[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 29, 1996

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, on April 18, 1996, the Child 
Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County, Inc. [CAPC] will be 
celebrating its 20th year of providing critical services to children 
and families in my congressional district. I would like to take this 
opportunity to congratulate CAPC and its staff and volunteers for their 
dedication, perseverance and significant contribution to the community. 
They truly have helped to make a difference in the lives of children 
and their families.
  Founded in 1976 as part of an umbrella organization and incorporated 
in 1984 as an independent nonprofit corporation, the council serves as 
the county's clearinghouse for child abuse prevention information and 
referral, public education, and advocacy services.
  The Council's message to ``Stop Child Abuse'' reaches over 70,000 
county residents each year. As the only agency in Contra Costa County 
solely dedicated to child abuse prevention, the council provides a 
number of programs and services designed to educate, inform, and 
involve the general public in preventing child abuse. Also, by 
connecting victims, abusers and those at-risk for abuse with much-
needed services, the council serves a critical function in stopping the 
vicious cycle of child abuse in our society at large.
  The council recruits, trains and maintains an active roster of over 
30 volunteers who participate in our Partnership for Prevention 
Program. This program is designed to provide educational presentations 
to colleges, schools, daycare and Headstart centers, shelters, 
community groups, professionals serving children, service clubs, 
churches, community service agencies, firefighters, and corporate 
employees. Its trained volunteers provide over 100 presentations 
throughout the county to over 5,000 people annually.
  The council coordinates public and private agencies involved in the 
prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse in Contra Costa 
County. In 1982, by order of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, 
CAPC was designated as the coordinating agency of the Interagency Child 
Abuse Systems Review Committee, an ongoing committee which identifies 
problems in the county's service delivery system and makes 
recommendations to the board of supervisors. In 1988, the council was 
also named as the coordinating agency for the Contra Costa County Child 
Death Review Multidisciplinary Team, which reviews deaths of children 
under the age of 18 years.
  In 1992, the Council established the countywide Multidisciplinary 
Interview Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing planning for 
a future Multidisciplinary Interview Center in Contra Costa County. 
This center would provide a one-stop interviewing for child sexual 
abuse victims, and streamline investigation, and prosecution processes 
for child sexual abuse cases.
  In 1982, the CAPC special needs fund was established--with assistance 
from the Oakland Tribune--to provide small cash grants to help meet the 
special needs of families in which childen may be in jeopardy and/or 
need. Each year the council disburses approximately 15 grants to 
families in Contra Costa County.

  In 1985, an interagency task force was convened by the council to 
develop a comprehensive resources directory of primary prevention and 
support services available to residents of Contra Costa County. The 
directory, ``Surviving Parenthood,'' is now in its 5th edition and has 
been established as the leading resource for families in crisis.
  More recently, CAPC developed a ``Kids: Instruction for Care'' 
campaign which includes the distribution of T-shirts and bookmarks 
designed to highlight basic parenting skills. The bookmarks are 
distributed in daycare facilities, schools, and libraries throughout 
the county, and the T-shirts and now in more than 25 States and 11 
countries.
  Next month, the council will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and I am 
pleased to see that the council has as much energy today as when it 
first began. The council is expanding its programs to meet the growing 
needs of the county. This year the child abuse prevention council will 
be opening a second office in Richmond, CA, to provide more accessible 
services to families and children in west Contra Costa County.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I salute CAPC on its 20th anniversary and hope 
that they not only continue their important efforts but can serve as a 
model for other communities in their efforts to combat the scourge of 
child abuse.

                          ____________________