Idea after 32 years of direct experience
Monday August 14, 2006
I am writing this E mail after having retired from 32 years working as a social worker, supervisor, and administrator with child abuse and neglect for the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. I have sent packets to 70 agencies and counting about setting up a National Campaign about the deleterious effects on the developing child’s brain from the abuse. Many fine efforts have been made to disseminate this information but from my direct experience there is a lack of information and /or blocking the importance of the effect on children. I contacted the AD Council who has done numerous effective campaigns with billbords , TV spots and information spread through the print media. With great skill they have taken difficult issues and bring them in front of the public on a wider scale. They have even begun to take up the controversial issue of Global warming . While they have had some previous work with child abuse they have not yet dealt with the intense effects this has in measurable ways such as with the havoc on the long term growth and functioning of the brain. When I spoke to them they said that I would need the support of agencies as an individual cannot start such a campaign by themself. Thus the contact with the agencies. I am beginning to receive positive feedback from some agencies on these efforts. Since you are one of the leading authorities in the world on this issue I am sending this E mail to request any input or help or advice that you may have. Thanks for taking the time to consider this letter.
AM: Thank you for your letter. I am only one single person and don’t know of agencies supporting our issue. But I think that Jordan Riak (www.nospank.net) could have many ideas that could help you. Ask him also for his booklet “Plain talk about spanking” that you can get free from him to use in your work. Please let us know about the positive reactions if you have any. I wish you many of them.