Pax-salon Mailing List: Fwd: salon

[patty (pattypax]

Last night at the salon we heard about SAfe Passage for Children from  
Richard Gehrman who is the director of this program called Safe  
Passage for Children.  The issue is very important as MN is falling  
behind other states in caring for abused children. There are some  
horrific stories out there.  Children need our help.   The program  
needs volunteers for helping to lobby our MN Legislature.  If this  
would interest you, email me and i can let him know and he will be in  
touch w/you.   Please read and maybe you can help.
Thanks,
patty

Begin forwarded message:

> From: patty <pattypax [at] earthlink.net>
> Date: March 23, 2011 8:10:28 PM CDT
> To: Patty Guerrero <pattypax [at] earthlink.net>
> Subject: salon
>
> Safe Passage for Children          Of Minnesota
>
>
> Umbrella Child.png
> The Issue
> Children are not safe in Minnesota.  The public, elected officials,  
> and opinion leaders are generally not aware of this crisis.  Most  
> county and state program managers think the system is performing well.
> Reports from school personnel, guardians ad litem and others  
> indicate that:
> Some counties are limiting access to child protection investigations
> Children are being left in abusive situations for prolonged periods
> 70% of cases that do get screened in are diverted to a voluntary  
> program that is often ineffective in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties
> Children are returned home to abusive situations without services
> Children of color are over-represented at every stage of this process
> Why Safe Passage is Needed
> We are the only grass roots organization advocating for systemic  
> child welfare reform
> We obtain and explain previously unavailable data about Minnesota’s  
> child welfare system
> The Goal
> Our goal is to introduce legislation during the 2015 state  
> legislative session that will:
> Hold the system accountable to provide high quality basic child  
> protection and foster care
> Redesign the delivery system to emphasize early intervention so as  
> many children as possible can remain safely in their homes
> Refinance the system to adequately fund this redesign in as budget- 
> neutral a way as possible
> How Children Will Be Better Off
> As a result of this campaign we project that:
> Each year 23,000 additional children who are subject of child  
> maltreatment reports will be seen by a child protection worker  
> rather than being left to fend for themselves
> The focus on early intervention services will mean that:
> 1,270 families will avoid becoming involved in the child protection  
> system, including an estimated 350 African American and Native  
> American families
> At least 1,800 children per year will safely avoid out-of-home  
> placements including an estimated 500 African American and Native  
> American children
> The state and counties will save $25.4 million per year in out-of- 
> home placement costs
> Get Involved: Volunteer to meet with your elected officials or  
> contribute your special skills!!