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The Truth Will Out

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds
is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—–Margaret Chase Smith, U.S. senator

sksksksksksksksksksksss

Martha Turner

A Future. Not A Past. (AFNAP) once again takes the lead for speaking out in public with the kind of intelligent backbone we wish we could see everyday. At a powerful Town Hall Breakfast I was encouraged by the range of people involved: from senators to law enforcement to federal prosecutors– like minded program directors, media–all the way to our chef that morning who is also a mentor in North Avenue’s Children’s Ministry. Anyone who was there could sense the gathering momentum of this campaign to stop the demand for prostituted children.

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A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. TAPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR STRATEGIES, SOLUTIONS

– Community feedback shows the demand for prostituted adolescents should be a priority for local law enforcement, community at large –

ATLANTA (Feb. 1, 2011) – A Future. Not A Past. (AFNAP), the Juvenile Justice Fund’s campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia, recently engaged members of the community on the issue of sexual exploitation of girls in Georgia and what steps could be taken to combat this crime. AFNAP held screenings across the Atlanta area for the CNN documentary “Selling the Girl Next Door,” which aired Sunday, Jan. 23 and again on Saturday, Jan. 29. Those attending the documentary screenings were given questionnaires to gauge participants’ thoughts and reactions.

“For those of us who work to eradicate the prostitution of our girls daily, we wanted to find out what community members feel would make a difference in the fight against this crime,” says Kaffie McCullough, campaign director for AFNAP.

The results proved what AFNAP has worked to accomplish since its inception in 2007: community members see need for enhanced victim rehabilitation and greater public education to recognize the pervasiveness of this crime on streets throughout the U.S., particularly in Atlanta.

“Though the documentary was extremely educational, it didn’t feature Atlanta girls. However, we know our city is a top location in nation for the prostitution of young females,” says Harold Jackson of Gainesville, Ga.

Most recently in the Atlanta area, a Marietta man was charged with prostituting a young girl in a local hotel. And in Gwinnett County, 56-year-old CEO of Reflex Security, Peter Privateer, awaits the date of his grand jury hearing for allegedly paying for sex in a Duluth hotel room in 2008 with a then 12-year-old victim of prostitution.

Particularly shocking to community viewers were the accounts of two victims. One featured in the CNN documentary – a 13-year-old girl – was taught by her pimp to post ads of herself on Backpage.com and was ultimately purchased, beaten, choked, raped and stabbed by a buyer. Another victim, 14 years of age, told CNN how she was raped by men who literally lined up outside of the motel door where her pimp offered her for money.

Organizers wanted attendees to pay particular attention to how these girls were regarded in the documentary as opposed to the buyers, or johns. Respondents were asked which individuals in the CNN piece – the girls or the buyers – were shamed more. The answer from all participants was the young females.

“It was apparent to respondents which party took the brunt of the blame,” says McCullough. “The girls’ faces were exposed for the world to see while the buyers’ were blacked out. Why do they get a cloak of anonymity and the children – the victims – did not? The victims were brave enough to tell their stories, but their bravery was put on display and shamed while their abusers were kept secret.”

According to McCullough, many times the girls in minor prostitution cases are demonized more so than the pimps or their buyers, an unfortunate occurrence. But viewers like Jackson, along with his wife, Barbara, see the girls in a different light.

“They are not the criminals – they have been victimized. Counseling services, access to an education, job opportunities and provision for greater protection are a necessity for these girls,” says Mrs. Jackson. “The financial resources provided by the United States to combat the problem of human trafficking in other countries should be used domestically.”

Mr. Jackson echoed that sentiment, saying “The laws need changing to provide a better rescue environment for these girls.”

Other participants suggested the public needed heightened education on this issue through billboards and other advertisements, raising the awareness of such atrocities inflicted on children being sold for sex. Respondents say advertisements should add to current media stories in the community concerning local crimes of this nature.

“Those who are caught engaging in selling or buying young children need to realize these girls are human beings – not animals or mere ‘objects,’” says Mrs. Jackson.

For more information on A Future. Not A Past. or to speak with Kaffie McCullough on their recent documentary screenings and subsequent questionnaires and feedback, please contact Ashley Fulmer, APR at 404.446.1672.

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The Atlanta Women’s Foundation and A Future. Not A Past. held a panel discussion moderated by NPR’s Rose Scott with community leaders to discuss current efforts to stop the prostitution of children. Our own Jennifer Swain served as a panelist, and we thank Gayle White for the following:

Women Volunteers Target Online Ads Selling Sex With Children

Written by Gayle White on Feb 4, 2011

on http://jjie.org/ Juvenile Justice Information Exchange

Some unlikely Atlanta women are spending hours on the Internet looking for child prostitutes, but not for personal gratification. They’re volunteers who are monitoring websites that advertise children under categories such as “escorts” as part of a new front in the war against sexual trafficking.

Deborah Richardson

“We have found every quarter an exponential increase in the number of girls being exploited,” said Deborah Richardson, executive vice president of the National Center for Civil & Human Rights. “One reason is the internet. Anyone can sit at home and order a young girl for sex as easily as ordering a pizza.” And just as a customer can specify pizza toppings, children can be ordered online by skin color, hair color and age, she said.

Richardson spoke on a panel Friday at Atlanta’s North Avenue Presbyterian Church as part of a town hall meeting called “Take a Stand Against Demand.” The breakfast gathering was sponsored by the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and A Future Not a Past, a campaign spearheaded by the Juvenile Justice Fund.

Speakers emphasized the need to target traffickers, pimps, customers and online advertisers.

Traffickers have found a lucrative business in selling children for sex, Richardson said. “Unlike drugs and guns, girls sell over and over again.”

Jennifer Swain

After the online advertising site Craigslist came under fire last year and shut down its “adult services” section, many of the illicit sex ads moved to a site called Backpage.com, Jennifer Swain, state coordinator of A Future Not a Past said Friday. Volunteers in Atlanta are searching Backpage sites targeted to Atlanta, Saint Louis and Houston for possible child sex advertisements and forwarding suspicious cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The cases aren’t hard to find. In a single four-hour session last week, a handful of volunteers found dozens of possibilities. The monitoring will continue for eight weeks, Swain said. “We’re going to give Backpage a run for their money,” she vowed.

Local law enforcement agencies and courts are also stepping up efforts to curb the sale of children for sex, panelists said.

Det. Carol Largent of Cobb County’s Crimes Against Children Unit said her department made a commitment last fall to pursue such cases more intently through methods such as following up on runaway reports. “Within a couple of months,” she said, “we were averaging a case a week of girls involved in prostitution.”

Police agencies need to work with schools, juvenile courts and social service agencies, she said, because children who are truants or runaways can become victims of exploitation.

Sonja Brown

Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Sonja Brown said her office currently has three open trafficking cases, seven open pandering cases and 17 pimping cases, nine involving juveniles. Fulton prosecutors pile on charges such as rape, child molestation and cruelty whenever possible to try to increase prison sentences for people charged with exploiting children for sex, she said.

Sally Yates

On the federal level, U. S. Attorney Sally Yates pointed out that on February 1, Attorney General Eric Holder and other Obama administration officials announced a national crackdown that will involve inter-agency “anti-trafficking coordination teams.” But child trafficking has “long been a priority in our office,” she said.

The same assets, such as transportation, that make Atlanta a business and convention hub make it appealing for child traffickers, she said. “One real problem in Atlanta right now is young women brought in from Mexico.”

Renee Unterman

State Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Gwinnett), an outspoken advocate of treating juveniles caught up in the sex trade as victims, not criminals, said she is encouraged by all the grassroots organizations in Georgia that are taking up the cause. The only Republican woman in the Senate introduced a bill last year that would have kept juveniles under 16 from being charged as criminals, diverting them instead to treatment or therapy. The bill died without a hearing. Unterman did not say whether she would reintroduce it, but she urged advocates to continue to speak up for children in the sex trade. “I believe children are victims,” she said. “There’s a certain segment out there that believes they’re criminals. That’s why the legislation is being blocked.”

Richardson of the National Center for Civil & Human Rights also spoke optimistically. “I believe we have come to a tipping point with this issue where we can stop it,” she said. She cited the civil rights movement and the crusade against drunk driving that succeeded when enough people became concerned and involved.

“But shame on us for allowing this to happen,” she said. “Shame on us.”

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We’re expanding our blog a bit, and in the weeks ahead we’ll add more updates and more contributors, so check back with us often.

To learn more about what you can do to help make a difference, visit our website at www.juvenilejusticefund.org.

Thanks for joining us.

Martha

Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the
Juvenile Justice Fund

Tags: A Future. Not A Past., abuse, addiction, afnap, aid for children, Allison Hood, atlanta, atlanta women's foundation, awareness, backpage.com, carol largent, Cheron Crouch, child, child advocates, child prostitution, child rights, child services, children, children of addicts, commercial sexual exploitation of children, compassion, courage, csec, deborah richardson, disconnected youth, donate, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug control, education, families, foster kids, fulton county juvenile court, get clean, grace schouten, Heidi Reese-Anderson, help, help for children, help the children, hope, Human Trafficking, incarceration, Jennifer Swain, judge belinda edwards, judge phillip jackson, juvenile, juvenile justice fund, Kaffie McCullough, legal aid, lost, martha turner, Megan Rhinehart, mentor, mentoring, neglect, non-profit, non-profit atlanta, not for profit, not for profit atlanta, phillip jackson, pimp, poverty, rally, ready set go, RSG, sally yates, senator renee unterman, sex trade, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sharon simpson joseph, sonja brown, taboo, Tonnisha LaSalle, town hall, urban children, Voices Project, volunteer, wonder root, yvette bell
Posted in A Future. Not A Past. | No Comments »

Raise Your Voice!

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
fffffffffffffffffffff—- e.e. cummings

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Martha Turner

When I think about what changes human behavior and what improves unwanted conditions, one perennial aspect is always the presence of the desire to see and experience something more positive. You don’t have to dig very deep to find evidence of that aspect here at the Juvenile Justice Fund.
Recognizing problems and injustices is only one component of what we do, and it is a vital one. If no one cries out against what is wrong and often “hidden in plain view,” what chance have we of changing it?
In the course of changing very bad situations, I am heartened and sometimes surprised by just how joyful and gratifying the process can be. It may not be sensational, and the quiet, good, building-block daily efforts of so many professionals and volunteers within our collaborations may not streak across headlines and the internet, but they do their powerful work nonetheless.
In this blog you’ll meet a judge and a minister/fitness instructor; each is viably changing the fabric of our society every day, and they haven’t even been on Oprah!
At JJF we are singing our song, and not only that, the staff got caught up dancing in a spectacular workout experience designed to rejuvenate the spirit as well as the body.

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Honorable Judge Phillip Jackson

This is the second in a two-part interview with the Honorable Judge Phillip Jackson, a native Atlantan and Juvenile Court judge for 18 months. In Part I, Judge Jackson shared his views on finding fairness and rehabilitation for children, and what he considers good qualities in a judge.

He mentioned robeitis as a disease sometimes afflicting those wearing a judge’s robe, wherein that power affects their ability to listen well and be humble. Mentioning former Chief Judge Jones, Judge Jackson went on to tell me “. . . he was the type of individual who was focused on doing what was right for the child, and what was right for people.”

For many years Judge Jones wanted to see a playground built here at the courthouse for the children. How do you feel about the possibility of that?

“Anything that’s good for kids! The more weapons you have for them, the better. Children like to play. Our court is in the middle of a neighborhood, there is a library next door, and the children are here. So if they need a playground sometimes while they wait for a visit with their birthparents, or something like that, I don’t see anything wrong with it, as long as we have the resources for it. If we have the funds for it, then fine, because it’s positive.”

How many cases that you handle involve CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children)?

“Well, you never really know, because things happen right in front of us, but we don’t see it, like the phrase ‘hidden in plain view.’ But for the cases that we do know about, I would say it’s not uncommon.”

Are there a mix of boys and girls, or are most of them girls?

“Most of them have been girls. But the problem is that the support system is set up for girls. Being in Atlanta, we’ve had runaway cases that were males and they were being exploited, but there are no resources for them. There are no counselors to go in and speak to them, and all of the publicity is on the girls. I’m not mad with that; I’m glad because it needs to be there, but I wish we had something for the males.”

That’s an interesting point, that the males need more attention.

“Yes, because Atlanta is a metropolis. You’ve been here all your life too Martha, and you know kids come here from all over, and they’re exploited. Certain parts of Atlanta are known more for exploiting males more than females. I don’t know if it’s a thing that people just don’t want to address, and don’t feel comfortable talking about – but it’s the same thing as talking about molesting a young girl. You sometimes feel more comfortable about talking about an exploited girl.

“There need to be more resources for the girls. There are hardly any for boys, but we need more for young girls. Especially in our society, once somebody like that is exploited, it’s hard to recover.

“You think about Elizabeth Smart: she is intelligent, she seems to be recovered, but I think she’s an exception. You read so many stories about young girls, and you will see it in Juvenile Court. Well nobody has reported it, and they wind up being exploited later, or deprived because they weren’t treated. They might have been molested or exploited, and then they grow up and either continue to be molested, or have problems getting along with people and forming relationships. Or they turn it around and start molesting others, even before they become an adult.

“With all of that focus and energy they could have been a doctor, they could have found a treatment for cancer, they could have been an actress, they could have been a musician, an architect, a teacher. They could have been whatever they wanted to be, but because they were re-routed at this part of their life, the potential is just lost. It’s just lost.”

Is it hard to see these cases day after day? Do you feel discouraged?

“No. Or only for a second. Because I also look out to the rest of society, and I think about the good I see. If you think about what you lost, you’re going to get depressed; but if you can balance that out by thinking about what you saved, or what you could save, it gives you something to work towards.”

If you could change anything in the legal system right this minute, what would it be?

“Well, funding is really the major thing. You can’t really do anything without the funding. How many beds do we have in safe houses? How many children are turned out of mental health institutions because they don’t have enough beds, and the child has been there the maximum allowed time? How many hours can a psychologist see a child? And how many children can a psychologist see? Or social workers?

“In order to change something, you’ve got to have the instrument to make the change. With the proper funding, we could get so much more done, because we know what we need to do—but lacking the funding to implement the programs is harmful.”

Do you feel as a judge that you have enough opportunities to offer help to the children who come before you, and to redirect them?

“That’s all rehabilitation is. You try to seek the best outcome, but sometimes you’re limited, and you don’t have that much.”

How does the media affect your job?

“You have to do your job with due process, and handle every case as if it were on TV, because all cases can be compared to each other, and you want the hundred cases that weren’t on TV to be handled consistently with the one case that was on TV. However, with Juvenile Court, it’s not in the child’s best interest to have media coverage, because children are just children.

“Often it’s the adults around them that cause their bad situation. If you put that in the media, how can the child heal? Other children who hear about it are going to be picking at them, not to mention how adults will judge them. It’s hard enough for the child to understand what is happening, but too hard for other children to understand it. Once you put a case on the news and out into the community, that child is labeled.

“Earlier you mentioned girls who are sexually exploited. Suppose that hits the news? Everyone will say “that child is wild, that child is ruined, and so on.” Fortunately in Juvenile Court we keep things in a more private record, whereas in adult court everything is public.

“At Juvenile Court, we’re all about rehabilitation. The child needs to heal, and doesn’t need everyone in their business.”

You’ve articulated a broad view of serving the children, and all the different services that come into play to get the child out of court, and turned around. What could JJF do to work better in concert with you as a judge?

“Well, I wouldn’t limit you. Raising money and educating are key, because the more people who understand why we do things, and how we do things, the better. Just keep going out and advocating for the children. We need more money for counseling and for shelters.

“Now I will say that doing the right thing also means doing what is in the best interest of the community. If a child is going out and doing harm to the community, or to himself, or herself, then we have to separate that child from the community for everyone’s sake.

“We can’t let a child run wild, and let the community suffer for it, or let the child suffer for it.”

How important is social awareness and social perspective about the plight of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) victims?

“It’s very important. If you are aware of the cause and effect of certain things, you can eliminate it. People are aware of mental health issues. Sometimes patients can’t afford treatment, and society, not recognizing their illness will treat them like they’re ‘normal.’

“Spanking someone is not going to cure them of a behavioral disorder. Locking them up isn’t going to cure them. Sometimes it takes counseling, it takes medication. Who knows what it can take. So education is important.

“Understanding the system is also important. For CSEC (the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children), if you understand why people abuse children, and how children get into the position of being abused, then you can find ways to prevent it.

“Sometimes people think it’s the child’s fault, or they blame themselves out of ignorance. But with education they may start to ask themselves, ‘Maybe I should go upstairs and find out what my child is watching on the internet, and maybe I should make sure my child gets enough sleep, and maybe I should go down to the school and find out what my child is doing there, maybe I should make sure my child goes to the doctor every so often. Maybe if I’m going to deal in certain activities, my child doesn’t need to see this, or my child doesn’t need to be exposed to this.’”

Do you think we’re too quick to label children as “bad” based on apparent behaviors?

“Well it’s always been that way—that we label a child bad without really understanding what’s going on with them. You know, when I was coming up, you could go to the field and play ball, you could be in the band, you could be in the chorus, you could take art. You could play football, you could play softball or basketball. And unfortunately now with limited resources, not all kids can do that. You don’t have recreational centers the way you used to. Almost everyone was in the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, and there were positive and fun things you could do to fill the time.

“Plus, there was time. There was time for the parents to engage the children. Kids were getting a lot more positive feedback, but now things are so busy, and people are having to work to survive—having to work two jobs, and there’s all of this extra pressure.”

And kids are fending more for themselves.

“Right. And some kids need more nurturing than others. They need a little bit more encouragement. Some kids are going to be a success no matter what. No matter what they try, they’re going to be good at it. But other kids, they’re only going to be good at one thing maybe. If no one ever exposes them to enough things so they can find that thing they’re good at, what then?

“So that gets back to resources again, and we have to make sure the safety nets are in place. If you cut one thing off, it will affect the next thing and the next. If you cut one thing in the legal system, it’s going to be felt somewhere else. It’s all connected.”

You’ve clearly given much thought to what the children in your court and in the greater society need. When you’re not pondering these issues, how do you like to spend your time?

“I love movies. I like science fiction, I like action movies. It’s very relaxing. I like cards – pinochle. I like chess – you know, if it takes my mind off of work, then I like to do it.

“You talked about people getting depressed doing this job—you can’t just look at the people who have trouble. The nice thing is that in my community, in my church, in my family, I see a lot of kids who don’t get into trouble. And that’s the picture you have to hold—the picture of how it can be, and that this can be the future.

“If the only thing you see is your work and the people who have troubles and have problems, it’s easy to get down. But when you can go out in the world and see all the kids who don’t get into trouble, and go to college, it brings the balance back, and you see the rest of the picture.”

What’s the best part about your job?

“That I can make a difference. That I have the opportunity to do something good that matters.”

What’s the worst part?

“Not being able to fix everything. You know, seeing something and not being able to make it better—the ones you can’t save. But then again, you save as many as you can.”

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LOBBY DAY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

It’s time to register for the 2011 CSEC Lobby Day at the Georgia Capitol! Get ready to make a real difference in the lives of exploited children in our state. Thank your legislator with written notes, make your voice heard, and join together in an awareness-raising show of support for children victimized by CSEC.

Lobby Day is an easy, fun, and empowering event. If you’ve never been to the Capitol, this is a perfect way to get started with grassroots advocacy.

When: February 1st, 2011, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

Where: We’ll meet at Central Presbyterian Church (201 Washington Street Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30303) for check-in and advocacy instructions, walk across the street to the Capitol in groups and participate in a 9:30am press conference. There is no parking available at the church and it’s extremely limited downtown, so please consider taking our charter bus service or take MARTA!

How to register: Registration is free and easy. Simply go to www.streetgrace.org to sign up today. After you register you will receive additional information regarding participation.

So please join us February 1st and invite a friend to attend with you! Our children are depending on us to be their voice.

Register here now!

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A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. Celebrates the Removal of
Craigslist’s ‘Adult Services’ Section From its International Sites

ATLANTA (Dec. 20, 2010) – On Saturday, Dec. 18, Craigslist — a popular online advertising classifieds website — removed its controversial “adult services” section from its international pages. It was reported that Craigslist suspended the section on all its international sites, including those in Canada, Asia, Europe, South America and Africa.
This action follows the early September shutdown of the section in the United States following mounting pressure from 18 attorneys general — as well as human trafficking coalition groups from across the country — on grounds that it included ads for the prostitution of young girls.

“This is a huge win for all of us in the worldwide fight against the commercial sexual exploitation of children,” says Kaffie McCullough, campaign director for A Future. Not A Past. (AFNAP), the Juvenile Justice Fund’s campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia. “Though we celebrate this, we too know there is still much to be done to stop this problem – on the streets and through the Internet.”

Since Craigslist removed its adult services section in the U.S., AFNAP and other activist groups have applied pressure to Backpage.com and its parent company, Village Voice Media, to increase efforts in preventing adolescent girls from being advertised for sex. Recent research from the AIM Group, a global team of consultants in interactive and traditional media, has identified Backpage.com as Craigslist’s successor in projected annual revenue for Internet classifieds sites.

“Many parties worked together to bring down Craigslist’s domestic and international ‘adult services’ operations. Now, we must turn our attention to sites like Backpage.com where traffic for prostituted girls has migrated,” says McCullough. “We urge concerned groups, politicians and members of the public to continue calling attention to the proliferation of this illegal activity via classifieds sites, as well as the necessary steps to ensure no underage girl is ever bought or sold through this outlet again.”

« United States Senate Approves Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act

2010: The Year CSEC Focus Shifted from Dealers to Demand

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The Voices Project

Kym Campbell of KFIT

Kymberli Campbell, founder of KFIT, is providing cardio funk classes for the lucky members of our Voices Project. As a special treat for the staff of JJF, Kym treated us to an hour of her special workout magic. “I feel like if you spirit’s not together, if you’re not at peace within yourself, nothing else will work,” Kym told me after our dance-like workout.

“Our mission is shaping humanity from the inside out, empowering everyone who comes into our presence to tap into hidden reserves of energy, release fun that dwells inside us all, settle ruffled emotions and lift the spirit!”

Check out Kym in person on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adMUPqyLrRc

Kym, what is it you hope to bring specifically to the girls who will be coming to you in the Voices Project?

“I want to bring them a lot of hope…a lot of these girls need hope and will be full of fear. Hopefully I can help them to find the better ‘them’ inside, and know that they don’t need anyone else to affirm them, but that they are ok. As for any mistakes, you know, your mess is your message! So their mistakes will all work for their good in the long run.”

How important is it that teenage girls make a deliberate effort to feel good about themselves and their bodies?

“I think it should be the number one thing in their lives other than family, because you have to take care of yourself—it’s part of preservation. If you have goals and aims, you have to be prepared to get where you’re going. So you have to take care of yourself, and it begins inside. How you see yourself is what you’ll be, and people treat you like you treat yourself.”

Sharon, Kym & Grace after a great workout

That’s a good point, and this idea about incorporating inspiration into your workout—how did that come about for you?

“Well, I am a licensed and ordained minister, but besides that, my personal walk with God has empowered me every step of the way, and I think that everybody should tap into that. It not only empowers you, but it keeps you strong when things are heavy and pressed, and I believe that when you have faith, you can move mountains and go anywhere.

“Inspiration, especially at this time, when things are so stressed and times are really hard, that the girls, especially as teens, need to grab on to something beyond what they can see.”

When you were a teen growing up, did you have people to help you and teach you?

“Oh I most certainly did. ‘Each one teach one’—that’s how I grew up. And when you incorporate that attitude into your life—you probably got it from someone, someone in your life: a teacher or a coach maybe. Then you turn around and teach someone else, and you keep teaching. So from generation to generation it keeps getting passed on, and that’s how we kept it going and keep that hope alive, and that fire!

Kym and Megan

Well speaking of fire, I just finished a workout with you and it was very fiery and it was so much fun; like a dance party. Can you just rattle off a few of those affirmations you gave us during our workout?

’I am strong’ ~
‘I am mighty’~
‘I will do it’ ~
‘It is done’ ~
‘I’m going higher and higher!’”

I can say from first hand experience that the workout was incredibly fun and free, and it also felt very non-judgmental.

“Yes, Oh no no no no no no no! Let me tell you, that is who I am, that is what I’ve been called to do, is to break down barriers. Everything must be transparent. I call it the Rainbow Tribe. It is mul~ ti~ cul~ tu~ ral!”

So when a girl comes to you, it really doesn’t matter who she is or what kind of shape she’s in…

“I don’t care what shape she’s in, I don’t care where she’s been, I don’t care who she knows, I don’t care what she’s done, I don’t care what she looks like, I don’t care what her cultural background is, where she is in society—if she’s poor or rich, it doesn’t matter. Deep inside, at the end of the day, we’re all exactly the same.”

JJF Staff ready to rock with Kym

Kym, how do you want these girls to feel when they walk out of your studio?

“Alive!”

I certainly feel alive.

“Good.” Laughs

Kymberli Campbell, founder of KFIT
http://kfit.glulife.net/mainwww/

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Check back with us in February when our special DFCS video takes a peek into the training of on-site home inspectors, and to find out the latest happenings at JJF. To learn more about what you can do to help make a difference, visit our website at www.juvenilejusticefund.org.
Thanks for joining us.

Martha

Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the
Juvenile Justice Fund

Tags: A Future. Not A Past., abuse, addiction, afnap, aid for children, Allison Hood, atlanta, atlanta ballet, atlanta snow, awareness, cardio funk, Cheron Crouch, child, child advocates, child prostitution, child rights, child services, children, children of addicts, commercial sexual exploitation of children, compassion, courage, crossover, csec, disconnected youth, donate, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug control, education, elizabeth smart, families, foster kids, fulton county juvenile court, get clean, grace schouten, Heidi Reese-Anderson, help, help for children, help the children, hope, Human Trafficking, incarceration, Jennifer Swain, judge belinda edwards, judge phillip jackson, juree hall, juvenile, juvenile justice fund, Kaffie McCullough, kfit, kym campbell, kymberli campbell, legal aid, lost, martha turner, Megan Rhinehart, mentor, mentoring, military, military brats, neglect, non-profit, non-profit atlanta, not for profit, not for profit atlanta, oprah, phillip jackson, pimp, poverty, ready set go, RSG, sex trade, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sharon simpson joseph, taboo, Tonnisha LaSalle, urban children, Voices Project, volunteer, wonder root, yvette bell
Posted in A Future. Not A Past., Human Trafficking, Juvenile Court, Voices Project | No Comments »

Excelsior!

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

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The only certain thing about the future is that
it will surprise even those who have seen furthest into it.

—E.J. Hobsbawm

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Martha Turner

It’s a new year, and as we turn the page and think about new beginnings, we at JJF are saying excelsior which translates upward and onward! We have expanded our work, received numerous grants, added to our wonderful staff, and made many new friends and supporters.

It’s going to be an exciting 2011, and an interesting year. One of those interesting things is a new series of interviews with the judges in our Courthouse here in Fulton County.

Recently our Chief Judge Belinda Edwards spoke with us in an interview to discuss, among other things, adoption and the way that the Court works with families to support them in that process.

Here is part one of a two part interview with Judge Phillip Jackson.

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Honorable Judge Phillip Jackson © c. releford

Judge Phillip Jackson
College: University of Georgia, Georgia State University
Law School: Georgia State University
First Day on Bench: June, 2009

Q: Judge Jackson, can you describe your journey, what it’s been like coming from being a parent attorney to being a judge?

A: It’s been good. Once you become a judge, you have to change your perspective, and you see things a little differently. Being a lawyer is more adversarial, and the lawyer has to be an advocate for his client, whether that be a parent, or the State, or the child.

Q: And you’re trying to win.

A: Well, I don’t know about trying to win, but you’re trying to get what your client wants. Whereas as a judge, the judge is more concerned about justice, and about a fair playing field; making sure everybody is in it fairly, and making sure the right decision is made.

The other thing, from a Juvenile policy standpoint, is that many times it is about service and rehabilitation. It’s not so much about punishment, so you have to get creative about your options. And the Juvenile Justice Fund is right here, and it’s about assistance. Sometimes people need clothing, sometimes they need support programs that might be alternatives; there are group homes, or a safe home for girls – different things like that. So that’s how the Juvenile Justice Fund (JJF) comes in, because not all of the funding comes from the state or the county, and JJF allows us to supplement that, to give services, to try to get justice. You know justice isn’t just about somebody getting punished, or somebody winning, or somebody losing. It’s about just trying to do the right thing. The right thing for everybody.

Q: That’s an interesting thing to say. Some people would raise their eyebrows at that, because our society trends to litigious attitudes, and people getting what they want, and punitive damages, and getting revenge. So it’s interesting to hear a judge talk more about aid and rehabilitation. Not to put words in your mouth, but it sounds like maybe even forgiveness?

A: We’re trying to put a plan in place to make it work, as opposed to just cutting up the family so that one parent gets custody and one parent doesn’t.

Q: Judge Jackson, did you always want to be a judge, or did it just happen that way?

A: No, I didn’t always want to be a lawyer! (laughs)

Once you become a lawyer, I think every lawyer, in the back of their mind, they think about it. They think about, well, if I were the judge, how would I rule this, and what would I do here if I had the opportunity to do something to make it better.

Q: In your time as a lawyer, were there certain judges who inspired you?

A: One thing I’ve learned, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a judge or a teacher or a doctor or a banker or an Indian Chief – you can learn something from everybody, and what it teaches you is that I can’t be somebody else. So number one, you have to try to understand yourself. Number two, what you do – fortunately, it’s not against the law to copy, so you take something good from this person, you take something from that person over there, and if you can work it, if you can make it work, then that’s what you have to do.

Q: What are qualities that you admire in a judge?

A: I admire a good demeanor. People should feel comfortable coming before a judge, and they should feel that the judge is taking them seriously, and that the judge is listening. Someone told me you can’t demand respect, you have to earn it. So I want to listen to them, and have a good disposition, because, you know, unfortunately, anytime a judge makes a decision, people may be upset about the decision.

Q: Yes, about fifty percent of the people.

A: Yes! (laughs) Sometimes you can come up with something where everybody is pretty much in agreement with what is going to work. But unfortunately a lot of times it just goes one way or the other, and you have to have a good disposition so that if you do say something, people won’t feel like the judge is directing it personally. You hope they’ll say “Well, the judge didn’t do this to me personally. The judge is being fair about it. The judge isn’t doing it because I’m short, or because I’m tall, or because I’m from this side of town, or that side of town.”

You have to be comfortable with what you’re doing, no matter what you do. But me, I’m nervous a lot of the time.

Q: Really?

A: You listen to different performers, and they talk about stage fright, and you just wouldn’t know it. I’m nervous.

Q: Would you say that’s because you’re relatively new as a judge, or because you demand a lot from yourself to make good decisions?

A: A combination. I wouldn’t say I’m really demanding, but I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. I want to succeed, and when you want to succeed and do things, you’re always going to be nervous. When you start taking things too much for granted, you can lose respect, and you can lose that edge.

Q: You don’t want to lose your edge?

A: Right, and I always want to understand what’s at stake – and that’s going to make you a little nervous.

Q: Well, and the quality of a person’s life is at stake. And I suppose their life could be at stake.

A: It could be. But many times it’s about the quality of life. Once a child, or anyone, has been harmed, they need time to heal, and they need to be in the best environment to heal. So as soon as you can get them into a nurturing environment, the sooner they can recover. Sometimes people are so damaged as a child, they’ve been so injured or fractured, that it affects their ability to have a relationship with another person for the rest of their life—one on one, trusting and communicating. That’s something you can never fix, but you can minimize it.

Q: How did it feel the first time you put your robe on, and went out as a judge?

A: Good! I mean, you’re scared and you’re nervous, but it felt good. One thing you learn from being a lawyer is that the law and the court have to be respected. But as a judge you have to be approachable, and the thing about a robe, is that it’s like power: you have to respect it, but you can’t get too comfortable with it. Which is probably why I get nervous—sometimes you get so caught up with the power of it, thinking that you can’t make a mistake. You’re thinking it’s about you, but I have to remember that it’s about doing the right thing. There’s something called robeitis; I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of that.

Q: No I haven’t heard of it.

A: Robeitis is a disease that people sometimes get when all this power goes to their head as they put on the robe. And so I say to myself, “Let me be humble, let me understand this and do the right thing, and let me listen.”

Q: Judge Jackson, you are a native Atlantan, and you’ve been in the courts here for many years –

A: Twenty years.

Q: In that time, in 20 years, do you think the legal system has gotten better or worse?

A: In some ways it’s gotten better, and in some ways it’s gotten worse. It’s gotten better from the standpoint that we know more about the law, and automation and computers have helped a great deal. It used to be that you had all these file rooms, and you had case files and mimeograph machines, and it took awhile to find something. The law is about paper; you have to follow due process. But since we have computers, when things are scanned in, what you used to do in days, you can do in minutes. You can find something. You can give somebody a certified copy. You can pull up histories. So with that, it’s great. We understand more, and we can bring in experts – doctors and so forth. Especially in Juvenile, in deciding what needs to be done to help families, it’s so much better.

One way that it’s bad is that there’s more of a need. We have more cases now, and we have fewer resources. We don’t have enough money for judges, parent’s attorneys and children’s attorneys. We don’t have enough beds in hospitals, much less detention centers, and that’s the sad thing because if we had more resources, some of these cases would go away.

Another thing is that people in our generation always talk about immediate gratification. So if someone comes into court, and the judge says this or that, then boom—there’s this expectation that the family is healed, the child is healed –

Q: Yes, tune in next week for the next episode–

A: Yes, you know problems like that — they don’t heal overnight, and if somebody needs counseling or treatment, you’re sometimes talking about months. You’re not talking about days. That hasn’t changed, but expectations have changed, and people want it to be that way—instantaneous.

Another part of it is education and exposure. It used to be, to get things done, you would go back in a room and work it out, and all the public would really know is that it worked. But now you have this transparency, and you have media transparency, where people will say “Oh no, that will never work.” But we don’t give things time to work.

Q: We have so much information now, but we don’t really have the knowledge of how things really do work?

A: Right, and that’s where education comes in. There’s nothing wrong with transparency, and there’s nothing wrong with people knowing. We need to educate people so they know what all the components are, as opposed to just giving them the outcome. Everybody wants somebody punished, but nobody wants an innocent person to be convicted. Yet in public perception, if they see somebody charged, they’ll leap to the conclusion that they must have done it, but sometimes that’s not the case.

Q: You knew Judge “Sammy” Jones, who was Chief Judge here and often described as a judge who really cared about children.

A: He did. The thing about him, if you knew him, was that he had a good disposition and a good demeanor. People respected him. He had a lot of different experiences, and had done so many different things that people could relate to him and he could talk to everybody. He also had a good sense of humor. The children came first. It wasn’t about him, it was about getting the job done.

Q: He didn’t have robeitis?

A: No. He did not have robeitis. But for someone who would have had robeitis, done the things he’d done, and associated with the people he associated with, you know, it could have happened. But he was the type of individual who was focused on doing what was right for the child, and what was right for people. They say “A good leader is a better servant.” You serve people. You’re not a leader if you just order people and have people serve you. That’s a true test– when people feel that you’re in charge, but you’re also looking out for their best interests.

Check back with us on January 26th to read the second half of this interview.

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YESTERDAY I FOUND MY VOICE
TODAY I’M HERE TO SHOUT ABOUT IT

Sharon Simpson Joseph, Esq. , Founder of The Voices Project

On January 20th, a few fortunate girls from the Juvenile Probation Court will step into a new year and an opportunity to change their lives because of The Voices Project, brainchild of Sharon Simpson Joseph, Executive Director of JJF.

“These are our girls, coming through the Juvenile Justice Support System, and the idea is – we’re reaching out to them to inspire hope, options, opportunities, support and love. In collaboration with the probation department and the Georgia Care Connection, JJF’s Voices Project will be helping girls 11 to 17 years old, find their strengths and their own voices, hence the phrase ‘Yesterday I found my voice, Today I’m here to shout about it!’ ”

The girls come here to our Permanency Center after school in small groups of 10 or so. They meet with our staff in a team environment for new, enriching experiences like Cardio Funk, Wonder Root, The Atlanta Ballet, and Group Mentoring Program.

Cardio Funk is a fun, physical workout which also incorporates positive and powerful affirmations for the girls so they can improve their thinking about themselves, their personal worth, and their bodies.
Wonder Root is a community program including everything from the fine arts to performance art to the ability to write your own books, or grow an organic garden.
Volunteers from The Atlanta Ballet are coming to teach ballet, and then we have our Group Mentoring Program, where members of the community come to share their time and experience with the girls.

Last Fall the program was formally launched with the Fulton County Probation Court, and this month marks the inception of the pilot group.

New Voices Project

Click on the link below to hear a short remark from Sharon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpkE70DKyyQ

I spoke with Sharon yesterday about the upcoming first meeting for the Voices Project.

Q: Sharon, you have your girls, you have your new Voices Project Coordinator; classes and volunteers are lined up. How does it feel to be so close to this new beginning?

A: I’m so excited, and with this Atlanta snow storm, we agreed today that our first circle meeting, which was to have been tomorrow, will be postponed until next Thursday. But the feeling is wonderful; I can’t believe how far we’ve come. We’ve gotten several grants that demonstrate people’s belief in this vision. We have a fabulous, fabulous coordinator in Grace, and I couldn’t be happier that our vision is coming to fruition. I know that the girls are going to get so much out of this, and they’re really going to love it.

Q: How long have you had the vision for this project?

A: Since early Spring of last year, 2010. It started out as a germ of an idea, and we felt that we could do something really special to reach girls earlier in this journey. Then we just started talking about it and dreaming about it, and here we are!

Q: How many girls are currently enrolled?

A: The pilot launch group has ten girls.

Q: Are you currently looking for mentors to volunteer?

A: We have a very strong mentor volunteer group already, and the response to this program has just been fantastic. But one of the key components of our plan is not only how the JJF Staff will serve these girls, but how we can initially support them in developing a bond with each other. It’s about them becoming a circle and a group, so prior to introducing the mentors, we’re going to work with them in building their self esteem and their connections with each other.

Q: How important is it that the girls learn to establish lasting relationships?

A: I think it’s critical. I personally believe it’s how we can measure having a productive and successful life. Supporting the girls in being able to establish that — to help them to achieve that type of perspective in life will be doing a huge, huge service for them.

Thanks Sharon, and we will be checking back later for updates on this imaginative new project.

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Grace Schouten, Voices Project Coordinator

Grace Schouten, (pronounced Skowten) is our new Voices Project Coordinator. With a degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida, Grace worked in Child Welfare in Florida before moving to Atlanta. After joining our affiliate, the Junior League, she noticed the work of the Juvenile Justice Fund, and wanted to become involved.

Q: Grace, coming from a Navy background, you moved around a lot growing up. How did that eventually influence your decision to work with youth?

A: Moving around so often, I started to really understand what happens to kids in foster care, how they would bounce around, and how it really tore up normalcy, it tore up everything in their life that every other teenager in a “normal life” would get to do. These teenagers started to run away, they had delinquency problems, and they would be labeled “bad kids.” So I started to research what they call “disconnected youth,” who would withdraw themselves from the system, and from counseling. They kind of rough it, and try to figure out things on their own, and wind up really being lost — I could empathize with them. Their life just falls apart and they don’t have control over it.

Q: Would you say when you were moving around as a teenager, that you had support and were connected?

A: Yes, I would definitely say that’s the difference for me. My father retired when I was 14, so I got to stay in the same high school. But before that I went to 14 different schools, and no one even thought that was odd. But I did some research on “military brats” and there were similarities between our experience and those of the foster care kids. I had family and I had friends who were in the military and were just like me; but if you don’t have that, it’s just chaos, and the foster children get this feeling of disconnection, and of being out of joint.

Q: Stemming from that, what do you hope to provide these girls with who are coming into the Voices Project?

A: To help them feel that they have a place where they belong, and that’s not just in the physical sense, but that they can find things they like to do, and something they can feel passionate about. If they have something they want to talk about, they have someplace to go and get help about it. I want them to have their own spot.

Q: How do you plan to bring that about?

A: The way the course is designed, the girls will explore many components of a rich young adult life: there’s the Health and Wellness, there’s Cultural Arts and Education. Of course there is the CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) element as well, and there is so much flexibility and diversity in the curriculum that the girls are going to get great exposure. One 15 year old girl I spoke with today told me “I just want to know more. I don’t know what I want.” They don’t know yet what they don’t know, so we help them find the questions, and find a way to begin.

Welcome Grace, and we appreciate your special perspective on the lives of teenagers.

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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Backpage.com Monitor

Since Craigslist shut down their Adult Services section there has been a migration of those who are seeking to purchase sex on the internet. Most of the migration that occurred has been to the website, www.backpage.com. A Future. Not A Past., as a part of a larger national effort, is trying to apply similar pressure to www.backpage.com that was applied to Craigslist and resulting in the dismantling of their Adult Section. THIS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IS FOR FEMALES ONLY. What AFNAP proposed to do is as follows:

Monitor the backpage.com/Atlanta site weekly for an 8 week period
Flag pictures that “look young”
Quantify and record the number of pictures flagged each week
Report results to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline
Provide a total number of flagged pictures to national media to highlight the ongoing and growing concern

We are asking volunteers to make the following commitment:

Available for DAY TIME hours on Thursdays starting Jan. 20th through Mar. 10th
Available for a minimum of (1) two hour block of time per month for 2 months – total of 4 hours but it would be ideal to have volunteers for 2 hours each week for the entire 8 week period. Preference will be given to volunteers who can do more than just (1) two hour block during the period to maximize consistency of raters.
Self-transportation to monitoring site (located inside the perimeter)
Mandatory attendance of a 1.5 hour orientation session on Jan. 13th, 9:30a.m. – 11:30a.m.
Mandatory attendance of a 1.5 hour debriefing session each month you volunteer.

If you are interested in becoming a Backpage.com Monitor, please email info@afuturenotapast.org with “Backpage Monitor” in the subject line or call 404.224.4555.

AFNAP Community Ambassador

Volunteer and use YOUR voice to raise awareness in YOUR community! Become an official A Future. Not A Past. Community Ambassador by attending a one-time 3 hour training session where you will be educated on the commercial sexual exploitation of children here in Georgia and the demand for those children, as well as learning the red flags to look for and services available for any child in need of help, or how to report this crime to law enforcement.

Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011

8:30a.m. – 12:00p.m.

Families First

1105 W. Peachtree St. NE

Atlanta, GA 30357

Community Ambassador roles include, but are not limited to, the following:

Host an awareness presentation in your community. AFNAP will help prepare material for your group and attend as a speaker (if schedule permits)
Host quarterly ”Action Groups” with your own circle to keep others informed of the most recent news regarding stopping the prostitution of children
Join AFNAP’s legislative efforts by contacting your legislators in support of legislation that protects children and provides needed services
Spreading the word anywhere you can regarding victims and the buyers and sellers who seek to exploit our children

If you are interested in becoming a Community Ambassador, please email info@afuturenotapast.org with “Community Ambassador” in the subject line or call 404.224.4555.

LOBBY DAY

The “We Urge You” Campaign (a partnership of A Future. Not A Past., StreetGRACE, and WellSpring Living to stop the prostitution of children) is requesting all supporters to join us on Tuesday, Feb. 1st at the State Capitol to represent victims of commercial sexual exploitation and show the Georgia State Legislature that our community demands their support for our children.

We would like to fill the Capitol with 2,000 supporters so WE URGE YOU to attend and spread the word!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Georgia State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30303

We welcome all supporters and if this is your first time at the Capitol, NO WORRIES!

You will need to register with StreetGRACE (www.streetgrace.org) and attend a briefing session on Jan. 7th to give you more direction regarding your visit to the Capitol.

Transportation and light breakfast will be available at designated locations.

If you are interested in attending Lobby Day, register at www.StreetGRACE.org or please email info@afuturenotapast.org with “Lobby Day” in the subject line.

CNN Documentary Screening Party

CNN will air a documentary regarding the commercial sexual exploitation of children by CNN Reporter, Amber Lyons. You may remember a very powerful piece presented by Amber Lyons earlier this year where she confronted Craiglist CEO, Jim Buckmaster, regarding children being bought and sold on his website for sex. This documentary looks to offer an in depth look into the prostitution of children and A Future. Not A Past. wants to hear from you! Host a screening party and AFNAP will provide information and statistics regarding the prostitution of children here in Georgia to give to your guests. All we ask is that you have those watching complete a very short questionnaire and you return the results to AFNAP.

Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011
(Date/Time is subject to change but will be confirmed)

CNN Documentary

If you are interested in hosting a screening party, please email info@afuturenotapast.org with “CNN Screening Host” in the subject line or call 404.224.4555.

AFNAP’s mission is to protect and inspire hope in our girls, the true victims of this illicit practice, as well as to disable demand and prosecute the pimps and johns who make the prostitution of children a gruesome reality in Georgia

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Check back with us on Wednesday, January 26th to find out the latest happenings at JJF, and discover what you can do to help make a difference. Visit our website at www.juvenilejusticefund.org.
Thanks for joining us.

Martha

Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the
Juvenile Justice Fund

Tags: A Future. Not A Past., abuse, addiction, afnap, aid for children, Allison Hood, atlanta, atlanta ballet, atlanta snow, awareness, cardio funk, Cheron Crouch, child, child advocates, child prostitution, child rights, child services, children, children of addicts, commercial sexual exploitation of children, compassion, courage, csec, disconnected youth, donate, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug control, education, families, foster kids, fulton county juvenile court, get clean, grace schouten, Heidi Reese-Anderson, help, help for children, help the children, hope, Human Trafficking, incarceration, Jennifer Swain, judge belinda edwards, judge phillip jackson, juree hall, juvenile, juvenile justice fund, Kaffie McCullough, legal aid, lost, martha turner, Megan Rhinehart, mentor, mentoring, military, military brats, neglect, non-profit, non-profit atlanta, not for profit, not for profit atlanta, phillip jackson, pimp, poverty, ready set go, RSG, sex trade, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sharon simpson joseph, taboo, Tonnisha LaSalle, urban children, Voices Project, volunteer, wonder root, yvette bell
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Something To Write Home About

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

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In the little world in which children have their existence,
whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived
and so finely felt as injustice.

—–Charles Dickens (1812-1870) Great Expectations

…bbbbbbbbbbb

Martha Turner

And that of course is why we’re here: to help with fairness, to help open doors and offer opportunities in a child’s world caught up in our legal system.

Looking back at 2010, there are more great moments than we can count, and so many are worth writing home about.

Standing on these successes, it’s easy to look forward to 2011 with hope and confidence that our work is trending towards filling the exact needs of children and families needing fair play, help and wisdom.

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First, an update on the wonderful graduation for Family Drug Court on December 15th. Project Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) collaborated with Fulton County Family Drug Court on the graduation, presided over by the Honorable Chief Judge Belinda Edwards here at the Fulton County Juvenile Court.

These cases involved parental rights, in which the parents appeared before the court because of their substance abuse.
The following were presented with certificates by Chief Judge Belinda Edwards and Tracy Fields:

Frieda J., Joyce S., Kimberly H., Tammy J., and Brenda H.

Benjamin's Graduation Feast

The graduation was heavily attended, and catered by Benjamin’s with an elegant spread befitting the occasion:

Veggie Penne Pasta
Lemon Pepper Wings
Swedish Meatballs
Peach Tea
Fresh Fruit Trifle

This event was so powerful, and concluded 18 months of intensive therapy and training by the five candidates. As presenter Janice Brooks noted “Stumbling and falling is part of the process.” And yet, as one graduate had said “I want to be the best mom I can be.” “She had the tenacity and the passion to be an outstanding mother,” observed Ms. Brooks.

Sergeant Dixon-Bradford of Security for the Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center gave a moving acappella rendition of the song “Hero”. The idea of singing at the ceremony came to her when she learned the nature of the event:

“I have a niece that I’ve been trying to get help for. I felt compelled to give the ladies a message that they are our heroes, so I asked the Court for permission to sing for them, and they said yes.”

Cake for Drug Court Graduates

Each of the candidates gave moving testimonies, most stressing their desire to be with their children as their motivation to carry through with this difficult transition.

A daughter of graduate Frieda J. wrote and read a letter to her mother, raw and real. Below are excerpts:

“Dear Mama-

I want to say thank you for loving me no matter what….

When you wasn’t around much like a loving caring mother suppose to be, I thought you didn’t care about us your kids…. We knew what our mother was going through and it hurt us the most cause whatever you done in the past when you was sprung out on crack it hurted us so badly sometimes…at the end of the day we still love you from the bottom of our heart…

Now that I’m older I understand why you wasn’t there when I need you and begged for you asking God please send my mother back to me. Standing here today I see that God answered my cry…Now I believe in God and He answers your cry. He may not have answered when I wanted Him to…He waited until He was ready, and now I believe He answers your cry…Thank you for being in my life again.”

I spoke with Frieda after the service.

Q: Frieda, can you describe your feelings as you listened to your daughter read her letter to you before this assembly today?

A: Touched. Amazed. I really wanted to know how she was feeling. She wouldn’t open up to me for about a year. After a year, while she was in counseling, and I was here in counseling at Ready, Set, Go! she did open up to me. It’s hard to believe that I’ve got my family back.

Q: How do you feel about the future?

A: I feel very good. With my love for God, my Higher Power, I feel stronger today—that me and my family—we will be all right.

Q: What advice can you give other parents who may be going down the same road as you?

A: Just take it one day at a time.

Thanks Frieda, and blessings to you, one day at a time.

Melissa Rochester & Heidi Reese-Anderson

We at JJF and the Ready, Set, Go! program continue to provide care and services to these women as they make their way in the world, drug free, employed and reunited with their families. As a result, we now are employing former Drug Court Graduate Kelly Cox, the new peer counselor for JJF’s Ready, Set, Go!

Ms. Cox was met with ovations while offering these reflections during the ceremony:

“He (God) blessed me with a job in the churches.
Now He blessed me with a home.
And now He blessed me with a job with Ready, Set, Go!”

It takes a team to help rebuild the lives of candidates, and DFCS is an integral part of that. As Chief Judge Belinda E. Edwards described in her remarks:

“DFCS gets a lot of bad press, but they are the ones who are out there every day, they are with the families every day, and they are the ones working to make a difference every day.”

Chief Judge Belinda Edwards and Judge Phillip Jackson

Honorable Judge Phillip Jackson was in attendance and shared some of his impressions with us.

A judge here for 18 months, Judge Jackson was previously a practicing Parent Attorney.

Q: Judge Jackson, how is it different for you, being a judge now instead of a lawyer?

A: It’s good because it gives me a somewhat different focus. We all want what’s best for the children, no matter which side of the bench we’re on, but having all the different perspectives is good for the system. The goal is still the same for me now. You just try to do your best.

Q: How did you come to be in this area of the law?

A: I think I came into this area of the law by faith. It was just a natural progression for me, based on my skills and my training.

Q: What is it like for a judge to watch these Graduates complete their training today, and to watch the families complete their adoptions last month?

A: It feels good. Lots of people get depressed – they think about the bad things in court, and all the problems people are going through. But witnessing the ceremonies, it gives you strength—and you know there’s a reason for all you’re doing. You can have a happy ending. You think about the things you have to do, and some of it isn’t pleasant. Sometimes it’s tough love. Seeing things like National Adoption Day or Drug Court Graduation—that’s the reason why we’re here. You just try to save as many as you can. You can’t count the numbers—you just try to do the right thing for the child.

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On December 22nd, the Senate adjourned without passing S.2925, the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010. After having passed both the Senate and the House with bipartisan support, time ran out and our legislation was not called to a vote. It is terribly unfortunate we could not get this much-needed funding for victims of child sex trafficking; however we have ended 2010 in a very strong position. This momentum will carry us with force into 2011.

A recap of the year’s accomplishments reflects the cohesiveness of the anti-trafficking organizations around this issue – a development that has been noticed by policymakers, as well as the general public. Through advocacy, we secured three Congressional briefings and two committee hearings on the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking. Three coalition letters were signed by our community urging Congress to support the bill. A screening of the documentary Playground took place at the Congressional Visitor’s Center. Numerous grassroots campaigns flooded Congressional offices with emails and calls, including Change.org petitions that gathered more than 3,000 signatures. We raised the awareness of many staffers and legislators who were not aware of the commercial sexual exploitation of children –some have now taken the issue to heart, expressing an interest in working on future bills. In a year when Congress faced a full plate and much gridlock, S.2925 passed both chambers!

All of this work yielded fantastic gains. We cultivated and supported tireless champions in both chambers — Senators Wyden, Cornyn, Franken, Congresswoman Maloney, Congressmen Smith and Poe stayed true to their roots as victim advocates and worked tirelessly on this bill. The Senate bill had 6 co-sponsors and the House bill had 40. Any of these legislators could be tomorrow’s champions because of this year’s campaign. The bill sponsors and their staffers showed great determination and leadership all year; they deserve our deepest gratitude.

This is what our victory looks like today; it’s in the details, in the solid foundation we built as a coalition. Together we made it quite far; in fact, most bills do not even make it out of committee much less out of both chambers. Thanks to each of you for your dedication and determination from the first day to the last hours — every call, every support letter, every attendance at overflowing briefings and hearings demonstrated to the legislators and their constituents how important this issue is and the strength of our lobby.

In the coming weeks, A Future. Not A Past. will keep you up to date regarding the next steps for 2011. We hope you will continue with us and resolve to make next year a victory year for our children.”

Your call made a difference! Thank you for helping to spread the word!

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What an extraordinary year it’s been here at JJF. So many great achievements, and many changes. Under the leadership of our new Executive Director, Sharon Simpson Joseph, Esq. we are expanding and meticulously fitting ourselves to the needs of Georgia’s children and families. We never work alone, and collaborations are countless. Indeed, it takes a village to raise the children.

Yvette Bell & Sharon Simpson Joseph

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month–sponsored by Ready, Set, Go! An amazing month long series of educational and celebratory events spearheaded by Yvette Bell. Yvette and Sharon show off our Georgia Official Proclamation.

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Mr. Burks presents the ring to Angela Carter

Who can forget our diamond ring raffle, courtesy of Burke’s Jewelers?

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Faster dad!

Kaffie McCullough

A Future. Not A Past. (AFNAP) held its First Annual “7200 Steps to Stop Demand” 5k Run/Walk, in Candler Park, to stop the demand for prostituted children in Georgia. Attendance was in the hundreds, and it is the beginning of a great new tradition.

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Megan Rhinehart, Jennifer Swain, Sharon S. Joseph, Nekeita Stewart

Yesterday I found my voice. Today I’m here to shout about it!

We launched our new initiative, the Voices Project, brainchild of Executive Director, Sharon Simpson Joseph, Esq., to fight for our children’s safety and well being and to provide programs that support our youth in raising self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-advocacy. It is part of the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) program here at JJF. Look for an interview with Grace Schouten, our new coordinator, in January.

The JJF Internship Program has been successful this year and is expanding to include even more interns for 2011.

We welcomed Catharine Kuchar, our new Grants Officer, who joined us from the Atlanta Audubon Society where she served as Executive Director. She has lived in Atlanta for 17 years, and is a wonderful new addition to our JJF family.

Jennifer and Sharon begin their panel

At the National Center for Victims of Crime Conference New Orleans, Executive Director Sharon Simpson Joseph and Jennifer Swain, A Future. Not A Past. State Coordinator provided a panel that looked at how Georgia’s research informed model serves CSEC victims and works with Federal prosecutors.

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Family Visitation, bringing families together

In 2010 The Juvenile Justice Fund provided transportation for approximately 300 supervised visits for children currently legally separated from their parents. Our children receive safe transportation from foster homes, group homes, and residential facilities to their community visitation site. Family Visitation has been hard at work to make sure all of our drivers are thoroughly trained, and that they have identification badges, which are now required to be worn during all transports.

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www.lwvor.org

Ready, Set, Go! successfully launched it’s first session of Building A Better Future, the parenting mentor program to help build parenting skills. We presented four graduates, who earned their certificates allowing them to become fully fledged parenting mentors.
Based on the belief that family is the foundation for all children, regardless of what their experiences have been, the program helps children find ways to understand their past, and then embrace their future with an increasingly solid relationship with their family.

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JJF baskets all provided books and board games

At the 9th annual celebration of National Adoption Day, JJF, under the leadership of Tonnisha LaSalle, donated 16 gift baskets to adoptive families, making sure it was a day they would never forget. Thank you to everyone who contributed to make these baskets full of gifts that would bring the families together in a multitude of activities.

Great moments such as these manifest because of the thousands of everyday moments in the life of The Juvenile Justice Fund. We appreciate all of our partners, supporters, cheerleaders and donors for making all of this possible. Thanks to all of you, 2011 is looking brighter.

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For Interns Who Want To Make A Difference . . .

Allison Hood, Operations Coordinator

We at the Juvenile Justice Fund help fulfill the unmet needs of children and families coming through Georgia’s juvenile justice system. Partnering with the Fulton County Juvenile Court, we advocate at the federal, state and local level; implementing direct service programs, providing education and training, and increasing public awareness. All children always matter is the driving force behind our programs, which are specifically focused on stopping the commercial sexual exploitation of children and supporting family reunification efforts.Our internship program is designed to give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to actively participate in the work we do to protect and serve the children who need us most. Although interns will work within a specific program or department, our hope is that they will understand the totality of JJF and will be able to work from a framework that encompasses the entire organization. In addition to providing essential programmatic assistance to JJF staff, interns will gain an understanding of critical issues for youth in metropolitan Atlanta, learn more about the way a non-profit organization operates, obtain valuable skills they can take into the workforce upon graduation and participate in networking opportunities with JJF staff and juvenile court employees.

We are accepting applications for three internship positions for the Spring Semester:

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CEASE Intern

Development and Community Outreach Intern

Family Visitation Program Intern

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For more information about the Internship Program, please visit our website
or contact me, Allison Hood at allisonhood@juvenilejusticefund.org
or by phone at 404.224.4415.
I look forward to hearing from you.

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Check back with us on January 12th, 2011 to find out what new beginnings are afoot at JJF, and discover what you can do to help make a difference. Visit our website at www.juvenilejusticefund.org.
Thanks for joining us.

Martha

Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the
Juvenile Justice Fund

Tags: 2010, 2011, A Future. Not A Past., abuse, addiction, afnap, aid for children, Allison Hood, atlanta, awareness, Cheron Crouch, child, child advocates, child prostitution, child rights, child services, children, children of addicts, compassion, courage, donate, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug control, education, families, Family Drug Court, fulton county juvenile court, get clean, graduation, Heidi Reese-Anderson, help, help for children, help the children, hope, Human Trafficking, incarceration, Janice Brooks, Jennifer Swain, judge belinda edwards, judge phillip jackson, juree hall, juvenile, juvenile justice fund, Kaffie McCullough, legal aid, lost, martha turner, Megan Rhinehart, mentor, national adoption day, neglect, new year, non-profit, non-profit atlanta, not for profit, not for profit atlanta, phillip jackson, pimp, poverty, ready set go, RSG, sex trade, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sharon simpson joseph, taboo, Tonnisha LaSalle, Tracy Fields, urban children, volunteer, yvette bell
Posted in A Future. Not A Past., Events, Juvenile Court, Project Ready Set Go | No Comments »

Dreams Come True

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable
fulfillment which cannot be completely explained
by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be
articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.
—— Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Martha Turner

Just before Thanksgiving we experienced one of those moments of unutterable fulfillment by watching 24 children become legally adopted here at the Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center. In the 9th annual celebration of National Adoption Day, the Court, under the leadership of Chief Judge Belinda E. Edwards, made sure that adoption day was a day the families would never forget. Presiding Judge Brad Boyd participated, along with Judge Phillip Jackson and Judge Cassandra Kirk. Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to our 16 gift baskets, and a very special shout out to Tonnisha LaSalle for spearheading that effort. You can see pictures of them in our photo gallery.

Honorable Chief Judge Belinda E. Edwards

Chief Judge Edwards spoke with me today about the celebration and about adoption in Georgia.

Q: Judge Edwards, you work hard behind the scenes to make the celebration meaningful, especially for the kids.

A: Yes, you know one thing I wanted to emphasize was the families, and to make this day special for them. And I noticed that the children couldn’t sit through a program (nor could any of us!) on an empty stomach, so we start off with a hot meal. It cuts down on some of the rushing and some of the worry, because you know that the morning has already been hectic for the families, getting everyone dressed and getting down here. You know, this event really isn’t about us, it’s about them, and we want to put them at their ease so that everyone can enjoy it.

Q: You also made sure that each child was given a disposable camera for the day?

A: Yes–you know children like to take pictures, and this way the day gets recorded for them in their own way.

Q: Now, there are about 1500 children in Georgia waiting to get adopted?

A: That’s right, and I think the number is about 250 children who do not yet have adoptive resources. And I will tell you as a judge, the most frustrating part of my job is making that decision to terminate a parent’s parental rights, and you don’t know what the outcome is going to be. You want to know that the child is going to an appropriate home with opportunities to live a fulfilling life in a supportive family, as opposed to aging out and being without a family connection. But on this day, it’s a success because the children are here before the court, through no fault of their own. Their parents have failed them. But on this day, we assign them a new family, and we placed 24 children on this day.

Q: It must feel very gratifying to be able to grant that.

A: Oh it does, because you know so much sadness goes on with the courts, and I’m happy to be able to participate in a very positive experience. Actually, it’s the most positive experience a child could have.

A happy new family

Q: On this day you opened chambers and allowed press and friends inside to get a taste of what the experience was like.

A: Well generally it’s a private matter, behind closed doors. But on this day we give families the option of allowing people in, and of speaking to the press. When they get their certificate, it’s a great culmination, and others can share in that with them.

Q: Adoption has changed somewhat regarding who can adopt. Talk about that a little bit.

A: You no longer have to be a married couple. In actuality, the main criteria is that you have to be able to support yourself, but it could be a married couple, or it could be a single person; it could be a person with a partner, but that person must go through all the background checks just as if they were going to adopt. The reality is that a lot of children start out in a two parent home, but sometimes wind up being raised by one parent, for any number of reasons. So the court is looking for one person who is committed to raising a child and who is going to offer them a loving environment where they can thrive. The main thing is to get the children into loving, supporting homes, and to allow them to be open to life’s opportunities. You know we all need support. Can you imagine being 18 and on the streets and trying to fend for yourself?

Q: I can’t imagine being any age without a support system. Judge Edwards, years ago Mayor Andrew Young dubbed Atlanta “the city too busy to hate” and now we are being dubbed “the city not too busy to care.”

A: Well I think the reality is people in general care, and people in Atlanta care and they want to see positive outcomes for children. The people here don’t want children to suffer. We have an obligation to inform the public about opportunities to assist. And when we do, they step up! As the saying goes “There but for the grace of God go I.” Everyone wants to be part of something positive, and there is so much negativity going on, and there’s so much bad news. But I think that the people of Atlanta are saying if there’s an opportunity to be a part of good news – please, I’m coming!

Q: Well, and people really did come out in droves to help and just be a part of it all. Next year is your 10th year for this celebration?

A: We’ve already begun the planning stages, looking at expanding it to include more activities for the children. We want to get more public awareness, and of course having a dynamic speaker. This year we had Council Member Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is an adoptive parent, and every year we have really strong speakers. The press has been great to us, and very responsive, and we would like to increase the media attention even more, simply because when people see us, you’d be surprised at how many people call me and say “I’ve been thinking about adoption.” And then I can say to them, “Well, you’ve reached the perfect person to talk to!”

Thanks Chief Judge Edwards for leading an event that brings joy to families, and sparks the hope of possibility in those who witness it.

Click here to see the Fox 5 Interview

Fox 5 National Adoption Day with Chief Judge Belinda Edwards & Tamara Bradley who adopted 5

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Thanks to Shane Michael Photography for providing us with a touching slideshow.

Click here to see some of the reflections from our wonderful day.
Mike Newman 404-492-9785
mike@shanemichaelphoto.com
www.shanemichaelphoto.com

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Jurée Hall, Program Director

Jurée Hall put the wheels in motion as Coordinator for National Adoption Day, and she put the event into a special perspective for me.

Q: Jurée, how did the Court begin this tradition?

A: Judge Sanford Jones started it, and his effort was to bring awareness about adoption. There was a program out of California that started National Adoption Day, and he wanted to bring that here.

Q: This celebration was 7 months in the making, and involved well over 100 volunteers and partners. How did the day kick off?

A: We start off by serving a hearty breakfast. Chic-fil-A donated 125 Breakfast Biscuits, 75 fruit cups and 75 mini moo cows and 75 calendars! We also served eggs, grits, juice and coffee, donated by the Committee for Juvenile Justice.

Q: And I noticed you had a full brigade of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts — what was their role?

A: The Girl Scouts provided arts and crafts activities while the children waited to meet with judges in their chambers. The Boy Scouts in collaboration with the Alpha Phi Alpha Alumni presented each family with their first Thanksgiving Dinner of a turkey with all the trimmings.

The Girl Scouts in chambers

Q: Tell us about some of the other volunteers.

A: The Metro Lions Club are a community partner and each year they donate $500 to help the children transition into their new homes, and they also volunteer on that day. We had many volunteer photographers. And this year, Attorney Heather Jett, a Child Advocate, was Jules the Clown. Of course JJF provided 16 gift baskets with board games, sports equipment, books and dvds designed to encourage the family connection. The Atlanta Public Library was on hand to sign all the children up for their own library card. Melanie Levine and Denise King, Art Teachers from Stonewall Tell Elementary School came and helped the children make a Family Tree.

Q: How would you describe the mood of the parents?

A: I believe, Martha, because it is such a long awaited day, the atmosphere is something like if you were standing in the waiting area of a delivery room, waiting for something huge to happen, something wonderful, something magnificent: it’s the birth of a new family. That’s the mood—it’s elation, it’s nervousness, it’s anxiety, it’s joy, because this moment’s finally here. It’s bigger than Christmas. You know last year a little boy said to me “I’ve been here before! Yeah, I saw my momma and she was in court.” He was expressing some negative experiences he’d had with the court. But I can imagine his waking up, his getting dressed, putting on his finest, and having all of that erased, and a new family.

For the families, I think they’re happy; I think that temporary peace is taken away, and permanency is put in its place. It’s like if you’ve been in temporary housing, and then you finally get your own place, and you’ve landed and now this place is your own. I think it’s like that for them.

Q: Jurée, how long does it take to plan an event like this?

A: I would liken it to planning a wedding. We start in June and July, and since we are not funded by taxpayers, everything is based on volunteers and donations. So we work for months coordinating everyone, and then we talk about it afterwards to improve it for next year.

Q: For you personally, what is the best part about coordinating National Adoption Day?

A: The best part for me, and I carry this image in my head—it’s when the children just walk down the hall after they’ve gotten that certificate, and they just have a peacefulness in their spirit, and they never forget that moment. And for me, it makes me feel so good to know that I was instrumental in helping making this day stand out for 24 kids. Do you remember getting a certificate in elementary school, whether it was May Day or Perfect Attendance or something, and being acknowledged in front of your peers? Can you imagine how it feels to the heart of a family? I believe there is something very centering about those who have been blessed to have this opportunity.

Q: Did you have any teary moments?

A: You know, when I finally do get a chance to exhale, afterwards during the cake and ice cream celebration, when the kids are just sitting there, and the parents are exhaling, and I’m exhaling too, because the event is over, the child is now theirs, they walk out of there a family. Technically, Martha, when they walk in our doors in the morning, they are still in foster care. When they leave, they are family.

Q: Will you coordinate this event again next year?

A: I don’t know yet, but we are coming up on our 10^th year, and I’d love to see us double the number of adopted children! It will be really grand. Maybe a DJ and some dancing – who knows?

Based on this year, it truly will be grand. Thanks Jurée for a labor of love.

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Enjoy our Photo Gallery. Thanks to our staff for capturing this day, and a special thanks to Curtis Releford of Keeneye Photographs. You can find contact information for him at the bottom of these photos.

: Jen Swain and Tonnisha LaSalle prepare baskets

: 16 JJF Gift Baskets made possible by donations

: Tonnisha LaSalle, Beverly Simpson, Sharon Simpson Joseph

: JJF baskets make the day special

: Judge Brad Boyd makes it legal

: Presiding Judge Brad Boyd in chambers

: A moment of levity in chambers

: A happy new family

: Attorney Heather Jett clowns around

: The Girl Scouts in chambers

: A certificate for permanency and hope

: keynote speaker

: Judge Boyd addressing the families

: Jurée Hall and Judge Brad Boyd

: The Metro Lions Club enjoy the festivities

: Chief Judge Belinda Edwards congratulates the families

: Badges on a Girl Scout Volunteer

: Keynote Speaker

: There is no sadness today

: An encouraging word from Dad

: Fun time

: Ready for cake & ice cream

KEENEYE PHOTOGRAPHS
“we will do it right or not at all”
WE CAN CAPTURE AND PRESERVE ALL OF YOUR PRECIOUS MEMORIES
Curtis Releford
curtis_releford2000@yahoo.com
404-272-1622

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CALL TO ACTION!

Tell Your House Rep to Pass “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010″

On December 9th, the U.S. Senate passed S.2925, “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrance and Victims Support Act of 2010.” This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Cornyn (R-TX) and was passed with unanimous consent in the Senate. With only one week left in the Congressional session, the House must now adopt the Senate bill and pass it by Friday, December 17th!

What you need to know about S.2925:

It will provide $2m to $2.5m a year in funding to six state and local pilot projects to serve and shelter child victims of sex trafficking
Funds can be used to empower law enforcement efforts to combat the sex trafficking of children
With less than 100 beds in shelters across the nation, these funds are critically needed to help restore exploited children.
Law enforcement needs assistance to ensure that traffickers and buyers of sex with vulnerable girls and boys don’t continue to get away unpunished.

Calling your legislator is easy! Just review the instructions below and use the sample language as a guide. Use your own voice and remember, your legislator wants to hear from you!

1. CALL YOUR HOUSE REP TODAY! Calls are the most effective and powerful way to urge Congressional action. We ask you to pick up the phone and let them know you support this legislation.

2. Go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and find your House Rep.

3. You will likely get a front desk or policy staffer. Tell them you are calling about H.R. 5575, “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act”:

“Hi, my name is [ ], and I am a constituent of Congress(woman/man) [ ]. I’m calling to urge passage of “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010.” The Senate bill passed S.2925 with unanimous consent. I urge the House to adopt and pass the Senate bill as soon as possible. This bipartisan legislation will fund state and local efforts to assist child victims of sex trafficking. Funds will be used to increase victim services, provide law enforcement more resources to combat sex trafficking of children, and fund deterrence and outreach efforts.

Will the Congress(woman/man) support the passage of this critical legislation?”

4. After you complete your call, send a follow-up email to your House rep thanking him/her. Here is some sample language you can use as a guide:

Dear [ ]:

I am a constituent who is very concerned about the sex trafficking of children in the United States and in my state. I called your office today to urge passage of “Domestic Minor SexTrafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010.” The Senate bill passed S.2925 by unanimous consent. I urge the House to adopt and pass the Senate bill as soon as possible.

Today, there is a severe lack of services for child sex trafficking victims in the United States. This legislation helps address this by supporting holistic, multidisciplinary approaches that bring law enforcement, non-profits and agencies together to combat the problem. Block grants will fund collaborative programs in up to six regionally diverse areas across the U.S. Each grant will help increase victim services while increasing law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute traffickers. Outreach and awareness efforts are also supported.

Thank you for acting to protect our state’s and our nation’s children and to stop sex trafficking. Please adopt and pass S.2925 in the House and close the severe gap in victim services and law enforcement resources.

Sincerely,

[ ]

Your call can make a difference. There is one week left to pass this bill. Help spread the word and urge others to join you as you contact your representative!

PICK UP THE PHONE – EVERY CALL COUNTS!

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On Dec. 29th we’ll provide coverage on today’s Family Drug Court Graduation presided over by the Honorable Chief Judge Belinda Edwards.
We look forward to the graduation of the following candidates:

Frieda J., Joyce S., Kimberly H., Tammy J., and Brenda H.

“The thing that matters the most to our graduates is that they are back with their children. That is first in their minds and hearts.” – Cheron Crouch

There is still time to help provide children from the Ready, Set, Go! program with holiday presents. This year we are emphasizing learning and development toys to help families spend productive quality time together. We also need of boys & girls clothes; i.e. pants, skirts, shirts, socks, undergarments, and coats. A small gift card pledge in the amount of $20-$25 would go a long way to bring smiles to the children’s faces on Christmas Morning. Use our donate now button, or contact Heidi Reese-Anderson at (404) 224-4474 or William White at (404) 224-4725 for more donor information. Thank you.

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Check back with us every other Wednesday to find out the latest happenings at JJF, and discover what you can do to help make a difference. Visit our website at www.juvenilejusticefund.org.
Thanks for joining us.

Martha

Martha Turner is the Communications Officer for the
Juvenile Justice Fund

Tags: A Future. Not A Past., abuse, addiction, afnap, aid for children, Allison Hood, atlanta, awareness, Cheron Crouch, child, child advocates, child prostitution, child rights, child services, children, children of addicts, compassion, Council Member Keisha Lance Bottoms, courage, donate, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug control, education, families, fulton county juvenile court, get clean, Heidi Reese-Anderson, help, help for children, help the children, hope, Human Trafficking, incarceration, Jennifer Swain, judge belinda edwards, juree hall, juvenile, juvenile justice fund, Kaffie McCullough, Kara Cooper, legal aid, lost, martha turner, Megan Rhinehart, mentor, national adoption day, neglect, non-profit, non-profit atlanta, not for profit, not for profit atlanta, pimp, poverty, ready set go, RSG, sex trade, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sharon simpson joseph, taboo, Tonnisha LaSalle, urban children, volunteer, yvette bell
Posted in A Future. Not A Past., Advocacy, Human Trafficking, Juvenile Court | No Comments »

Posts Tagged ‘fulton county juvenile court’

The Truth Will Out

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds
is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—–Margaret Chase Smith, U.S. senator

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. TAPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR STRATEGIES, SOLUTIONS

Women Volunteers Target Online Ads Selling Sex With Children

Raise Your Voice!

I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
fffffffffffffffffffff—- e.e. cummings

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. Celebrates the Removal of
Craigslist’s ‘Adult Services’ Section From its International Sites

The Voices Project

Excelsior!

Something To Write Home About

Yesterday I found my voice. Today I’m here to shout about it!

For Interns Who Want To Make A Difference . . .

Dreams Come True

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Posts Tagged ‘fulton county juvenile court’

The Truth Will Out

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—–Margaret Chase Smith, U.S. senator

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. TAPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR STRATEGIES, SOLUTIONS

Women Volunteers Target Online Ads Selling Sex With Children

Raise Your Voice!

I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance. fffffffffffffffffffff—- e.e. cummings

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. Celebrates the Removal of Craigslist’s ‘Adult Services’ Section From its International Sites

The Voices Project

Excelsior!

Something To Write Home About

Yesterday I found my voice. Today I’m here to shout about it!

For Interns Who Want To Make A Difference . . .

Dreams Come True

Sign up for our newsletter:

Interim youthSpark website

Search

youthSpark

Categories

Blog Archive

Links We Like

Thank you to our sponsor:

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds
is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—–Margaret Chase Smith, U.S. senator

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. TAPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FOR STRATEGIES, SOLUTIONS

I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
fffffffffffffffffffff—- e.e. cummings

A FUTURE. NOT A PAST. Celebrates the Removal of
Craigslist’s ‘Adult Services’ Section From its International Sites