IT’S ABOUT TIME
In 2007/2008 the Community Child Abuse Council made some big shifts. Fundamental changes to programming were made in direct response to the needs in our community and with much community consultation. The result has been the implementation of high level services for child and youth victims of sexual abuse, and treatment programs based on evidence-based research and designed to reflect best practices in the field. In 2008 the Council also stepped up its efforts to raise awareness of child abuse in our community, and to build community relations and support to help us realize our vision of a community free of child abuse. The goal was to find ways to get the message out, to get people involved, and to expand our services - we just had to be able to help more children.
First, we developed a strategic plan for community engagement that will guide and focus our efforts over the next two years. Then we set to work on crafting a campaign that would be the centerpiece of that strategy. We wanted something provocative, engaging, and yet simple. The “it’s about time” theme grew from our realization that we needed to talk about the children and families who need our help, and also about the impact of child abuse on this community. This campaign will allow us to target messages to different audiences, for specific as well as general purposes, and reach out with those messages in a variety of ways.
Campaign Documents
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We will apply this campaign to a range of activities over the next few months. Our resources are extremely limited, so we will need to move in stages and be creative in our approaches. Our web site features the campaign. We will also integrate the campaign into the Leadership Briefing papers we are distributing to local leaders. Our print materials will bear the new campaign graphic, and tie-ins at our events are also planned. We invite you to help us spread the word – let us know if you have ideas to support the campaign or to enhance our work. Together, we can make big strides on behalf of children and their families who need our help.
It’s about time.
Flash Video From The “It’s About Time” Campaign Slides
Brian Melo, Honourary Campaign Chair…and a Leader for Kids!
We are delighted to have Brian Melo as Honourary Campaign Chair for the Community Child Abuse Council’s campaign to raise awareness about child abuse and to enhance assessment and treatment services for child and youth victims of abuse and their families. His involvement will be at the community-wide level, helping to spread the word about child abuse, and in specific Council activities. Brian and the Child Abuse Council are working together to promote prevention and education messages and to support the programs and services provided by the Council in Hamilton. A local native, Brian has supported children’s causes in the past and has a particular interest in grassroots community initiatives that benefit young people. His commitment to the Child Abuse Council is a personal one, but his widespread celebrity including winner of the 2007 Canadian Idol competition will bring significant attention to our campaign message and to the Council’s work. Brian has also joined the growing ranks of our Leaders For Kids initiative and will contribute to our planned Community Dialogue on Child Abuse this Fall. We are extremely grateful to Brian and so pleased to have him as part of the Community Child Abuse Council team.
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“I understand that abuse can change your whole life. A child can feel worthless, and that kind of pain resonates with me. If I can motivate one of those kids to move forward, to be strong, and to pursue their dreams…that’s all I could ask for.”- Brian Melo
