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New Mexico Children's Alliance

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New Mexico’s Children’s Advocacy Centers:

Improving New Mexico’s community response to child abuse.

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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

and

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Be sure to follow us on social media and browse our site for more information!

Also check out the website for our umbrella organization, New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (NMCSAP),  here.

About NMCA

The NM Children’s Alliance is an accredited chapter of the NCA made up of children’s advocacy centers (CACs) in NM. A program of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (NMCSAP) as of 2019.

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Local CACs

Find a children’s advocacy center in your area.

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Member Resources

View the member resources.

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Child Abuse

Learn about child abuse and how you can help

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From our Instagram Feed

nmcacs

#repost Thank you to NCA for highlighting the impo #repost Thank you to NCA for highlighting the important work of the Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. Text START to 678678, call 1-866-488-7386, or check out @trevorproject for more info. #nmcacs 💙• @natlchildrensalliance We honor and celebrate #PrideMonth! Stand with and support LGBTQIA+ youth and help them thrive. Throughout June, we'll provide some special resources for serving LGBTQIA+ youth. Right now, check out our link in bio for The @TrevorProject's alarming statistics on LGBTQIA+ youth #MentalHealth why it's more important than ever to give them support not just in June for #Pride, but every day.
#repost Thanks for sharing these important tips! 💙 #nmcacs• @kidsinccac Repost from @shalonnienow  Let's talk about asking children questions about possible abuse/neglect.

My only advise is DON'T!! If you have not been trained on how to ask children questions in an appropriate way, the best course of action is not to do it.  There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, most people ask questions in inappropriate ways eliciting statements that cannot be adequately interpreted.  The biggest issue that I see happening is the use of loaded questions.  Moms and Grandmas are notorious for this one.  Loaded questions contain unjustified assumptions.  The most common one that I hear is "who touched you?" This question assumes that the child has been touched, and forces the child into providing a name for the "toucher". Any answer provided by a child in response to this form of questioning cannot be evaluated. Adults will presume that this is a disclosure of sexual abuse, which it is not, and inevitably this results in an ED or clinic visit for concerns of such.  Let me reiterate THIS IS NOT A DISCLOSURE.  In fact, if a child IS being sexually abused this form of questioning can inhibit or destroy an investigation. 

Second, when people have concerns for abuse and do not elicit a response from the child that confirms this, they will continue to ask questions until they receive an answer that they want. This is an interrogation and also not appropriate.  Statements made by children in this context also cannot be adequately interpreted. 

If you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.  do not question children about abuse.  Instead empower children that if they do not feel safe, or if anyone ever does anything to their body that makes them feel uncomfortable they should tell a grown up.  Empower them that this adult does not need to be you.  As previously discussed children almost never tell parents/family members about abuse because they are smart, and they know that it will be hurtful.  So, you need to get over that, and provide them with the tools to maintain their safety.  I use the rule of 5s. Children need to identify 5 grown-ups
#repost Every child deserves a safe childhood, thi #repost Every child deserves a safe childhood, this month and every month. 💙🌈#nmcacs • @missingkids This #PrideMonth and always, @MissingKids is committed to helping protect #LGBTQ+ children and families. NCMEC knows that LGBTQ+ children may face additional barriers to reporting sextortion and that these children are also at an increased risk of homelessness if they do not feel welcome in their homes or communities.

Join us in creating a safer world for all children and talk to the kids in your life about safety today.
missingkids.org/education

Every child deserves a #SafeChildhood.
#repost #DidYouKnow 💙#nmcacs• @silver_regiona #repost #DidYouKnow 💙#nmcacs• @silver_regional_sass Reposted from @keep_kids_safe The research is clear: sexual violence against children and adolescents affects all demographics and all communities. This is a global and deeply human issue — and the root cause of many of our most persistent community health issues. ⁠
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#keepkidssafe #kksmovement #endsexualabuse ⁠
#repost 💙#nmcacs #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth • @mbfchildsafety Studies show the effects of childhood victimization leave youth vulnerable to a lifetime of physical, mental, and social problems. Help promote mental health awareness by getting involved and educated. Whether you have a child or teen or work with them, help them learn and understand the importance of mental health and taking care of oneself. 💚 #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth
#repost 🥳💙 So many positive developments hap #repost 🥳💙 So many positive developments happening for our CACs around the state! Congratulations, Angelica and Stacy! We love having you as part of our network. 🥰#nmcacs• @lapinonsars 🎉Announcement🎉 La Piñon would like to share some big news! La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services is going into 32 years of service & the baton is being past to our next Executive Director! We first would like to thank all past Executive Directors for cultivating an organization build on advocating and supporting survivors of both sexual violence and child abuse in Southern New Mexico. We would then like to congratulate Stacy Blazer-Clark for all her hard work and dedication to La Piñon for the past 13 years. She will forever hold a special place with La Piñon as she is now the new SANE Director with the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs! 

Now we would like to congratulate and announce our newest Executive Director. With that our new Executive Director is our very own Angelica Calderon! Angelica has been with La Piñon since 2012 and has a wide understanding of victim services. Angelica has worked with our Rape Crisis Center as well as oversaw La Piñon’s Children's Advocacy Center for several years and has conducted numerous Forensic Interviews for survivors ready to tell their stories. La Piñon knows that Angelica is the best suited to take on this role with all her expertise and will do an outstanding job carrying on her duties and the mission of La Piñon as our new Executive Director! 🎊 👏🏻
#repost 🥳 We are so excited to work with Meliss #repost 🥳 We are so excited to work with Melissa as the new (as of March) CAC coordinator based at our member CAC in Taos, Northern NM CAC, a nationally accredited program of Community Against Violence. Welcome, Melissa! 💙😊#nmcacs • @taoscav Say hello to Melissa Offenharz (She/Her)!
 
Melissa was part of an air-force family, meaning she lived all over the world growing up, from Alaska to Japan! Melissa has an extensive background in nursing, working over 30 years doing everything from ICU work to being the Director of the whole nursing program! It was only until after the covid-pandemic that Melissa decided to switch paths and join CAV! Now, outside of work you might find her hiking, reading, knitting, or hanging out with her two dogs. 
 
Melissa began working at CAV over a year ago as our Special Populations Advocate but in March became our new Program Coordinator for the Northern New Mexico Children Advocacy Center! In her new role Melissa assures the NMCAC program and advocates are well resourced and able to handle any task thrown their way. Melissa emphasizes how the CAC has a lot of moving parts that can be dynamic and unpredictable, therefore, requiring lots of coordination. This includes, handling pay-roll, attending meetings, and coordinating with law enforcement CYFD, and/or the district attorneys office (depending on the case). 
 
Melissa wants the community to know the CAC program is an integral part of CAV’s mission as a whole. CAV’s CAC or Child’s Advocacy Center is a nationally accredited program that serves 7 counties, and 2 pueblos. This means cases referred by law enforcement, Tribal police, or CYFD are forensically interviewed in a way that meets the national standards for forensic interview practices, how they train their advocates, and how they lead with a trauma-informed lens. 
 
Melissa states “The work done at CAV at stopping violence, really sets the foundation for a thriving community. Everyday spent working here is working in service with really committed people working really hard to make that goal, of having a healthy thriving community, a reality”.

To reach out to Melissa for any work-related inquiry e-mail melissao@taoscav.org
#repost• @childrenssafeharbor Most cases of chil #repost• @childrenssafeharbor Most cases of child sexual abuse involve family members or caregivers who are known to the child. Additionally, although most individuals who sexually abuse children are male, some are female. Use the link below to  find resources regarding the characteristics of people who sexually abuse children, including information about juvenile sex offenders, female sex offenders, and sexual exploitation.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/people/sexabuse/
#repost It was great to see first time mom and fea #repost It was great to see first time mom and fearless Executive Director Stephanie Wood and her adorable baby 🤩 at our recent NMCA meeting! Congratulations on celebrating your first Mother’s Day as a mama! 💙😊 #nmcacs • @vssbelieves 💜💐Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Moms, Dad-Moms, StepMoms, Pet Moms, Foster Moms, Adopter Moms,  Honorary Moms, Moms-In-Law and in Love, and to any and all brave and big-hearted enough to love and care for someone in the unconditionally unfaltering, all-encompassing, warm and wonderfully Mom-like way…AND a Very Happy FIRST Mother’s Day to VSS Executive Director-  Stephanie Wood!💐💜#MothersDay #MomLife #AllKindsOfMothers #VSSBelievesInMomsAndYou
#repost Don’t miss this upcoming training opport #repost Don’t miss this upcoming training opportunity! 💙#nmcacs • @nmcsap Our annual adv SANE Conference is just over two weeks away! These two full days of information in June are perfect for sexual assault nurse examiners, law enforcement, advocates, and all other professional looking to expand their knowledge. Continuing education credits will be available.
Register and view the full agenda through the link in our bio!
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#EndSexualViolence #BelieveSurvivors #EndRapeCulture #ConsentCulture #ConsentIsMandatory #SexualAssaultAwareness #SupportSurvivors
#repost Wonderful news!!! Congratulations to the C #repost Wonderful news!!! Congratulations to the CAC team at @lapinonsars! 🤩We love to see the expansion of services to kids and families in southwestern New Mexico 🥰💙#nmcacs #Deming #satellite #accreditation  @natlchildrensalliance • @lapinonsars 🎉BIG NEWS! WE PASSED ACCREDITATION! 🎉 La Pinon would like to announce we passed accreditation from the National Children's Alliance for our newly opened satellite office in Deming, New Mexico! If you or someone you know is interested in services at our Deming location please reach out at (575) 963-4344.
#repost 🥳 Our CACs are so excited to work with #repost 🥳 Our CACs are so excited to work with Stacy in this new capacity! Formerly the executive director at our CAC and sexual assault service provider based in Las Cruces which also houses a SANE unit, we know Stacy will continue to be a champion for kids who have been abused and for all survivors of sexual violence. Welcome, Stacy 💙 #nmcacs #SANE • @nmcsap We are so excited to welcome our new SANE Director Stacy Blazer Clark! Stacy served as the Executive Director of La Pinon and now brings that leadership and experience to NMCSAP to support sexual assault nurse examiner programs across the state! Welcome Stacy ❤️
Many kids who have been abused don’t tell anyone Many kids who have been abused don’t tell anyone about the abuse at the time it happens. There are many reasons why, so we all need to be aware of the signs of abuse, the steps to take if you suspect abuse, and how to talk to kids about consent. Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month may be over, but our CACs and their multidisciplinary team partners continue to do this important work all year round. 💙 #nmcacs #EndChildAbuse #SupportSurvivors #EndChildSexualAbuse #BeTheOne #healing #hope #justice #FactFriday #DidYouKnow
#repost 💙• @aapiwomenlead We are sharing this #repost 💙• @aapiwomenlead We are sharing this post again not just because it is beautiful but also as a reminder for ANHPI Heritage Month and beyond. There is so much violence happening right now in our world, and we trust in the wisdom of our ancestors like Dr. Grace Lee Boggs that the only way to survive is by taking care of each other. 

What does radical community care look like, and how can we practice radical community care so that the conditions that cause violence come to an end? We know that the solutions are grounded in care for each other. We share this post as a reminder of this work in the face of so much violence.

Posted @withregram • @aapiwomenlead "The only way to survive is by taking care of each other." - Dr. Grace Lee Boggs

How have you been caring for each other? 

(Image description: a beautiful blue, light blue and white illustration from @cori.lin.art . Blue dark text reads "the only way to survive is by taking care of each other." Surrounding the text are light blue and white flowers with an illustration of an elder Asian woman with short hair looking up at the text). 

#InSolidarity #IntersectionalFeminsim #AAPIWomenLead 
#GraceLeeBoggs
#repost 🥳💙• @nmcsap Could our Executive Di #repost 🥳💙• @nmcsap Could our Executive Director be any more incredible?! Alexandria Taylor was named one of Albuquerque Business First's 40 under 40! Congratulations Alexandria! 🎉
#repost 🌱 We’re growing! Apply by this Friday #repost 🌱 We’re growing! Apply by this Friday. Link in bio of @nmcsap💙#nmcacs • @nmcsap @nmcacs is hiring! 

The Statewide Director of Forensic Services functions as expert and has a wide range of knowledge of research-based forensic interviewing protocols; supports peer review for forensic interviewers within member programs; provides expert testimony and court preparation; reviews and monitors forensic interviewing and MDT standard in chapter requirements; assists programs in meeting NCA Accreditation standards; and provides training.

For the complete job description visit our website through the link in our bio. Apply by May 12th!
#repost ❤️ Awareness is one step. Meaningful a #repost ❤️ Awareness is one step. Meaningful action must follow. Follow @csvanw to learn more.• @csvanw Today, as we remember those who have been lost to violence, we must also come together to demand change. This means speaking out against violence, raising awareness about the crisis of MMIWR, & supporting the efforts of organizations, grassroots & communities that are working to address this crisis. Join CSVANW, communities, families, and organizations to honor, pray and remember our stolen relatives. #MMIWR #MMIWGActionNow #NoMoreStolenRelatives
Thank you to the forensic interviewers who dedicat Thank you to the forensic interviewers who dedicated part of their Friday to our statewide peer review today! Our CACs are committed to ongoing quality assurance and improving the services provided to New Mexico’s children and youth. 💙 #nmcacs #PeerReview #ForensicInterview
#repost 🥳 Congratulations to both Malinda and J #repost 🥳 Congratulations to both Malinda and Joella! 🥰We look forward to the continuation of the excellent services provided by CAV to the community, including the critical work of the Northern NM CAC. 💙#nmcacs • @taoscav We are celebrating the past and the future at CAV!
Big transitions are happening at Community Against Violence (CAV)!
This year, CAV’s leadership is transitioning – Malinda Williams, who has been at CAV for nearly 30 years, serving as the Executive Director for 26 years, is retiring and passing the baton to CAV’s Assistant Director Joella Montoya. As part of CAV’s succession plan and on an interim basis, Malinda and Joella are now serving as Co-Executive Directors. The transition will be completed with Joella becoming the Executive Director on January 1, 2024. Joella has deep family roots and community connections in Taos, and is also serving as a Leadership, Education, and Advancement for Professionals (LEAP) fellow for 2023.
Over the last 45 years, CAV has grown into the most comprehensive victim services agency in New Mexico. As we embark on this intentional, thoughtful transition plan, we celebrate those who brought us here from humble beginnings, those preparing to guide us to our next milestones, and the dedicated staff who have and will continue to provide excellent services all along the way.
#repost Our CACs have been so creative in their ef #repost Our CACs have been so creative in their efforts to bring attention to child abuse prevention and sexual assault awareness! 🐶💙#nmcacs #CAPM #SAAM • @lapinonsars Today is Paws For Prevention! We have so many Pups & Pets in support of Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Prevention Month! Thanks to all who participated be sure to share your pets with us in the comments!🤍 🐾💙

#SupportSurvivors 
#PawsForPrevention
#30daysofsaam 
#SAAM 
#childabusepreventionmonth
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Albuquerque,
New Mexico 87111


Phone:
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