IN THIS ISSUE High Marks for Dads-only Workshops

Page 2 Sleep Positioners Pose Risks

Page 3 CAC Profile: Investigator Ferris

Page 3 Leandra’s Law Protects Kids

Page 3 2011 Safety Fair

Page 4

MANAGEMENT BOARD Grace Balcer Fiscal Manager DSS, Mental Health & Youth Bureau Paul Eldridge County Executive Alice Brandon, Esq. Founding Member Ann Ellsworth Executive Director Women’s Resource Center Adam B. Levy Putnam County District Attorney Frank Marocco, Esq. Counsel to DSS Michael J. Piazza Commissioner DSS, Mental Health & Youth Bureau Jane Sandbank, Ed.D. Superintendent Brewster Central School District Donald B. Smith Sheriff

PROGRAM COORDINATOR Marla Behler, MS, LMSW

N E W S L I N E : F A L L 2 0 1 1

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Continued on page 2.

It’s a frigid winter morning at 9 A.M.

Gathering at Cornerstone Park’s

boardroom table is a diverse

group of individuals involved with

the Child Advocacy Center (CAC)

of Putnam County.

The child protective services worker,

victim advocate, social worker, law

enforcement officer, assistant district

attorney and art therapist however

are not discussing their latest case.

Instead the team has cast a discerning

eye at their own work, and the

efficiency and effectiveness of the

services they provide to the families

struggling with child abuse and

maltreatment allegations.

It was one of numerous

brainstorming meetings, staff

interviews and writing sessions that

made up the ten-month process to

formulate the CAC’s 2011-2016

Strategic Plan.

Protecting and supporting

children is the paramount mission of

any child advocacy center. This

difficult, often heartbreaking work

makes the process of strategic

planning all the more crucial—to

ensure the continuing viability and

growth of the Center, to prepare for

the increasing complexity and volume

of cases. Putnam’s population has

increased 18.8 percent in the last 20

years and in times of economic

hardship not only do abuse and

maltreatment statistics tend to rise,

but available resources decrease.

The final plan identified key

priority areas, including service

delivery, location, and short- and

long-term sustainability. Specific

initiatives were laid out and initial

action steps started. The current

interview process and possibility of

collocating additional team members

will be examined, while management

board members will study and weigh

issues involved in launching a future

capital campaign for new space.

Putnam Kids To Benefit from Strategic Planning

Child Advocacy Center Works to Identify Priority Areas

Domestic Violence puts children at risk

October is Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month and a good time to look at the rippling

effects the DV problem has on all population segments. None however are as problematic and

distressing as the result of domestic abuse on children.

Children who experience domestic violence in their homes face a variety of difficulties,

both immediately and in the future. Growing research shows these children are more likely to

CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER STAFF

Marie Fabiano, Child Protective Services Worker

Susan Hoffner, Health Educator

Yeny McIntyre-Nalbone, Victim Advocate

Ahimsa Moguillanes, Child Therapist

Kerry Ann Rice, Child Protective Services Worker

Laura Roberts, Esq., Assistant District Attorney

Mary Beth Ross, Victim Advocate

Three years ago the Putnam County Department of

Health partnered with the CAC to bring an

innovative new parenting program to the county.

More than a dozen sessions of Dads-only Parenting,

based on the Conscious Fathering™ curriculum, have

been held around the county at various locations,

including Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel.

“The response from the participating fathers has

been very positive. Those who have attended have

improved their parenting skills in a number of

areas,” explains workshop facilitator Arne

Nordstrom, who has conducted the sessions since

the program’s launch in 2009. “We have been

measuring their

knowledge and

confidence in seven

categories and all

participants

reporting have

found significant

benefits. They walk

away feeling more

comfortable in their

new role,”

continues Mr.

Nordstrom,

“especially in terms

of their ability to calm a crying infant.”

“The idea is to empower fathers by teaching

them not only how to meet, but how to anticipate

their infants five basic needs,” explains Marla

Behler, Program Coordinator for the Child

Advocacy Center, which had worked for nearly a

year before bringing the well-established and proven

program to the county. “If we can help one dad

enhance his parenting skills, that is one child more

that will benefit from a better relationship with his

dad,” Ms. Behler continued.

Taught by Dads for Dads, the 2 ½ hour

workshop provides not only information, but also

hands-on practice with basic baby care. Classes are

free and open to all new and expecting fathers in

Putnam and surrounding counties.

For more information, contact the Child

Advocacy Center at 845-808-1400, x 44122.

Fathers Give High Marks to “Just-for-Dads”

Parenting Workshops

show “aggressive and anti-social behavior” or to be anxious

and depressed. They may experience problems in school and

do poorly on verbal, motor and cognitive skill assessments.

Long-term problems can result when the cycle of abuse contin-

ues—males may become abusive themselves—females are

more likely to become victims.

Resource: Child Welfare Information Gateway The full report is available online at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domestic_violence/

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline number at

845-628-2166. All calls are kept confidential.

Sleep Positioners Pose Risk For Infants

Once endorsed to help relieve reflux in infants, wedge-shaped pillows and other sleep positioners, are now strongly discouraged. Last year the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a joint warning against these items which claim to keep babies from rolling onto their stomachs. At the time safety officials reported 12 suffocation

deaths of babies associated with sleep positioners.

It has been nearly three years since a sudden infant death occurred in Putnam County, but that’s not a reason to become less vigilant. October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, so it is timely and

important to highlight some safe-sleep basics:

• Place baby on his or her back for naps and at night.

• Use a firm sleep surface with fitted sheet. Avoid all pillows, sleep positioners, loose bedding and blankets,

and crib bumpers. Keep soft object and toys out of crib.

• Keep baby’s sleep area nearby, but separate from you

and others. Infants are safest when sleeping alone.

• Do not allow smoking around your baby.

For more information, contact the Child

Advocacy Center at 845-808-1400, x 44122.

Or visit: www.sidscenter.org; www.firstcandle.org/, or

www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm227575.htm

Domestic Violence, continued from cover

Sleep positioners like this are still

sold, but pose a risk for infants.

Workshop facilitator Arne Nordstrom, left, a three-time father himself, helped launch the dads-only

parenting workshops in Putnam County.

As of August 2011, 19 arrests have

been made in Putnam County under

the Child Passenger Protection Act

known as Leandra’s Law, which

went into effect in New York State

three years ago. The law imposes

tougher sanctions on individuals

who place a child passenger at risk

while driving under the influence of

alcohol (blood alcohol level of .08

or more) or drugs.

“Defendants convicted of a

Leandra’s Law violation in

Putnam County face a

comprehensive set of penalties,”

explains District Attorney Adam

Levy, “including incarceration,

probation supervision, intensive

alcohol intervention and confis-

cation of their car.”

Named in memory of 11-year-

old Leandra Rosado who was killed

on the Henry Hudson Parkway in

Manhattan while riding in an SUV

driven by an intoxicated driver, the

legislation makes it a felony to drive

under the influence of alcohol or

drugs (DWI) with a child of 15

years of age or younger is in the

vehicle. Previously this was a

misdemeanor offense and could be

treated as a traffic violation. Now

even first-time offenders arrested

under Leandra’s Law may be

charged with a felony, punishable

by up to four years in State prison.

While facing prosecution

individuals have their licenses

automatically suspended.

Another provision of the law

dictates courts to order all drivers

convicted of either misdemeanor

or felony DWI to install and

maintain an ignition interlock on

their vehicles for at least six

months, in addition to

imprisonment. With physical

injury or death to a child, felony

charges carry longer prison terms

of up to 15 and 25 years.

“Sooner or later, these people

will get the message,” said

District Attorney Levy. “Until

they do, let them take the bus.”

Child abuse cases are among the most difficult

to investigate. It is not just the age of the victim,

or the sensitive and upsetting nature of the

crime. Proper investigation requires coordination

of a multi-disciplinary team, not just of law

enforcement officers, but also child protective

services (CPS) workers, victim advocates, and

social workers, all who also assist accompanying

and often traumatized family members. Often it

boils down to learning the language of children.

Just ask Investigator Ferris of the Sheriff’s

Bureau of Criminal Investigation. For nearly 30

years Robert Ferris has tracked down the “bad

guys.” From a stint as a military police officer

to the Putnam County Corrections

Department, from the

Sheriff’s road patrol to

the K-9 division, from

narcotics to the Child

Advocacy Center, this

seasoned investigator

has arrested armed

robbers, drug dealers,

counterfeiters, career

criminals, as well as

child abusers and murderers. This father-of-four

however knows all too well the genuine challenges

of child abuse cases.

“It is a different world,” explains Ferris. “It is

scary at first. We are asking questions that can be

hard to get out. Questions about things we shouldn’t

have to be talking about to children, but because of

the nature of the allegations, we must. Being a parent

helps, as does the team approach at the Child

Advocacy Center. Together we work to get through

to the child and to get to the bottom of what has

happened. The CPS workers and advocates are well

attuned to the language of kids.”

Ferris is no stranger to unique communication

challenges. His eight years on the K-9 unit

began handling “Alf,” a German Shepherd

who only responded to commands in

German. “They handed me a card and I

had to learn all the commands again, with a

proper accent,” recalls Ferris.

Born and raised in Putnam, Ferris

grew up in Cold Spring and

wanted to be police officer from

a young age. “I was the only kid

on the block with a police-siren

for a bell,” Ferris said. “The car

drivers even took notice.”

Robert Ferris: Bringing Street Smarts to Child Abuse Investigation

Leandra’s Law Is Working to Keep Kids Safe Around Putnam

2011 Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day

Sponsors

Guideposts

Patterson Rotary Club

Donors

Arms Acres

Reality Check, Putnam County Youth Bureau

Participants

Red Cross in Greater New York

Arms Acres/Liberty Management

Brain Injury Association of New York State

Brewster Fire Department

Carmel Fire Department

Carmel Police Department

The Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam

Coalitions That Care

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County—

4H Youth Development

Croton Farms

Disaster and Wilderness Ground Search (DAWGS)

Dr. Anne Brandon’s Advanced Chiropractic Wellness Care

Emergency Response Team (ERT) of Putnam County

Gold’s Gym, Carmel

HAZMAT Team of Putnam County

KICKS 105.5

Mahopac Fire Department

Mental Health Association of Putnam County

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

National Council on Alcoholism and other Drug Dependencies

National Fire Sprinkler Association

Patterson Fire Department

Fire Investigation Team of Putnam County

Fire Police Response Team of Putnam County

POW’R Against Tobacco

Putnam County District Attorney’s Office

Putnam County Fire Chiefs Association

Putnam County Department of Health

Putnam County Department of Highways & Facilities

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

Putnam County Department of Social Services

Putnam County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Putnam County Volunteer Firemen’s Association

Putnam County Youth Bureau

Putnam Lake Fire Department

Putnam Family & Community Services

Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center

Reality Check

The Sleep Disorders Center at Putnam Hospital Center

The Trinity Center

United Martial Arts Centers

The Sixth Annual Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day was a dual

effort this year. Putnam County’s Bureau of Emergency Services

(BES) partnered with the Child Advocacy Center and the event

moved to BES’s spacious indoor/outdoor facility at the Training and

Operations (TOPS) building on the Putnam County Donald Smith

campus on Old Route 6 in Carmel.

Bureau of Emergency Services Teams Up with CAC to

host 6th Annual Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day

Tours of the 9-1-1 Center were

conducted and many Putnam

County volunteer fire departments

participated, including the

Mahopac Falls Dive Team,

pictured in the top photo, at right.

Returning favorites included

Operation SAFE CHILD cards

hosted by the Putnam County

Sheriffs Office, car seat checks

conducted jointly by Carmel

Police and the Road Patrol of the

Sheriff’s Office, the Brewster

Fire Department’s Fire Safety

House and fire engine tours.

The New York State Brain

Injury Association was on hand

with their popular bicycle helmet

fittings, second photo from top,

while Sparky the Firedog

engaged youngsters with fire

safety tips, third photo.

Adding to the festivities was

Magician Danny Diamond,

bottom photo, who delighted

young and old alike again this

year, and new demonstrations of

yoga by chiropractor Anne

Brandon, DC, and Zumba by

Gold’s Gym, Carmel.

Numerous community

organizations, including new

participants from the National

Center for Missing and Exploited

Children and the Childcare

Council of Dutchess and Putnam,

offered health and safety

information and interactive

activities and games.

Reporting child abuse

Anyone can report child abuse.

The Child Abuse Hotline in New York State is 1-800-342-3720.

If you believe that a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department.