Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center

Join our team! We are currently looking for the following positions: Part-time Child and Family Therapist Part-time Bilingual Child and Family Therapist Bilingual Child and Family Therapist If you know the right person for one (or all!) of these positions, send them over to our website (link below) to check out the job descriptions and apply. https://lnkd.in/eH3NdM-R

On behalf of The Umbrella Center, we are excited to announce that yesterday WellCare of North Carolina and the Centene Corporation Foundation announce $1.95 million investment in The Umbrella Center     By investing in The Umbrella Center, WellCare and the Centene Foundation further their commitment to providing healthcare access to those affected by domestic violence and abuse, ensuring a safer and healthier future for the Charlotte community. Family justice centers like The Umbrella Center are proven national models that improve victim survival, reduce rates of violence and homicide, and are recognized as national best practices by the Department of Justice.   Brighter days are ahead for Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Read more here: https://rb.gy/fi8609

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. While the statistics about our city and state as they relate to Human Trafficking seem grim, Pat’s Place has been working alongside our community partners to combat Human Trafficking and reverse the statistics in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Just this past summer, we launched our Youth Empowerment + Support (YES!) Program, an intervention designed to prevent sexual exploitation and trafficking for at risk girls and teenagers. A YES! case manager and therapist provide intensive, wraparound support to increase protective factors, strengthen family relationships, and address concrete needs. To learn more about our efforts to combat human trafficking, visit our website patsplacecac.org.

Friends! We’re participating in the Target Circle program! *cue happy dance* You can vote for us and help direct Target’s giving to benefit our nonprofit. For full program details and restrictions, visit Target.com/circle

Here's your friendly reminder to not let the hustle and bustle of the holidays distract you from having the body safety conversation with your children. 🎅 Talking about Body Safety is not a one-time conversation. Just as you would discuss other safety rules it’s just as important to discuss body safety regularly. 🎅 Help children identify 3 safe adults in their life. Children need a network of safe adults whom they can talk to if they are feeling uncomfortable, worried, or scared. 🎅 🎅 Educate children about private parts. Explain that private parts are those that are covered by their swimsuit, and it is not ok for someone to touch, look at, or take photos of their private parts. It is also not ok for someone to ask children to touch their private parts. 🎅 Teach children the correct anatomical names for all body parts. Teaching children the correct names for their body parts reduces confusion, embarrassment, and shame. 🎅 Teach children that they are the boss of their bodies. Every child has the right to tell anyone no and refuse unwanted or uncomfortable affection. A child should never be forced to hug, give affection, or sit on a lap. 🎅 Teach the difference between surprises and secrets. Let them know that surprises can be fun and make people happy, like giving a present to someone special. Secrets, on the other hand, can be hurtful. Children should know that adults do not ask children to keep secrets and the child should tell someone right away. 🎅 Teach kids that adults should not ask kids for help. People may trick a child by asking them to help find a lost pet, give directions, or help carry something. Children should not agree to do something for an adult without first speaking with a parent/caregiver. Visit https://lnkd.in/eP8HTQAi for more resources to help you have this conversation and similar conversations with your children.

DYK 1,017 children and their caregivers visited @patsplacecac last year? DYK Pat’s Place provides snacks and drinks to everyone who visits our Center? For some, a trip to Pat’s Place means missing out on their only guaranteed meal for the day - their school lunch. If you’re looking for a tangible way to make a difference in the life of a child in our community – consider making a donation of snacks to Pat’s Place with your next Amazon purchase or Costco run. To view our wish list, visit https://lnkd.in/gJTsBHUz (you may have to scroll down for snacks!)