<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<br>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin: 0in 76.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;"
align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:354pt;margin-top:.75pt;width:45pt;height:1in;
z-index:251657728;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-edited:f;
mso-position-hori
zontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical-relative:margin'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\CEaton\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.wmz"
o:title="" cropbottom="21845f" cropright="31402f"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin" anchory="margin"/>
</v:shape><![if gte mso 9]><o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="Word.Picture.8"
ShapeID="_x0000_s1026" DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1303030364">
</o:OLEObject>
<![endif]><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b
style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">HANCOCK
COUNTY CHILDREN’S COUNCIL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin: 0in 76.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;"
align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">a program of Downeast Health
Services Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin: 0in 76.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;"
align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">52 CHRISTIAN RIDGE ROAD,
ELLSWORTH, ME<span style=""> </span>04605<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin: 0in 76.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;"
align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">pHONE:<span style=""> </span>(207)
667-5304
ext. 261; <span style=""> </span>fAX: (207) 667-6117<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin: 0in 76.5pt 0.0001pt 1in; text-align: center;"
align="center"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org"><b style=""><span
style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">children@downeasthealth.org</span></b></a><b
style=""><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">May 5, 2009</span><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">; FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CONTACT:<span
style=""> </span>Candy Eaton, Program Director <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"
style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"
align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"
style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"
align="center"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "MS Reference Sans Serif","sans-serif";">Recognizing
& Reporting Signs of Stress in Families for <br>
Mandated Reporters of Suspected
Child Abuse<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Maine,
many adults, while acting in a
professional capacity, are mandated by law to report suspected child
abuse or
neglect to the Department of Health and Human Services.<span style="">
</span>These professions include:<span style=""> </span>medical &
dental personnel, school
personnel, social workers & mental health professionals, camp
counselors,
child care personnel, law enforcement, municipal fire inspectors &
code
enforcement officials, clergy, court-appointed guardian ad litems and
humane
agents.<span style=""> </span>During last year’s legislative
session, sexual assault counselors and family or domestic violence
victim
advocates were added to the list of professional mandated reporters.<span
style=""> </span>Animal control officers are permitted to
report, as well.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
training is scheduled to accommodate
those summer employees who may be in a professional capacity for the
first
time, such as camp counselors and child care personnel, as well as
other social
services employees new to their employment.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On <b
style=""><u>Friday,
June 12, 2009, 9am to noon</u></b>, the Hancock County Children’s
Council will
provide training for mandated reporters at Downeast Health Services, 52
Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth.<span style=""> </span>During
the past year, representatives from the Maine Child Abuse Prevention
Councils,
Child Protective Intake Services, Maine Children’s Trust, and Maine’s
Early
Childhood Initiative have developed a new curriculum to be used
statewide for
consistent training for all professionals mandated to report suspicion
of child
abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
training includes the latest changes to
the law, and will provide you with a basic framework for recognizing
child
abuse and neglect and the various indicators of physical abuse, sexual
abuse,
neglect and emotional maltreatment.<span style=""> </span>You
will learn when to report, how to make a report, what to do if it’s an
urgent
situation, what happens after you file a report, and how to protect
children
and support families.<span style=""> </span>This training is free,
but space is limited to 15 participants, so please register early by
calling Candy
Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For
more than twenty years,
the Hancock County Children’s Council has worked to PREVENT child abuse
and
neglect in all its forms.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Physical
abuse</i> is a non-accidental
injury or pattern of injuries to a child.<span style="">
</span>These injuries may include, but are not limited to severe
beatings,
burns, human bites or strangulation.<span style=""> </span><i style="">Emotional
abuse </i>is a pattern of behavior
that attacks a child’s emotional development and sense of self-worth.<span
style=""> </span>Examples include constant criticizing,
belittling and providing no love, support or guidance.<span style="">
</span><i style="">Sexual
abuse </i>is the exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification
of another
as in rape, incest, fondling of the genitals, exhibitionism or
pornography.<span style=""> </span>Most child sexual abuse
victims are abused by someone they know.<span style="">
</span>We can help protect children by teaching them they have a right
to
privacy, not to keep secrets, and believe a child who confides in you.<span
style=""> </span><i style="">Neglect
</i>is not providing children with the care or protection they need.<span
style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Hancock County
Children’s Council collaborates with many local and statewide partners
to strengthen
families and support communities in nurturing all children.<span
style=""> </span>The Council has an extensive collection of
books and videotapes on subjects designed to help children and families
live
healthier lives.<span style=""> </span>The Family Resource Center
Library is available to all residents in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Hancock</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
and is located at Downeast Health Services, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street
w:st="on">52 Christian Ridge Road</st1:Street>, <st1:City w:st="on">Ellsworth</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">ME.</st1:State></st1:address><span style=""> </span>Please
call 667-5304 ext. 261, email <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a>
or
visit our website at <span style="color: black;"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.downeasthealth.org">www.downeasthealth.org</a></span>
for additional information on parenting classes, child development and
family
resources available in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Hancock</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<span
style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <small><o:p></o:p></small></span></font><small>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: blue;">Candy
Eaton, Program Director<br>
Hancock County Children's Council <br>
a program of Downeast Health Services Inc.<br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">52 Christian Ridge Road</st1:Street>,
<st1:City w:st="on">Ellsworth</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">ME</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">04605</st1:PostalCode></st1:address><o:p></o:p></span></i></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: blue;">207-667-5304,
ext. 261 <o:p></o:p></span></i></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org"><i>children@downeasthealth.org</i></a><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></small>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><small><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></small></p>
</body>
</html>