Champions for Youth

Attend To Your Future Event on January 31st

2012-01-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

This coming Tuesday (1/31/12), MCCOY is hosting an event that honors the kids in the Attend To Your Future program. Samaritans Feet is also partnering at this event. Samaritan's Feet is a organization that provides shoes to children. We had an event on 1/24/12, where we honored and gave shoes to over 15 kids. This next event, we expect to have over 50 kids! The smiles and gratitude that these kids show is payment enough for all of the hard work that was put into hosting this wonderful event!

January 20, 2012 Legislative Update

2012-01-20T09:49:00.003-05:00

The 2012 legislative session is off and running. Below is a list of bills that MCCOY is following and that have either been heard in committee or are scheduled to be heard. Given the controversy surrounding the Right to Work bill, many bills are still on hold because the House cannot convene and many committee meetings have been rescheduled. To read the bill digests or the bills themselves, please visit http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2012&session=1&request=all and enter the bill number.

HB1019 Adoption history information. This bill has moved on to the Senate. It passed the third reading 94 Yes 0 No. The Senate sponsor is Senator Broden.

HB1150 Family friendly school designation. This was amended and passed in committee 11 Yes 0 No on 1/17/12

HB1189 Multiple ADM counts. This was amended and passed in committee 12 Yes 0 No on 1/17/12

HB1326 Various education matters. Committee hearing Friday January 20, 2012 8:30am COMPLETE TESTIMONY AND VOTE

HB1324 School accountability and turnaround academies. Committee hearing Friday January 20, 2012 8:30am

SB4 human trafficking. This bill has had a lot of process and support from both sides. This bill went quickly through the senate and passed 48 to 0. Rep. Steuerwald is the House sponsor, with Reps. Foley, L. Lawson, and Welch as the Cosponsors. Several Representatives from both parties were added as coauthors. It was referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code and has aHouse Committee hearing Friday January 20, 2012 at 10:30am. It is moving so quickly, presumably, so it will be passed before the Superbowl. It is effective upon passage.

SB179 Virtual instruction course requirement. Senator Schneider added as coauthor on 1/19/12Heard in committee on 1/18/12

SB236 Various education matters. Heard in committee on 1/18/12

SB248 Referendum on use of balanced school calendar. Committee hearing Monday January 23, 2012 10am

SB265 School report card. Senator Yoder added as coauthor on 1/17/12Heard in committee on 1/18/12

SB267 Education concerning child abuse. Senator Kruse added as second author 1/17/12Heard in committee on 1/18/12

SB268 Advisory committee on early education. Senator Kruse added as second author 1/17/12Heard in committee on 1/18/12

Please stay tuned for more weekly updates as the session continues. If you have any questions, please e-mail Mindi Goodpaster.

Make MLK Day a day ON, not a day off

2012-01-11T16:26:00.004-05:00

MLK Day is next Monday the 16th! Instead of sleeping in and doing laundry all day, join your neighbors in celebration.

Here are some fantastic events in our community that honor Dr. King. Get out and enjoy them:

Community wide listing from Indianapolis Downtown Inc

Peace Learning Center event on Saturday: http://www.peacelearningcenter.org/mlk_community_festival

Film showing at INRC on Monday: http://www.inrc.org/about-inrc/calendar/

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr!

January Everyday Champion: Nate Faris!

2012-01-09T14:54:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to MCCOY's January Everyday Champion: Nate Faris!

What is your profession or vocation?

I am a Certified Arborist and I direct the Youth Tree Team program at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. I hire high school youth to work in crews to water and care for newly planted NeighborWoods trees in Marion County, Indiana.

How are you an Everyday Champion for Youth?

I think I am a champion for youth by both setting clear boundaries with youth and, at the same time, befriending them. I aim to make good use of the creative tension between being a friend of youth and being an employer of youth. Such a situation allows for youth to feel both valued for who they are as well as invested in and responsible for their crew's work, and the work of the Youth Tree Team program in general.

What impact do you hope to make on youth?

I hope to give high schoolers a great first job that gives them life skills (punctuality, responsibility, teamwork, leadership), job skills (proper tree and plant care), connections to local green-collar job (landscape architecture, tree care), and experience with the environment (rafting on the White River, learning how to identify tree species).

What?s one thing that you wish an adult had told you when you were a young person?

I value the work you are doing, and you are on the right track.

What do you want to do next to support youth?

I want to make connections with local green-collar professionals--landscape architects, tree care specialists, etc.--in order to connect youth with meaningful jobs when they have graduated from our program.

Do you work directly with youth?

Yes

What percentage of your time is spent working directly with youth or families?

40-59%

Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse

2012-01-04T15:24:00.006-05:00

FACT: If child sexual abuse left physical scars instead of emotional ones, people would be horrified. Sexual abuse can negatively impact every part of a victim’s life. The real tragedy is that it robs children of their potential, setting into motion a chain of events and decisions that follow the victim throughout his or her life.
FACT: Emotional and mental health problems are often the first consequence and sign of child sexual abuse. However, it should be noted that some victims do not display emotional problems or any other immediate symptom in response to the abuse.
FACT: Sexual behavior problems and over-sexualized behavior are a very common consequence of child sexual abuse. These are signs of abuse that are not always included on "what to look for" lists, probably because many find it unpleasant to think about. However, age-inappropriate behavior can be a very important and telling sign that abuse is or has occurred.
FACT: Academic problems in childhood are common in children who are sexually abused. Victims perform at lower levels than their non-abused counterparts.
FACT: Substance abuse problems beginning in childhood or adolescence are one of the most common consequences of child sexual abuse.
FACT: Delinquency and crime, often resulting from substance abuse, is more prevalent in adolescents with a history of child sexual abuse.FACT: The risk of teen pregnancy is much higher for girls with a history of child sexual abuse. This is likely due to over-sexualized behavior, a common consequence of child sexual abuse.

If you are interested in attending a Stewards of Children training to learn how you can prevent the children in your life from becoming sexually abused please visit the MCCOY website to register for a training: http://www.mccoyouth.org/Intervention/stewards-of-children.html.

Learning about Learning

2011-12-19T08:51:00.000-05:00

I recently attended a session at the IYI Kids Count Conference that explored the struggles that young boys encounter in the classroom. I was astounded by some of the statistics: 80% of discipline issues involve young boys, 80% of learning disabilities are attributed to boys, boys receive 70% of failing grades, and boys are typically 1 to 1.5 years behind girls in reading and writing skills. Based on these numbers, it is no surprise that boys are more likely to drop out of school and less likely to pursue higher education.

The speakers provided some neurological explanations for these eye-opening statistics. Until age 19, an average girl’s frontal lobe (the decision-making, logical part of the brain) is 25% larger than the average boy’s frontal lobe. Girls also have 15% more blood flow to the brain and develop language skills much earlier than boys. All of these statistics (from the Journal of Pediatric Studies, 2009) demonstrate the importance of teaching in a manner that facilitates learning for both boys and girls. Since boys often do better with kinesthetic and visuospatial learning, the program speakers emphasized the importance of providing an outlet for physical play, utilizing visual props, and also giving opportunities for friendly competition.

As I reflected on the significance of this workshop, I realized that the topic speaks to a broader issue regarding education. While this session specifically illustrated the differences between male and female childhood learning, this is not the only distinction that educators and youth service providers must consider. Children who come from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds also face unique societal obstacles that may impede their learning. We must recognize the social and biological factors that influence learning and try to accommodate learning differences as much as possible in order to help ALL young people develop into empowered, capable, contributing citizens.

MCCOY seeking volunteers for January events

2011-12-12T13:29:00.001-05:00

On the evenings of Tuesday January 24^th and 31^st, MCCOY will be partnering with the faith-based organization Samaritan’s Feet to provide brand new shoes to all 100 of the children enrolled in our Attend to Your Future program. We are seeking 20 volunteers to assist with washing and measuring the children’s feet, then fitting them with shoes. We are very excited about this partnership and hope that you will assist us. If you are interested in helping on one of the nights, please contact me at Alyssa.Newerth@mccoyouth.org or 921-1229.

The softer side of roller derby

2011-12-12T08:00:00.016-05:00

Almost exactly a year ago, I was able to check off one of my major short term goals in life: become a member of a roller derby team. The day I made the Naptown Roller Girls, was literally one of the best days in my life. When I made the team, I was excited about the sport. Full contact hitting and blocking while skating seemed like the perfect extracurricular activity for me. Not to mention, it created a chance for me to produce an alter ego for myself. In tennis shoes, I'm a social work student, a wife, and a child care worker. As soon as I lace up those skates, I'm Lyndsanity, crazed and hungry for victory. Well...that's always the goal.

Not only is the sport unique and aggressive, but through my career as a roller girl, I have been able to meet some fabulous women from all walks of life. Women of different ages, backgrounds, religions, cultures, and careers all come together to make one eclectic group of bad-ass women. The camaraderie is impressive to behold. Through broken limbs and even broken hearts, a roller girl always know she has her roller derby family to back her up with support and love; especially with NRG.

When I made the team, I knew I would get involved with some impressive people, but I didn't realize how much NRG gives back to the community of Indianapolis. Each month we participate in multiple events in the area, most recently we skated at the Tonic Ball in Fountain Square (which was a benefit for Second Helpings), talked to a girl scout troop about what becoming strong and courageous women, and participated in an open skate for the Boys and Girls Club.

We also donate a portion of our ticket profits to a charity after each home bout at the Pepsi Coliseum. A few of our 2012 charities include, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Special Olympics, Pedal for Peace, and Indy Reads.

I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that the Naptown Roller Girls are awesome, and I'm one lucky girl to be a part of such an empowering, strong, and generous group of women. If you don't know anything about roller derby, you should come check us out. Our next home bout is on December 17 at the Pepsi Coliseum. Bring a date, bring your family, or hop in the car with a group of friends.

This picture was taken at my first bout.
Our team is in white, and we won! I'm the one with the goofy smile on my face...oh wait, that's all of us.
Photo by Tom Klubens

This league of athletes is a lot bigger than the women who put on skates 3 times a week at practice. It's about the fans, the community, being a role model, and giving of yourself.

http://naptownrollergirls.com/

Written by: Lyndsey Mundell
IU School of Social Work

Child Hunger in Schools

2011-12-04T18:32:00.000-05:00

It is all about the children. Is it really? No matter how many times you’ve seen this statement in America’s classrooms or license plates this universally holds truer than any other time in our history. One in every five children in the U.S. is living in poverty. The rate of households without sufficient access to food is rising. If a child suffers from hunger then how is anyone to become an active citizen? Even more relevant to their hunger is their inability to focus on academics when they’re worried about their stomachs eating themselves. Unfortunately our actions as a seemingly just society and the world’s wealthiest nation have fallen short of good intentions for children. We have dropped the ball continuously when it comes to the welfare of our country’s youth. Our countries reactionary legislation and policies to combat ongoing societal issues such as child hunger will destroy any hope for a better future. Preventative programs and policies should be enacted right now on all levels of government and communities to ensure that food is reaching hungry kids. The research is there and the facts are laid out. Too many kids are starving. One area of great significance and opportunity is hunger in America’s schools. Many children qualify for federally reimbursed programs for free meals but many children and families do not apply or even know this. Many public schools have taken on the responsibility of serving free breakfast before school commences and getting the word out to kids’ families about free or reduced price meals. Principals and school staff are even starting programs that help kids take food home at the end of their school days to help them and their families get through the weekend. Other ideas stem from schools creating after school supper programs and bringing in farmer's markets to schools whose children do not live near any source of food. Defeating hunger has become a focus point for schools this day and age. This is a glimmer of hope. We can only hope that other U.S. schools are taking charge to do what is right for their children in supplying them with food. Shouldn't ensuring kids a healthy start and successful education deal not only with test performance but also the necessities of living such as clothing, a safe place to be, food, health care? This is not a problem that is new yet the majority seems to be surprised and uneducated about this issue. We need to start living like it is all about the children. I've provided a link to Share Our Strength, a leading organization in fighting child hunger. Please visit this site and think about what is happening in your community schools and the ways you can contribute to eradicating child hunger in America and hopefully someday the world. Donate, educate, and be part of the solution.

http://www.strength.org/childhood_hunger/hunger_facts/

Undoing Racism in Marion County

2011-11-22T16:17:00.000-05:00

Recent attendance at workshops and trainings focused on racism has provoked profound questions in regards to the work done at MCCOY. How does racism affect the population we serve? How is racism intertwined with child poverty? How effective are our programs and initiatives in regards to addressing the institutionalization of racism?

While some policies are designed to level the playing field, minorities in the US are still at a severe disadvantage and continue to suffer as a result. One way to understand this concept is with the analogy of a Monopoly board: Imagine a group of people decide to play a game of Monopoly but half the group is privileged with a 2 hour head start. Those asked to wait will be much less likely to own property and to have a reserve of money. While a game of Monopoly can simply start over with a clean slate, the reality is a lot of time and energy are required to undo the 200 year head start given to white Americans.

Imagine a scenario in which dozens of people are drowning in a river and we are trying to pull them out and help them dry off. At some point a few people decide to go upstream to investigate why so many people are falling into the river. By addressing the root of the problem, they presume, fewer people will fall in the river in the first place. While we as service-providers have been working hard to address the obvious RESULTS of systemic disparities, perhaps we could use a few people to go upstream to address the CAUSES of social inequalities.

The only constant in life is change. Our efforts will influence whether that inevitable change will be productive or destructive for society. I hope that MCCOY’s work will help members of our community live more fulfilling, vibrant lives and will help people emerge from the cycles of poverty and institutionalized racism.

2011-11-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

My Perspective on Bullying:

Written by Ashley Flippen, IUPUI School of Social Work

Bullying in my eyes is unacceptable. I feel like there are times when it is taken too lightly and not dealt with properly. Especially in the school systems. I have a second cousin who went to a private catholic school and she is partially deaf. She has hearing aides to help her hear. She is 20 years old and has a speech problem due to being partially deaf. She came home one day crying to her parents saying she never wanted to go back to school. When her parents asked why she said that there are girls that are making fun of her because she couldn’t talk right. They even pushed her down on the playground and turned up her hearing aids so they would ring. And if you don’t know when that happens it is very painful for the person that has them. Her parents were outraged and went to the principle office to talk with them. When telling the principle the story he said that there was nothing they could do because none of the teachers or anyone had seen these actions. The principle assured her parents that nothing like that would ever happen in this particular school. Her parents were frustrated but let it go this time. They talked to their daughter and told her if it happened again to go straight to the teacher. A few months passed and the students started picking on her but this time would do it when the teacher wasn’t around so my cousin couldn’t tell. She went home again crying and her parents went to the principle office again. Still they wouldn’t do anything. Her parents ended up pulling her and her brother out of the school because of this.

All of this could have been avoided in my eyes if the principle had dealt with it from the beginning. I feel like the teachers or principle should have set the students who were doing the teasing down and given them punishment. This is a prime example of the education system brushing bullying under the rug instead of dealing with it firsthand.

What We Didnt Know!!

2011-11-14T09:05:00.005-05:00

I am the middle child of five amazing siblings. I have two older sister and a younger brother and sister. We were raised by two great partents, our father a Pastor and our mother a Social Worker. They raised us to be very respectful, kind and curtious to all people even at times when we didnt recieve the same respect back. And my older sister knew this all to well. By the age of 16 she was pregnant with her first child. I was 14 at the time and was very upset at the news. I told my sister I hated her and asked her so many questions as to why she would make the stupid decision of having a baby at such a young age. "How could you ruin our family and go against all of the values our parents taught us." I asked. She never replied to me, she spent many days in her room, and around the house and I would walk past saying nothing to her. She went to school being ridiculed and talked about for being the young pregnant girl, who's father is a pastor. She was talked about for being shy, quiet and with drawn and ultimately, once having the baby she was hospitalized for trying to commit suicide..... In my mind I just didn't understand her. But after years of family counseling it was all made clear. WHAT WE DIDNT KNOW..... she had been raped by a man in the church... and molested by her uncle. And every week she faced the two of these men at a service or at a family function. Seeing them constantly reminded her of what happened to her along with them saying to her, " If you ever tell, Ill kill you". My heart hurt so bad after finding this out. Our family in shock, my sister weaping alligator tears what where we to do??????? So ultimately I ask you, love on people who are not like you, forgive those who make mistakes, pray for the ones who are different from you, and embrace all people. You could make a difference in someones life just lending an open ear.... and remember there is always something about them that you dont know... What We Didnt Know

The "Not-So" Perfect Childhood

2011-11-07T08:00:00.048-05:00

To the residents in the small town I grew up in I was a part of the "perfect" family. I had a father, a mother, and two sisters. My sisters and I were all very active in school and sports. Little did the community know we were a broken family with a father deep into alcohol abuse. As we grow from children to adolescents we begin to notice what is really going on and gain an understanding of abuse, along with the embarrassment of having a parent suffer from any kind of substance abuse. The issue with alcoholism is that it does not only affect the individual who is suffering from the "sickness" it affects the entire family, especially a teenager who is now beginning to gain an understanding of substance abuse. It's unfortunate for many children and adolescents who have to deal with any kind of substance abuse, particularly in such crucial transitional period in an individual's life. To me, alcoholism was my biggest weakness growing up, but now it's one of my many strengths. Because of the emotional and physical abuse in my childhood I consider myself I stronger person. I do not consider myself a product of my environment but I do use my children hood environment as a motivator. I am motivated to stay on task and follow a positive path (that I have created myself) to accomplish the goals that my incompetent father discouraged. I hope that other children/adolescents can use their "not-so" perfect child hood and their environment to make positive decisions and stay motivated until they have accomplished their own goals, without the negative discouragement from others.

Responsibility to Report

2011-11-04T09:46:00.000-04:00

As a student social worker I know it is my responsibility to report any abuse of children, elders, or group of people that may not be able to speak for themselves. It would be unethical and equally incriminating of me to not report and allow any such abuse to continue. However, some organizations do not share this belief. Allow me to share an experience I had with this type of mentality.

For the three years I worked at my church’s outreach shelter. It was one of the most rewarding experiences and the most heartbreaking. I grew very close to many of the kids and have had the privilege of watching them grow. For me, working at the shelter was more than just having Sunday School and a Bible Study once a week. I started “Homework Help Night” and a clothes closet for the shelter. I did bread runs along with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner drop- offs. The one problem that seemed to grow over the years was the church’s ignorance of abuse in the children. Sadly, the church adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

In February 2010, a little girl I had taken care of for three years started to have a very aggressive and disrespectful attitude. I sat her down and told her that I couldn’t continue to be responsible for her if she didn’t listen to me. She then showed me bruises on her arms and took me to the bathroom to show me bruises in between her legs. She said when her mom left the house her boyfriend’s friends would hit her. I asked her what she wanted me to do and she said, “Please tell my mommy.” When I took her home I tried to talk to her mom, who I had become close with as well, but she defended the men. After I took the little girl home from church that night, a man was waiting for me. He tried to pay me off not to tell what I had seen. I went to my church leaders and demanded something be done. I had been to them about abuse before, but my concerns were always set aside. This time I did not stop. The church let me report the incident as a representative of the church.

After I reported the incident, they told me I was not allowed at the shelter anymore, because I was a liability. Soon after, the outreach pastor and authority overseeing the shelter asked me, “How many children have situations at home that should probably be reported?” I told him at least half. I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, “You see, if we reported every incident of child abuse, we wouldn’t have anyone to witness to.” While that ideology may be conducive to a religious organization, I knew I could never be a part of a success at the expense of a child.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. This blog is in no way attacking any church organization or generalizing this type of carelessness with religion. As a victim of child abuse, a woman, and as a student social worker interested in child welfare; I feel it is imperative that we uphold our responsibility to report and advocate for those who can not speak for themselves.

Why it's Important to Become a Child Advocate...

2011-10-31T00:00:00.009-04:00

By: Tracy McDaniel, IUPUI Student Social Worker

I decided to become a Child Advocate in May of 2011. I was looking for a volunteer position that I could work with children and hopefully make a difference along the way. When I started my training, I didn't realize how many children didn't have an advocate. In Marion county alone their is a 500 child waiting list, which is not including surrounding counties.

Can you imagine not having a voice? It's hard to comprehend not having your voice heard, exspecially when it comes to our children and teenagers. Every child that goes without an advocate loses the opportunity to have someone speak on their behalf. I've taken away many lessons from becoming a child advocate. The most important lesson is that as human beings and citizens we have a responsibility to advocate for our children and teenagers.

It's not any easy responsibility, but the reward of knowing you are helping and giving a voice is a true blessing. I would encourage anyone interested to contact a child advocate agency in Indianapolis. I volunteer 6 hours a month, easy right? Each of us can prioritize our time to give a child 6 hours a month. It's been such a blessing being able to give my time. I hope that by writing this blog you become curious about child advocacy.

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." Nelson Mandela

Late elementary years, a vulnerable stage in life...

2011-10-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Kayleen Jones, Student Social Worker at IUPUI

Have you ever really thought about what it is like in child’s shoes on an everyday basis at school? A child from the ages of 6-12 can be a very vulnerable individual that will go through a lot of challenges while being in school. The time when children get into older elementary stage they start the “awkward” phase. This is when they feel like no one likes them such as friends, teachers, and family members. This period of their life is very important to receive love and encouragement from those around them. Children at this stage also see children from the other sex as “gross” or to have “cooties”. This is because they can relate better to the same sex so, they have all same sex friends. Also at this stage children start rebelling as a way to cope with feeling insecure and out of place. Even though we see rebelling as behavioral tendencies to get attention there might really be something wrong deep down. This is when they also begin to mock what their elders do and begin get values and morals from those around them. This stage of childhood is crucial to a child’s social development. The parents role in the child’s life is very important and they will begin to understand if and why a parent is not involved with their life. Children are our future and we need to help them develop into intelligent young adults to help them succeed in all that they will do.

Welcome to our new intern!

2011-10-21T16:07:00.002-04:00

I am a senior at IUPUI studying Marketing and Supply Chain Management. I just started working here at MCCOY and I look forward to learning more about the art of fundraising and helping those in need. I have always wanted to work with a nonprofit organization. When I was given the opportunity to learn more about MCCOY, I was excited to be a part of such a wonderful organization. From the moment that started, I was greeted warmly with a smile. All of the staff has been extremely helpful and knowledgeable with all of my questions.
-Alex Plummer

Owning the Future

2011-10-17T08:48:00.000-04:00

This summer, MCCOY launched the Own Yours campaign, which encourages young people to own their future and value their education. As I reflect on the significance of this message, I find myself wondering what it would look like to be a student who owns their future. One example of a student who truly exemplifies the Own Yours attitude is Chasstidy Hawkins.

Chasstidy is an eighth grader who attended the Coleman Academy Back to School Rally in August and won the Own Yours raffle prize ($100 gift card to use for school supplies), in which 67 students filled out Student Success Pledges. Chasstidy is truly a deserving winner! She plans to continue her academic success in high school, graduate from college with a degree in Criminology and become a Crime Scene Investigator. Chasstidy’s optimism and self-belief are evidenced in her words: “With my head held high and my mind focused on what I need to do to achieve my goals…I can make it and succeed with my future plans. I believe that you can do whatever you put your mind to.” Chasstidy, who has all A’s and 1 B+ so far this year, is well on her way to accomplishing her goals inside and outside of the classroom. I’m glad that the Own Yours campaign has reached so many inspiring young people! I wish Chasstidy the best of luck with her academic pursuits!

Election Day is Next Month - Are You Informed?

2011-10-14T09:41:00.003-04:00

Election day is less than a month away and, while this isn't a presidential election year, it is no less important. For voters who live in Marion County, the mayoral race is heating up and could potentially be historic for Indianapolis if Melina Kennedy is elected as the first female mayor for the city. This is also a municipal election year and many seats on the City/County Council are up for grabs as are other council seats in surrounding counties.

These smaller municipal elections tend to have lower voter turnout than the years with presidential elections, but they are no less important. The candidates for whom you are voting have direct control over your city, town, or neighborhood. They make decisions on public safety, on parks and planning, and on the budget. The impact that these policy makers have affect your daily life in ways greater than the president or your federal legislators.

So, why is turnout so low? Well, there's typically less campaigning and therefore less visibility of the candidates. The budgets are smaller and public appearances happen on a smaller scale. This leads many voters to not even know who is running in their district and not feel invested in the election. Many figure that these local seats have less significance because of lower profile of the candidates.

As a U.S. citizen, our democracy gives every adult the right to vote. We are fighting wars in other countries to promote democracy, but it's interesting that we don't utilize that right to it's fullest potential. Particularly in these contentious political and economic times, we need to ensure that we are paying attention and are informed about the politicians whom we are electing into office. And, if we don't like the job that they are doing, making that known at election time.

The Indianapolis Star has posted an interactive voter's guide to the local candidates. You can search the candidates in your district, learn about their stances and backgrounds, and even print out your sample ballot so that you don't forget your selections by the time you get to the polls. I highly recommend that you check it out.

http://www.indystar.com/interactive/article/99999999/NEWS05/110318019/IndyStar-Voter-Guide

MCCOY reads about llamas

2011-10-11T13:42:00.003-04:00

Last week, MCCOY staff participated in Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day. This campaign highlights the early education achievement gap and seeks to provide low-income students with high-quality educational experiences. MCCOY staff traveled to the city's newest Center for Inquiry school, IPS #27 Charity Dye.

What a fantastic school, right in heart of Indianapolis! The school was full of great energy and the students were so bright. We divided into pairs and read Llama Llama Red Pajama to groups of kindergarteners. As a part of the campaign, each student got to take home their very own copy of the book. It was definitely the highlight of MY week. Perhaps in a few months, we can visit again and read Llama Llama Holiday Drama.

Whose Helping Who

2011-10-10T19:07:00.002-04:00

Written by: Tyler Perrott, Student at IUPUI School of Social Work

I have had a different life compared to most people. I have grown up with a twin sister who has fairly severe Cerebral Palsy. On top of that, I have worked and volunteered for several years with people who have special needs. These opportunities have given me a unique insight into living with people who have a multitude of physical and mental disabilities. People often ask me how do I approach this group of people or how do I talk and not offend them. These individuals are often well intended and have hopes of being friendly and getting accepted by people with developmental disabilities. I often just smile back and say treat them like you would want to be treated. People who are deemed “normal” by societal standards struggle with the fear of upsetting these people, hurting their feelings, not getting a response, etc. Everyone I know has dealt with this fear at some point or another. This fear in turn translates into the way that we treat this unique group of people. I have learned from my experience that maybe us “normal” people could stand to learn a thing or two from the so-called “disabled” of society.

First off I am going to give you my observational viewpoint from watching the “normal” people in society and their behavior towards the “disabled”. One day I was in Wal-Mart with my sister shopping and several different times people I knew and who knew my sister or at least knew of her came up and only spoke to me and didn’t even acknowledge my sister. Again, I don’t think it was the people’s intentions but it still happened nonetheless. In that same trip two people came up to my sister with developmental disabilities and the second question they asked after seeing how my sister was doing was directed towards me. It was what’s your name and how are you doing? The manner in which they treat and view people is completely different. There are a multitude of times that I have seen this play out. I think that many “normal” people are just ignorant to the fact that they are even doing it. I don’t think they are intentionally blowing these people off or wanting to pretend they don’t exist but that again doesn’t negate the fact that IT DOES happen. Now if we flip the perspective and look at how people with “disabilities” view others you don’t see this happening. They have the greatest natural ability to see people for exactly what they are, people.

In conclusion, the point of this blog was not to condemn people for this but merely give them an opportunity to learn from fellow human beings. This people group has an amazing ability to treat everyone with equality and without a bias. I have learned so much from them and I will continue to be learning things from them. I know a majority of people will still have a fear of these people but don’t let this fear cripple you from learning and walking life with this extraordinary group of individuals.

Ready for the Future

2011-10-07T13:58:00.003-04:00

According to a recent survey required of incoming freshmen at Ball State University, 37 percent said they were unclear about why they were in college. BSU's Career Center staff will be reaching out to these students who are called "vocationally at risk" to help them put together a career action plan. Without such intervention and support, these students would likely change majors at least once, prolonging the time they spend in college and increasing the likelihood they would enter a career that was unsatisfying and unfulfilling.

I think it is great that Ball State is taking a proactive role to help its students find the right career path; but I can't help but wonder why such thoughtful and supportive measures didn't happen sooner in these students' academic journey. After all, they spent the last four years in high school taking the various coursework that would prepare them to successfully apply and be accepted into an institution of higher learning. At what point along that road might a caring and perceptive adult have paused to ask each student: "Exactly what is it that you would like to do with your life? What career do you aspire to? What sort of higher education is going to be necessary for you to pursue in order to meet your goal?"

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer counselors in our high schools; and the ones remaining are overwhelmed with all the duties that fall upon them. The American School Counselors Association recommends a ratio of 250 students to 1 counselor. In 2008-2009, the national average was actually 457 to 1; and in Indiana, it was even worse at 540 to 1. With diminishing state education dollars, it is not likely those numbers will change anytime soon. That is why is so important that the other caring adults in young people's lives---parents, mentors, youth workers, pastors, coaches, and extended family to name a few--step up and pose those important career questions to the young people they care about. Posing those questions may be the first step in helping a young person identify their future--and helping them get on the right path that will lead them to success in college, work, and life.

Help MCCOY Prevent Child Sexual Abuse!

2011-10-07T11:50:00.004-04:00

One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. What does this mean for you as a community member?

It means…
• … that Indiana spends nearly $48 million for the direct and immediate costs of child sexual abuse
• … that the long-term costs and losses are over $500 million dollars annually.

Except for murder, child sexual abuse is the most expensive victim crime in the U.S.

Let’s stop child sexual abuse before it happens!
• It only costs $10.53 to train an adult to improve their child-protective behaviors.
• Research suggests that the average trained adult will better protect at least ten children from sexual abuse in the years after training.
• The money saved by preventing just one substantiated case of child sexual abuse would pay for prevention training for 1,362 adults.
• That training would result in 13,620 children better protected from abuse.

Please help MCCOY train 500 adults for FREE through Stewards of Children. Stewards of Children is a sexual abuse prevention program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, react responsibly and take courageous action against child sexual abuse.

If you are interested in attending a training, scheduling a training for your staff, clients, family members, church members, or other adults please contact Shanna Martin at shanna.martin@mccoyouth.org or 317-921-1233.

Here is what attendees have said about the training:
“Loved it! I think it was very informative. I learned a lot and plan to advocate to see this training done in my organization.”
“Very well done and I’m very thankful this was offered at no charge.”
“Great info. Very eye-opening.”
“I will use the tools and become even more of an advocate for children and be a resource for my staff as they work with children.”

** MCCOY has committed to being a "Partner in Prevention" by training 90% of our staff in Stewards of Children. Please contact Shanna to learn more about how you can become a "Partner in Prevention" site as well.**

Reframing Reforms?

2011-10-05T13:26:00.002-04:00

I just finished reading an interesting article written by Drs. Jonathan Plucker and David Rutkowski from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP) at Indiana University entitled "Running A Race Against Ourselves". I will include a link so that readers can review the entire piece themselves but, in a nutshell, these two researchers conclude that "most education reforms are not effective" because they aim too broadly and thus miss the mark.

Their article is certainly thought-provoking and worthy of being read by all who are engaged in efforts to improve the educational experience of children in our community. From my perspective, the authors are inviting well-meaning people from all backgrounds to set aside their agendas and ideologies and put the focus where it needs to be: on the individual student. In our efforts to find ways to reform the larger "educational system" we seem to be losing sight of the child or young person in the seat, each of whom has their own challenges and barriers that get in the way of them achieving academic success.

I invite you to read the article and let us know what you think.
www.CEEP.Indiana.edu/projects/PDF/EdWeek0901.pdf

Indiana's Sickly Civic Health

2011-10-04T14:29:00.000-04:00

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy

According to the recently released 2011 Indiana Civic Health Index, Indiana ranks 45 out 50 states in working with neighbors to solve community problems (6.5%). By any standards this is failure. As in President John F. Kennedy’s famous quote above, we need to look around and ask each other how we can help to improve our communities: the places we live, work, and the places our children will inherit one day in the near future.

The Civic Health Index, which was made possible due to contributions from the National Conference on Citizenship, Indiana Bar Foundation, Center on Congress, Hoosier State Press Association Foundation, Indiana University Northwest, and Indiana Supreme Court, examined behaviors and attitudes of Hoosiers regarding civic life, which includes community involvement and voter registration and turnout. The meaning of civic health, as defined by the study, is the “measure of how actively citizens engage in their communities.” The numbers and statistics from this study were gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau and Current Population Survey.

Here are some of the key findings from the study:

36.2% = percentage of Hoosiers who belong to religious, neighborhood, school, sports and other types of community groups, as compared with the national average of 33.3%.

26.1% = percentage of Hoosiers that volunteer, as compared with the national average of 26.3%.

90.1% - percentage of Hoosiers that eat dinner with their family a few times a week or more, as compared with the national average of 88.1%.

21.6% = percentage of Hoosiers who talk about politics with friends and family at least a few times a week, as compared with the national average of 25.6%.

39.4% = percentage of Hoosiers who turn out to vote in elections, as compared with the national average of 45.5%.

How can we improve our civic health? Indiana’s lowest rankings were in voter turn-out and working with neighbors to solve community problems. If we can improve upon these areas, as well as build upon the areas where we are most successful; volunteer and group membership, than we will be well on our way. According to the study, we can also improve our civic health from gathering news on a daily basis from a variety of media outlets, requiring more civics/government classes in primary and secondary schools, as well as increasing the number of Hoosiers that complete higher education options.

It is a big task to improve our state’s civic health – but one we must do to prevent further health deterioration and ensure a long healthier and happier life for our citizens.

By: Stephanie Freeman