SCAN, custom home builder Alair Alexandria, and Andrea Courduvelis of Sotheby’s International Realty have joined forces to provide one lucky person with an opportunity to take home a replica playhouse of a famous Alexandria landmark: the Spite House.
Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment to thrive in. Unfortunately, not all children have the privilege of growing up in such an environment. This is where Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) step in to make a profound difference. If you’re considering becoming a CASA volunteer, here are some compelling reasons to embark on this […]
2022 was an incredible year for child abuse prevention. Check out highlights from this year and the extraordinary things our supporters have allowed us to do.
Join Dr. Suzanne Nixon of Loudoun County in a conversational interview with Laurie Tasharski, M.Ed., a seasoned trauma expert, and learn about the cutting-edge trend for community organizations, educational institutions and places of business to become “trauma-informed”.
Child abuse is on the rise as Loudoun's vulnerable families continue to face long-term consequences of COVID. That's where SCAN comes in. After two years of isolation, socio-economic instability, and lack of community resources, struggling families continue to face stress and unsafe living situations. Loudoun's youth need our help now more than ever.
As we tumble into fall, we are raising awareness on an issue that all should be mindful of–suicide prevention. Suicide is a public health crisis. And for those who work with youth and young adults, it’s even more urgent. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in age groups 10-14,15-24 and 25-34, according to the […]
As our work to prevent child sexual abuse pushes onward in our local communities, we are reminded of the mission of our national partner Darkness to Light: We empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. We believe that adults own the responsibility to prevent child sexual abuse. They need to play an integral role in […]
With kids heading back to school this season, families might be feeling overwhelmed by changing schedules, new demands and navigating complicated school systems. Here are five of our favorite school-related topics on SCAN’s Parent Resource Center that can help parents manage the challenges of the school year and stay connected to their kids through it […]
Earlier this summer, Leah Davidson from Arlington County Parent Infant Education Program led a very informative discussion about how professionals and parents can support an infant’s mental health at SCAN’s quarterly Allies in Prevention Coalition meeting. Representatives from DC Diaper Bank were also at the meeting and they shared exciting new partnership opportunities with members. […]
As a leader in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Northern Virginia, SCAN is dedicated to educating the community about the scope, nature, and consequences of child abuse and neglect. The separation of immigrant parents from their children after they have crossed the U.S. border “is a form of child abuse,” said Dr. […]
“Positive communication with your kids IS possible!” SCAN’s Parent Education team members often find themselves giving these words of encouragement to parents in our classes, support groups and workshops. Thanks to a great monthly email they send to parents, we’re sharing their thoughts here on the blog, too: Positive communication can reinforce good behavior, and help you understand and eliminate bad behavior. It can build […]
“Hands are not for hitting” is a common phrase used by parents and caregivers to help teach young children appropriate social interaction skills. We want children to have healthy relationships as they grow older, but what message do we really send to them when they are being told not to hit others, but then experience […]
Next month, SCAN will host a facilitator workshop for Darkness to Light, where we’ll train adults to deliver the Stewards of Children® training program to others in our local community. Facilitators model the core principals of the curriculum by talking openly about child sexual abuse and engaging adults in discussion, and are expected to schedule and facilitate at least 4 […]
It’s the last day of Child Abuse Prevention Month, but the resources we unveiled in April are tools you can use all year long with the children and families you serve. Have you explored our Parenting Can Be Tough campaign page, where you can download most materials for free? Here are some of our favorite new tools and […]
Goals are important to set for so many reasons–they keep us on track, hold us accountable and help push us to our limits. One goal that we can get behind at SCAN is Darkness to Light’s Four Million by 2020: Imagine 4 million adults who have been trained in Stewards of Children! 4 million adults who can prevent, […]
To kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month, SCAN is launching the second year of its 4-year Parenting Can Be Tough public education campaign in Northern Virginia. Year 1 focused on resources for parents of infants; Year 2 focuses on parents of toddlers. But many resources — including things like parent support cards and various fact sheets — are […]
Have you explored our trauma informed care resources for parents? You’ve heard us talk about this topic from a direct child services perspective (see our blog post here), as well as an advocacy perspective (such as this blog we re-posted from Voices for Virginia’s Children) as it relates to legislation. But how do we change whole organizations to better […]
On March 8th, SCAN’s Allies in Prevention Coalition hosted its quarterly meeting with a focus on the Importance of Routines for Children. Dr. Amy Parks from The Wise Family and Dr. Kelly Henderson from Formed Families Forward joined us to lead a fantastic discussion about why routines are important, how they affect children, and how […]
We’re excited to share this new interview about SCAN’s Operation Safe Babies program. It’s a great, simple way to share an overview of the program–and why it’s so important–with the parents and families in your community! SCAN’s Public Education Manager Tracy Leonard recently taped a segment on Comcast Newsmakers, sharing general guidelines when it comes to safe sleep for […]
What have SCAN staff members (and volunteers!) been reading this winter? We have some great recommendations for you this season: The Wild Truth, by Carine McCandless We are thrilled to share that Carine McCandless will be the Keynote Speaker at our annual Ally in Prevention Awards luncheon this year! Carine is the sister of Chris McCandless, […]
It’s “crossover” week in the General Assembly — a time of transition when the Senate and House of Delegates exchange bills for review in the opposite house. Voices for Virginia’s Children has shared a few great updates, and we’re passing them along to our readers: • Trauma-Informed Care Action Alert This year Voices’ legislative agenda targets investments in […]
“Our family is facing financial issues at home, discipline issues with our middle child at school, and an overwhelming schedule. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. What can I do?”* SCAN’s Parent Education team hears a lot of questions from local parents in our classes, support groups and workshops. They […]
As a requirement of grant funding, we gather all of our Operation Safe Babies partners together twice a year. But we think of it as much more than a “requirement”. It truly is a special opportunity to get together and share success stories and challenges of not only the Operation Safe Babies program, but also of working […]
It is easy to look back at what happened to the over 100 victims of Larry Nassar and see who failed these athletes; Michigan State, USA Gymnastics, coaches and parents who didn’t believe their daughters. But what if we never had to look back? What if it had never happened? I find myself sounding like […]
This week, I had the honor of co-presenting a day-long workshop entitled The Cost of Caring. It is a workshop designed by the Trauma-Informed Community Network in Fairfax County. The workshop focuses on human service providers and not just to provide resources and guidance, but to give them a chance to leave work behind and do kind […]