SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center of Fairfax County

03/25/2021

"Take action to be an asset in a young person’s life and help to build a stronger, more positive community that benefits ALL children and youth."

Thank you Fairfax County Department of Family Services for raising awareness on some of our county's most vulnerable youth population.

LGBQ teens in Fairfax County experience higher rates of stress and depressive symptoms than their non-LGBQ peers. Find out what else was learned about LGBQ teens from the Fairfax County Youth Survey in the updated fact sheet https://bit.ly/35Mrrqf #FCYS19

03/24/2021

Most online grooming laws will only prosecute if a meeting between the abuser and their victim has taken place. At this point, however, the grooming process has already begun and the child's safety is threatened. #ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday

03/23/2021

Amazon Smile

Did you know supporting SafeSpot is as easy as making a purchase on Amazon? Log into your Amazon account through smile.amazon.com and start shopping! Same items, same prices! Proceeds from your purchase will directly benefit SafeSpot.

03/22/2021

SafeSpot Staff and MDT always do their best in order to create a safe, family-friendly environment where children and their caregivers can feel at ease during times of crisis. #MDTAppreciation #MotivationalMonday

03/19/2021

Happy day before the first day of Spring! 🌸 Virgil can hardly wait for the extra long walks and the endless views on the hiking trail. #FacilityDogFriday

03/18/2021

We are only 4 days away from our Junior Board Open House! Register here: https://www.safespotfairfax.org/who-we-are/junior-board/

Exciting news! SafeSpot will be holding a Virtual Junior Board Open House. We are seeking community-minded young professionals who are willing to volunteer their time, energy, and talents to support SafeSpot’s mission.
For more information and to register, follow the link here:
https://www.safespotfairfax.org/who-we-are/junior-board/

03/18/2021

Grooming rarely begins with touching. Predators start by testing a child's boundaries by observing their reaction to small violations of privacy. An example would be 'accidentally' walking in on a child in the bathroom. #ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday

03/16/2021

Red Flags of Child Predators – The Mama Bear Effect

"No two abusers look, talk, or act the same. Many ‘compartmentalize’ their abusive behaviors and seem like perfectly typical people during their day to day life."
Thanks for this informative article The Mama Bear Effect!

Red Flags of Child Predators Advocacy • Parenting • Prevention • Understanding Abusers Home Blog Red Flags of Child Predators share: Keeping kids safe from sexual abuse is not a black and white issue. Even experts on the issue who have interviewed convicted child molesters remark on how “li...

03/12/2021

Throwback to Virgil's puppyhood! Virgil is an absolute joy to work alongside with and is the perfect addition to the SafeSpot Team. We are so lucky to have him! #FacilityDogFriday
Canine Companions for Independence

03/12/2021

Shamrock week has officially begun for our friends Kappa Delta at GMU! 🍀 Each year, KD hosts multiple creative events in order to fundraise for local/national child abuse prevention efforts.
Check out the activities they have lined up, including a virtual walkathon! Consider joining KD for a week of philanthropy that will directly benefit SafeSpot!

03/10/2021

Groomers often target their victims vulnerabilities in order to gain access and trust. Unfortunately, most victims are blindsided by the abusers behavior when their deviant intentions are revealed. #ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday

03/09/2021

Exciting news! SafeSpot will be holding a Virtual Junior Board Open House. We are seeking community-minded young professionals who are willing to volunteer their time, energy, and talents to support SafeSpot’s mission.
For more information and to register, follow the link here:
https://www.safespotfairfax.org/who-we-are/junior-board/

03/09/2021

International Women's Day 2021

Today and every day, we recognize the incredible women who make up our MDT, Board of Directors, SafeSpot staff, and community of supporters. Your efforts into creating a safer environment for all children has not gone unnoticed, and is always appreciated. #InternationalWomensDay #MDTAppreciation

03/05/2021

#FacilityDogFriday fact of the day; Pecos LOVES his naps. Here he is showing us just how cozy retirement can be!

03/04/2021

Happy National Social Work Month! SafeSpot would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all of our fellow social workers on our MDT. We applaud your strength, courage, and endurance! #ThankfulThursday #NationalSocialWorkMonth

03/03/2021

SafeSpot’s Impact

It is with great enthusiasm and appreciation that we present our 2020 Impact Report & Year In Review Video, highlighting the many ways in which we created better outcomes for children experiencing abuse in our community.
Our thanks to each of you for partnering with us as we give children a voice and support their healing and long-term safety.
To view our 2020 Impact Report & Year In Review Video, click this link: https://www.safespotfairfax.org/safespots-impact/

“In a year in which nothing was predictable, our commitment to serving children and families impacted by abuse never diminished, nor did the support of our caring community.”

03/02/2021

Congratulations to Second Lieutenant Daniel Spital on receiving the MCB Command Award! We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and dedication to our MDT during his time overseeing the Child Abuse Squad.

This month we’re highlighting the great work of Second Lieutenant Daniel Spital who is a dedicated supervisor assigned to our Major Crimes Bureau (MCB). As an accomplished 14-year veteran of our department, he has been assigned to MCB for the past two years. During his time in MCB, he has supervised the Child Exploitation Squad and more recently, the Child Abuse Squad, which is one of the busiest squads in the bureau. In November of 2020 he transferred to the S*x Crimes Squad.

Although truly passionate about supervising the dedicated detectives who investigate child abuse cases, Second Lieutenant Spital graciously accepted the opportunity to move to the S*x Crimes Squad, where he believed he could make a significant impact as well. Detectives in both squads have continuously expressed their confidence and trust in the leadership qualities of Second Lieutenant Spital.

In March of 2020, the nation began experiencing one of the deadliest pandemics to ever hit the globe. Second Lieutenant Spital, who was already specially trained as a “Safety Officer” was selected to join a group of other safety officers assigned to our Patrol Bureau to assist with triaging incidents before officers respond. While taking on the daunting assignment, Second Lieutenant Spital maintained close connections with his squad, as well as the interim supervisors assigned to oversee the squad in his absence. Speaking with the interim supervisors, they all acknowledged that Second Lieutenant Spital continued to make himself available to share his wealth of knowledge and experience to continue the success of the squad.

Second Lieutenant Spital continues to work hard during these trying times, stepping up to put in extra work for the Fairfax County Police Department. For his leadership, dedication to his team, and his never-ending drive, Second Lieutenant Spital is being recognized with the MCB Command Award.

Join us in congratulating Second Lieutenant Dan Spital in receiving this recognition!

(Left to right in the attached photo: Lieutenant Mohammed Oluwa, Director Saly Fayez, Second Lieutenant Dan Spital, Major Ed O’Carroll, Lieutenant Marisa Kuhar and Captain Mike Wall)
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#FCPD #PublicSafety #Recognition #PoliceOfficer #Police #LawEnforcement #FirstResponders #FairfaxVa #FairfaxCounty

03/02/2021

We have a few clients who will be celebrating their last day of therapy this week. Our center typically provides a dessert or pastry chosen by the client to celebrate their achievement. One client had a very specific request; cheeseburgers! Lindsay, SafeSpot's Art Therapist, put her art and baking skills to the test...
Introducing; cheeseburger sliders - cupcake edition!
Congratulations to our soon-to-be graduates, and a special thank you to Lindsay for always going above and beyond! #MDTAppreciation #MotivationalMonday

03/01/2021

It was a pleasure to share our Center and mission with you Sang. Thank you for your leadership and advocacy on behalf of children and families impacted by abuse in Fairfax City. We look forward to partnering with you to create a safe, stable community for everyone!

“Important” is an entirely insufficient word to describe the work of child advocacy centers that support victims of sexual and physical abuse. Had an eye-opening meeting with SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center of Fairfax‘s Executive and Managing directors, and a founding Board Member today. I’m so grateful for these advocates, and am proud that SafeSpot calls Fairfax City home.

To learn more about and support their tremendous mission at www.safespotfairfax.org.

02/25/2021

It's back-to-school time! Our MDT partner Fairfax County Public Schools created a Return to School Parent Checklist, to assist caregivers with a safe and smooth transition back to the classroom.

Make sure your students are #FCPSReady to join their classrooms.. More at https://www.fcps.edu/returntoschool

02/24/2021

If it doesn't feel safe, look safe or sound safe, report it! One phone call to the CPS Hotline could be the first step in saving a child and their family. Thanks for sharing Fairfax County Department of Family Services!

We all have to watch out for children's safety during COVID-19. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, we can help. The Fairfax County Child Protective Services (CPS) HOTLINE (703-324-7400) is a HELP Line.

Please call if you:
- are concerned about a child's well-being.
- want to report or discuss a possible abuse or neglect situation.
- want advice, counseling, resources or help.
If a child is in immediate danger or is under the age of 7 and unsupervised, please call 911 for an immediate response.

Learn more about what to consider if you suspect child abuse, how to make a report, and resources to help: https://bit.ly/2EQ3Z0i #FairfaxCountyFamilyServices #DFSHereForYou

02/23/2021

Social media applications provide predators with unsupervised access to children. For this reason, it is important parents continuously monitor their child's methods of online communication. #ItStartsWithGrooming

02/22/2021

SafeSpot staff and MDT always go the extra mile to provide exemplary service to all of our clients. Our mission is to always put the needs of children and families first and foremost. #MDTAppreciation #MotivationalMonday

02/19/2021

Virgil is a professionally trained, certified facility dog who is an expert in many things. Hiding may not be one of them... 🙂
#FacilityDogFriday

02/18/2021

Prevent Child Abuse America

"Look for books that are inclusive and reflect the diversity of our communities. Books help illustrate that diversity is a natural part of everyday life."

Thanks for sharing Prevent Child Abuse America!
#BlackHistoryMonth

Need help teaching your child about Black History Month? This PBS KIDS article offers great suggestions to getting started.

For more resources like this, visit our Resources on Racism for Parents, Children, Educators & Others page: https://bit.ly/38MV8ZD

https://to.pbs.org/39qq8h8

02/17/2021

Research has found that nearly half of the offenders who sexually abuse children utilize grooming behaviors. #ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday

02/17/2021

Did you know February is also known as #TeenDatingViolenceAwarenessMonth? A safety plan can be crucial and often necessary when facing an abusive relationship. Check out these tips created by New Jersey Children's Alliance, thanks for sharing!

If you are in an abusive relationship, having a plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave, or after you leave, can make a difference in a crisis. Here are some ideas for what to include in a safety plan.
#TeenDatingViolenceAwarenessMonth

02/12/2021

It's Valentine's Day weekend! Can you feel the puppy love in the air? Virgil can't get enough of his big brother Pecos.

02/11/2021

How to Change Negative Thinking Patterns | Child Mind Institute

Therapists at SafeSpot use a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT has been proven to decrease trauma symptoms such as negative thinking patterns. To learn more about CBT, check out this article from Child Mind Institute!

Unhealthy, negative thinking patterns called cognitive distortions can contribute to depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. How to identify them.

02/10/2021

While some grooming techniques may appear obvious, most are deceptive, and typically occur when the offender and child are isolated. #ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday

02/09/2021

CAC's across the country have noticed a decrease in forensic interviews related to child abuse cases in 2020. However, this doesn't mean child abuse rates are decreasing, rather, there are just fewer reports being made.

We saw a decline of more than 10% in child abuse cases in 2020 compared to 2019. The most significant drops happened during the COVID-19 related shutdowns in our community.

This is where you come in, you can make a difference and help keep a child safe while we stay safer at home.

Read more >>> http://ow.ly/isUd50DuovE

02/08/2021

The CAC model was created after it was found that coordination between several agencies is most effective in meeting the needs of children. We thank our MDT for coming together to provide hope and healing to the families that walk through our doors. #MDTAppreciation #MotivationalMonday

02/05/2021

When it comes to self-care, Virgil is a firm believer in mid-day naps. Since it's his favorite day of the week, he's treating himself to double naps! How do you unwind after a long week? #FacilityDogFriday

02/04/2021

February marks the month-long celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth! On this day in 1913, Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She is best known for her monumental role in the civil rights movement.
Happy 108th Birthday Rosa Parks, your life-long work of activism will not be forgotten!

02/03/2021

Predators target victims by sizing up their vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities may include lack of a support system, low-self esteem, and a tendency to self-isolate.
Groomers will be quick to make themselves readily available to their victims.
#ItStartsWithGrooming #AwarenessWednesday