SIGNS & SYMPTOMS & SOLUTIONS for CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKSHOP FOLLOWUP

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for joining us at our latest workshop on June 7th, Signs, Symptoms & Solutions for Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. 

If you were not able to attend, we’re sorry that we missed you. It was an impactful, engaging program and our speakers provided a wealth of information on how we can mitigate the maltreatment that is all too common in our communities.

Representative Tram Nguyen spoke about the fragility of safety for many immigrants who are subject to an added layer of coercive control which escalates the problem of abuse and family violence for these vulnerable populations. 

Detective Miguel Quinones from the Lowell Police Department emphasized that when we see an act of violence or abuse, against any child or adult, speak up and report it. The familiar saying of “See something, say something” is something we can all implement in our daily lives. Suejeidi Hernandez, Victim Advocate, spoke about the Family Services Unit.

Stacie LeBlanc of the Up Institute discussed shifting our mindsets vis-à-vis domestic/family violence from “why doesn’t she leave” to “why is he hitting her?” Children are particularly vulnerable as they witness violence in the family and often are directly subjected to abuse. This dramatically increases their risk for abuse as they become teens and adults. Surprising to many of us is learning that the recipient or victim of abuse is frequently the one who then abuses the children. 

Family violence and child abuse is a multi-layered complex problem. It will take all of us to reverse and eradicate the egregious injustice that impacts millions of children and families. At the end of the morning, we asked what you can do to be a part of the solution. Here are the responses:

• Sign up on the No Hit Zone site.

• Learn better responses when viewing hitting in public - such as, “Can I help you? Is everything alright?”

• Have a NHZ house in Africa

• Promote NHZs to minority communities

• Ensure that staff is educated on NHZs and promote on social media

• Bring this information to my kid's daycare

• Work with education providers

• Sign up to put Lowell on the NHZ map - anyone can sign up to be a NHZ! You do not have to be a nonprofit or business

• Format the books in another language (several copies of Painless Parenting were distributed for free. You can download it and print it directly from the No Hit Zone site.) 

• Get certified in CAST(Child Advocacy Studies) Zero Abuse

• Share hotline information (Alternative House)

• See something, say something.

If you want to send us your ideas or any workshop feedback, please email me at mahoney.maureen@gmail.com and it will be added!

Thank you again to all of our generous supporters, we appreciate your support immensely. All donations made to the Mahoney Family Fund go directly to the free, educational programs we do throughout the year. If you want to specify a use for your donation, such as supplying Painless Parenting books or any other educational material, just let us know and we will be happy to accommodate your request. 

Stay well and have a wonderful summer.

Best wishes from the Mahoney Family Fund.

Maureeen Mahoney

Committee Members:

Helen Blaschke

Sylves Boumil

Barbara Dunsford

Zoe Dzineku

Cecilia Gutietrez

Maureen Mahoney

Karen Myatt

Jen Myers

Maura Norton

Madeline Snow Typadis

The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) is our fiscal partner,

 a 501(C)3 organization.