Sierra County Story by Vickee Greer |
Maternal Child and
Adolescent Health Advisory Board, Sierra County, CA MCAH Home Page | Home Page - HR Animal Abuse and the Complex Connection to Child Abuse and Teen Violence - Introductory Letter May, 1999 Dear Reader: I invite you to view this Maternal Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) web site which is dedicated to Sierra County’s anti-violence program, "Crusade Against Violence." This program made its debut in May, 1998, to a small rural school, grades kindergarten through sixth. I would like to thank principals and teachers who believe that the "Crusade" is a valuable effort to make a difference to our county’s children. On May 25, 1999, Sierra County’s MCAH members, along with those individuals and representatives of organizations who have committed themselves unselfishly to our program goals, will proudly be accepting a special achievement award at the MCH state conference in Sacramento. The text to the "Crusade" workshop that will be presented that same day will be posted in its entirety on this website by May 28th. For anyone interested in why and how this program was developed, this will provide pertinent information. Our original article researching the connection between child abuse and animal abuse and its complex connection to teen violence will also be found in the Table of Contents. It provides substance and viewpoints regarding these issues. It originated in our search for answers to the questions of "why" these situations occur, "who" are the victims and perpetrators, and "how" we can prevent these situations from happening in the future. As the research was performed for this article, a number of things became apparent. The topics addressed herein are not "nice" things to talk about, but the reality is that they occur everyday. The subjects that are touched upon are extremely complex. They are made more complex by their interaction with each other. The documentation for this project evolved from many different professional sources, both animal and human based…so the problems identified are the concerns of many. The resulting article served as a starting place to educate. The "Crusade Against Violence" is a serious anti-violence program. It is innovative and unique in its approach to presenting anti-violence messages to the county’s children of all ages. The program brings information about bullying, choices and consequences for actions, and responsible reporting into our county’s classrooms. In addition to audio/visual materials, the crusade utilizes live animals accompanying MCH member/speakers. The animals bring their own riveting experiences about cruelty, abandonment, and escapes from death. Audiences feel the reality and are enthusiastic about "hands-on" interaction with the animals. It has the potential to be successfully replicated based on the simple model Sierra County has developed. This program can be tailored to fit the differences and needs of other communities. Since the MCAH Advisory Board is not a funding source, we have sought funding for our limited needs through the Sierra County Child Abuse Council and Sierra Kids. We have also identified the need to begin violence prevention early and are examining ways to encourage a shift to more pro-social behavior and to build resiliency in our youngest residents. In short, we are working diligently on prevention…NOW…not someday. Because of people dedicated to prevention, our children and animals and society as a whole will benefit. We must eliminate the mindset of denial that still allows people to state (about school shootings, violence, child abuse, animal abuse), "It can’t happen here." It might be comforting to believe that is true but it’s not realistic. It can happen ANYWHERE! If you have comments, inquiries, additional resources, or suggestions about this web site, please feel free to e-mail me at greer@accutek.com. All of us involved in the "Crusade Against Violence" sincerely hope you find our work interesting and beneficial. "Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has."
Sincerely, Vickee L. Greer |