For Immediate Release
February 22, 2006

Contact:
Stacy Karp Mosher
207-874-1175
Jason Wolfe
(207) 883-6083
E-mail: skmosher@youthalternatives.org

PORTLAND, Maine — The Cumberland County Child Abuse and Neglect Council announced that it has changed its name to the Children's Advocacy Council. The new name better reflects the Council’s ongoing mandate to advocate for the health and well-being of families at all levels of need while also working to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect.

Along with the name change, the Council is unveiling a new logo as well as a new tagline - Strengthening Families and Preventing Abuse.

Since 1976, the Council has coordinated community efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect and to promote positive family relationships in Cumberland County and across Maine.

“While the name is changing, our mission is not,” said Cyndi Amato, Council co-chair. “By removing the words ‘abuse’ and ‘neglect’ from our name, we are able to present the organization’s positive focus of advocating for the well-being of children and families on all levels.”

Adds Andrea Paul, the Council’s executive director, “Changing our name will help members of the public see that we look at child well-being as a whole spectrum rather than focusing solely on abuse and neglect. We trust this will allow us to become more relevant to families’ daily lives and to be a catalyst for even greater change within the community.”

The Role of the Children's Advocacy Council
The Children's Advocacy Council works with a broad range of lay persons, organizations and community agencies to prevent abuse and neglect through increased public awareness, education and advocacy. Working together, Council members deliver parenting education, provide mandated reporter training for people who work with children and families, and offer consultation and referrals for anyone in the community who is concerned about the safety of a child.

Over the past year, for example, the Council has trained 1,250 mandated reporters on recognizing child abuse and neglect. Also, the Council has served and educated 5,550 community members through coalitions, conferences, forums, groups and meetings throughout the county and the entire state.

Going forward, the Council is heightening its focus on problem solving, seeking out opportunities to implement systems change and get state, public and private agencies as well as citizens working together to combat social problems out in local communities.

The Children's Advocacy Council is a division of Youth Alternatives. It is comprised of members of the Cumberland County community, and promotes community awareness and public education about the importance of preventing child abuse. Council members are also strong advocates for child-friendly, family-focused policies in local and state governments.

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