events, leading to a spike in trafficking activities. 2. Heightened Vulnerability of Missing and At-Risk Youth Disguise and Distraction: The chaotic environment of large events can be used by traffickers to disguise their activities and distract law enforcement, making it easier to move children without drawing attention. 3. Awareness and Prevention Community Engagement: Hosting the flyer event raises public awareness about the risks of human trafficking and the issue of missing children. It educates the community on recognizing signs of trafficking and encourages vigilance during high-risk times. This initiative is essential for raising awareness, preventing exploitation, and protecting vulnerable individuals during such high-risk events. IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO BRING OUR MISSING CHILDREN HOME 💪💕🫶🏽 For more info call our office 702-458-7009

What is a grassroots organization? A grassroots organization is a community-driven group formed to address local issues and meet the needs of residents through collective action and volunteerism. These organizations often start small, with passionate individuals who rally their neighbours and local resources to create positive change. Society of Organized Services is a true grassroots organization. Founded in the summer of 1968 by three women concerned about unmet needs of local school children, families and seniors in District 69, they asked a simple question: Could an effective organization be created to meet these needs? The answer was, with determination, yes. The call for community action was answered by a diverse array of District 69 residents. Educators, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, bankers, community advocates, grandmothers, librarians, and youth all stepped up. Volunteers from Nanoose to Bowser, and Errington to Lasqueti, came together to form what is now Society of Organized Services. Today, SOS continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication and collective effort of its volunteers and supporters. This grassroots organization remains a testament to what can be achieved when a community unites for the common good. 🌟 #Grassroots # SOS #Wearecommunity #Volunteer #LocalHeroes #NanooseBay #Parksville #Qualicum #Oceanside

The SCOTUS Johnson v Grants Pass decision was a punch to the gut. It wasn't a surprise but the ramifications are horrific and people will die. Having worked in support of the civil and human rights of folks without housing in a range of capacities for 4 decades I have been reading all of the posts and having conversations with advocates, attorneys, funders and most importantly folks without housing, and I've learned a bit along the way. Without supporting folks who are without housing to organize locally and engage as partners and leaders in this struggle on the local, state and national levels we will never win justice. I want to see funding moving towards groups led by folks currently and recently homeless, who are on the frontlines. We need funding to move to Know Your Rights with the police training and pop ed materials created, we need cop watch teams, we need outreach in outdoor spaces, soup kitchens, welfare offices and shelters. And we need autonomous spaces for folks without housing to collectively analyze and plan and we need actions. We need to support the capacity of real grass roots folks organizing WITH communities harmed by abusive and discriminatory policing. If we really believe that homelessness is intersectional and we're about movement building then we must acknowledge that we are only going to win justice if we win justice together and organizing spaces are supported that include all of the communities harmed by police violence. We are only going to win housing for all people harmed by a profit based housing system if we organize with other folks harmed by housing injustice.

In 2023, 166 CASA/GAL Volunteers advocated for 761 abused and neglected children in Summit County. These statistics speak to how powerful and important the CASA/GAL Program of Summit County is to the children of our community. You can read our entire 2023 impact report at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gHYnA6m5

Data transparency is crucial when it comes to understanding the impact of policing on communities. That's why the Cline Center created the SPOTLITE registry—a comprehensive database that tracks police uses of lethal force across the United States. This innovative tool provides crucial data on use of force incidents, starting with 2014 to 2021, enabling communities, researchers, and policymakers to explore patterns and understand the broader context behind these events. With this data, we can start answering critical questions: Are reforms creating lasting changes in policing, or are they only temporary? By providing accurate, comprehensive data, we aim to identify reforms that reduce unnecessary uses of force and rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement. Learn more about how the SPOTLITE Project plans to shape the future of public safety. Learn more about SPOTLITE here:

Happy Tuesday! We're proud to share another recent CHLP success through the newly expanded New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Comprehensive Eviction Defense and Diversion (CEDD) program.   The team at our Bloomfield office assisted an Essex County senior citizen facing eviction after losing her housing subsidy when the city's funding ended. She is wheelchair-bound and has been living in her apartment for 15 years. After losing the subsidy, her rent was raised to market rate, and she could not afford it on her fixed income. Thanks to our team's diligent intervention, we secured additional time to resolve her case. We successfully navigated challenges alongside the DCA related to her apartment's classification as a one-bedroom instead of a two-bedroom, which allows her space for her medical equipment. Through the CEDD program, she could remain in her home, avoiding eviction.   The CEDD program expansion offers resource navigators and more robust legal services to low-income households at risk of housing displacement. This expansion builds on the success of eviction prevention initiatives piloted in previous years. CHLP's team is most effective in providing housing resources and legal representation when clients are referred to us early in the dispute process. Prompt intervention can help prevent severe outcomes, such as eviction.   Every victory at CHLP changes lives and reinforces our mission to advocate for New Jersey's most vulnerable residents. 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞. We invite you to support our work as we make a difference in the community.  https://lnkd.in/eDCCKYKY   #LegalAid #CommunitySupport #HousingRights #CHLP #DisabilityLaw #TenantsRights   Read more about this program here: https://lnkd.in/gyW5DcAu

Raise Your Voice for Child Advocacy and Sponsorship Every child deserves a chance to thrive, to feel loved, and to know that their future holds promise. Yet, many children around the world are denied these basic rights, facing challenges like poverty, malnutrition, lack of education, and neglect. At God’s Grace and Mercy Community, we believe that each child has the potential to shine—if only they are given the opportunity. Child advocacy means standing up for the rights and well-being of children, ensuring they receive the care, protection, and opportunities they deserve. Sponsorship allows you to personally make a lasting impact by supporting a child’s education, healthcare, and basic needs. By becoming an advocate or a sponsor, you are giving these children a chance at a better life and a brighter future. We can’t do it alone. We need your voice, your heart, and your support. How You Can Help: Advocate: Speak up for children in need and raise awareness within your community. Sponsor: By sponsoring a child, you can directly change a life by providing essentials like food, education, shelter, and healthcare. Spread the Word: Like, share, repost, and recommend our mission to others. Let’s build a network of love and care for the children who need us most. 'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.' – Matthew 18:5 Together, we can change lives—one child at a time. https://lnkd.in/gyNqZvWZ #ChildAdvocacy #SponsorAChild #RaiseYourVoice #SupportOurMission #GodsGraceAndMercy #ChildrenDeserveBetter #Matthew185 #StandUpForChildren #EndChildPoverty #SupportEducation #CareForTheVulnerable #GiveHope #BeAChampionForChildren #MakeADifference #SupportOrphans #EmpowerThroughSponsorship #JoinTheCause #EveryChildMatters #HelpTheNeedy #ChangeALife #BuildingBrighterFutures #ActWithCompassion #LiftUpTheNextGeneration #TransformLives #HopeForChildren #InvestInTheirFuture #TogetherWeCan #SponsorWithLove #CommunityForChange #AdvocateForChildren.