Coalition News
Spring/Summer 2016
Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Creating safer communities  for our children
 
Welcome to Coalition News!
This is the second edition of Coalition News, the e-newsletter for members  and supporters of the Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and the Enough Abuse Campaign in Mercer County. The Enough Abuse Campaign is a grassroots community effort to educate adults in how to prevent child sexual abuse. Please share your thoughts as we work to spread the word, raise awareness, and promote prevention, education and advocacy to create safer communities for our children and reduce their vulnerability to sexual abuse. 
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
It's only April and we've had a busy year already!  Our Coalition has been quite busy making connections, raising awareness, and training adults in the community how to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to child sexual abuse.

For April, Child Abuse Prevention month, we've scheduled a series of Enough Abuse workshops throughout Mercer County, including:
  • April 12, 2016 -  Volunteer, Steve Pitts presented the "Just Jenna" workshop at  Calvary Baptist Church.  
  • April 18, 2016 -   Michael Weinstein presented the workshop, "Understanding & Responding to Sexual Behaviors in Children" at the Millhill Child & Family Development Center.
  • April 19, 2016 - Michael Weinstein presented the workshop,  "Understanding & Responding to Sexual Behaviors in Children" to the child-care staff at the Hamilton YMCA.
  •  April 29, 2016 - Daisy Freer will present the workshop, "She Sad What? He Did What!" to parents and community members of Hopewell Valley Schools. 

 We are excited about the opportunity to expand our community education efforts during Child Abuse Prevention month.  If you are interested in attending or hosting a workshop, please contact Prevention Director, Jill Keller, at [email protected] or call 609.379.1265.  With your support we will continue to advance our goal of educating every adult in Mercer County in how to keep our children safe from the risk of sexual abuse. 

   
Great news...

On April 14th, PEI Kids received a recognition award at the International Child Assault Prevention (ICAP) Conference in Atlantic City for being a charter agency for the statewide Child Assault Prevention program in New Jersey.  PEI Kids has delivered this school-based, children's prevention program in Mercer County schools continuously since 1985...over 30 years!

Through the CAP program, PEI Kids provides classroom-based workshops which reach over 13,000 pre-K through 8th grade students in 70 public, private, and charter schools each year.  CAP workshops empower children by teaching them that children have rights and by providing safety strategies  which teach them to be "Safe, Strong & Free!"  

To find out if your child's school offers the CAP program, or to learn more about bringing  CAP workshops to your school, call PEI Kids at 609.695.3739.  We would be glad to work with your school or District to make this life-changing programming available. 

PEI Kids' Executive Director Roz Dashiell (left) receives  recognition award at the International CAP Conference in Atlantic City.

Spreading the Word
For 2016, the Coalition's efforts are focused on capacity-building, greater mobilization of local communities, increased community outreach, and member participation.  As part of this effort, we have produced 16" x 20" posters to hang in the community -- in public spaces such as faith-based or educational institutions, doctors' offices, child-serving organizations, libraries, or any place of public gathering or public accommodation.  

If you would like to have a poster to hang in your organization or community, please simply  send an email with your request. It's a great way to help spread the word about preventing child sexual abuse in your community. 

2016 Campaign Poster


Member Update
We are updating our Coalition membership roster to ensure that we have current contact information for all members.  Please take a moment to confirm that you are on the Member Roster.  

If it has been more than a year since you joined, please complete the online  Member Update form so we can keep you informed and involved!

About the Coalition

PEI Kids is the lead agency for The Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse which spearheads the 
Enough Abuse Campaign in Mercer County --  a coordinated community-based effort to prevent child sexual abuse and advocate for child safety.  

The Enough Abuse Campaign is a grassroots movement to protect children from the risk of sexual abuse by educating community members in how to prevent, identify, and respond appropriately to child sexual abuse. Over 1,500 adults have been trained in the Enough Abuse curriculum through the free community workshops offered throughout greater Mercer County.  The Campaign is funded by Princeton Area Community Foundation and the Fund for Women & Girls, Lawrence Township Community Foundation, I Am Trenton Foundation, and Provident Bank Foundation. 
 
If you know of an organization or community leader who would make a great Coalition member, please forward this email or click the Membership button below to refer a prospective member or to request a Member Registration form.  Thank you!