Fall 2019News

Director's Message

September is upon us and that means cooler weather, school buses and fall foliage. Italso means that SafeSpot is busier than ever! With children attending school, ouragency typically sees an increase in referrals. We are grateful to those caring communitymembers who report child abuse and strive to keep children safe from harm.

In order to meet this annual rise in demand, our program needed additional forensicinterviewers and longer office hours. While the SafeSpot team was busy working on anumber of solutions, one direct path towards obtaining these goals was to secureadditional grant money. And that is exactly what we did! The Virginia Department ofSocial Services grant increase allowed us to hire a second, full-time forensic interviewerand a part-time receptionist. Conducting interviews later in the evening is now a realityand a tremendous help to local law enforcement and social workers.

An increase in awareness was also at the forefront of our summer task list! Sinceforensic interviewing and mental health services are integral pieces in the well being ofchildren who have witnessed domestic violence, our center focused on making this betterknown. As members of the Fairfax County “Step Up 4 Kids” committee, SafeSpot is ableto do just this! Sitting on a committee solely dedicated to young witnesses of suchviolence, allows us to reach the right service provider ears.

Our SafeSpot voice continues to broaden as our center continues to expand and evolve.

Thank you for your support,Michele ThamesExecutive Director

You're Invited! View From the Board

To this amazingly fun & worthwhile event!Friday Evening, November 15th

Passion for Fashion continues to expandand impress! Clever alterations to thisyear's show should once again producesell-out results, so purchase tickets orbecome a sponsor today.

Held at the very elegant Bloomingdale'sTysons Corner Galleria, you and yourguests will spend a glamorous anddelightful evening surrounded by the latestin holiday fashion! All guests, men andwomen alike, will adore this privateshopping experience as they sip cocktailsand savor hors d'oeuvres. Irresistible silentand live bidding action will assuredlycaptivate party goers!

Join us on November 15th!Register Here

Update on Growth and Expansion

BOARD MEMBER KRIS DEBYEPROPOSES EXPANDING VIRGINIACODE TO PROTECT MORE CHILDREN

SafeSpot Board member Kristina Debye isa former Director of the Baltimore CountyChildren’s Advocacy Center. Herknowledge of Maryland laws that protectchildren from abuse prompted her to lookinto similar laws in Virginia. When Krislearned that individuals living in a homebut not designed as a “caregiver” are notcovered by Virginia law, she met withmembers of the Commonwealth Attorney’soffice to draft a legislative proposal thatmight close this loophole. The statechapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers(CACVA) is considering making theproposed legislation part of its advocacyefforts during the 2020 General Assemblysession. Thank you, Kris, for doing all youcan to strengthen the protection ofchildren in Virginia!

BOARD ADDS BENEFITS FORSAFESPOT STAFFUnder the guidance of Board TreasurerPhil Odeen, SafeSpot has been able toprovide heath care and retirement benefitsfor all employees who choose toparticipate. Phil’s efforts have enhancedour ability to attract and retain outstandingemployees.

The Junior Board: Speakers andActive Planning

Summer of 2019 has been a busy one forthe SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center.More specifically, growing and expandingwere two main goals, on which we workedvery hard. There is great progress toreport!

The Center hired five new staff members!Leannah Farbotko, TherapistCarla Tenorio-Rueda, ReceptionistLindsay Bullock, TherapistTyler Lunsford, Family AdvocateAnissa Tanksley, Forensic Interviewer

Center space now includes a new therapysuite.

A child friendly mural was added to themultidisciplinary team observation room.

Center hours have been greatly expandedto include after-hour forensic interviews,which better caters to the needs of childabuse victims.

SafeSpot on the Tele!Making News by Making a Difference!

Two SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Centerstaff members joined the Junior Board fortheir latest meeting on August 21st. Thegoal was to share center updates andadvise on ways in which the Junior Boardcan continue to help SafeSpot accomplishits goals. Board members are grateful fortheir time, guidance and continuedsuccess together!

Please keep your eyes peeled for emailregarding our upcoming Fall event!

International Country Club GolfersRaise $18,000!

Thank You!

A huge thank you to the InternationalCountry Club WGA Lady golfers fordedicating proceeds from their 10thannual charity golf tournament toSafeSpot! This year a whopping $18,000was raised for our expanding mentalhealth program and its new office space.

It was a beautiful day for 13 holes of golf!The event also featured a raffle andluncheon, during which attendees heard afew words from SafeSpot's ExecutiveDirector, Michele Thames, and fromFairfax County Police Department'sDetective Courtney Young.

Thank you for your support, WGA LadyGolfers! We couldn’t manage our

Angela Haslett, SafeSpot ForensicInterviewer, was a recent guest ofDelegate Ken Plum on his local cableprogram. Delegate Plum featured Ms.Haslett and other state and local leaderslike her, who are making a differencewithin our community.

Watch Here

You've Got Our Number! UnitedWay's Federal & State of Virginia's

Campaigns Begin Soon!

Join the world’s largest and mostsuccessful annual workplace charitycampaign - United Way's CombinedFederal Campaign (CFC)! This campaignruns from September 9, 2019 – January12, 2020. If you would like to donate toSafespot through your employer - federalgovernment, state government or aparticipating company - it's easy todesignate your donation to SafeSpot withthe numbers noted below. This can be arecurring or a one time donation.

SafeSpot’s Federal GovernmentEmployer designation numberis 93973.

Our designation number for the stateof Virginia is 04-008813.

For participating companies,SafeSpot’s United Way designationnumber is 9170.

Volunteer Time:Another aspect of our United Waypartnership includes opportunities torepresent SafeSpot within the workplaceand at community events. We needvolunteers who are willing to become theseSafeSpot representatives by staffing atable or delivering a brief presentation. Functions are generally one-day events

important work without such generouscommunity advocates!

Mark Your Calendar for This Year's#GivingTuesday -

December 3rdJoin this 24 hour international movement in

giving back!

#GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesdaydirectly following Thanksgiving. It is a 24hour international movement with theintent to drive charitable giving at thebeginning of the holiday season. Pleasesupport SafeSpot during this short timeframe, by joining this world-wide wave ofgenerosity!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled forupdates and reminders!

A Simple Way to Provide a Smile

Amazon Smile is an easy and automaticway for you to support SafeSpot as youshop on Amazon.

After you designate SafeSpot as yourcharity choice, via smile.amazon.com,every eligible purchase you make willresult in a donation to SafeSpot!!

Can I use my existing Amazon.comaccount on AmazonSmile?Yes, you use the same account onAmazon.com and AmazonSmile. Yourshopping cart, Wish List, wedding or babyregistry, and other account settings arealso the same.

without any long term commitments. Themore volunteers we have, the better weshare our programs and story. Training willbe provided.

Please contactinfo@safespotfairfax.com

Open House Scheduled forFriday, November 22nd

Visiting the SafeSpot Children's AdvocacyCenter is seeing to believing! Completelyunderstand how our soothingsurroundings and state of the artprograms, both of which are designed andproven to provide comfort, concern andcare to our youngest victimized neighbors,works as well as it does!

Please rsvp here.

How do I select a charitableorganization to support whenshopping on AmazonSmile?On your first visit to AmazonSmilesmile.amazon.com, you need to select acharitable organization to receivedonations from eligible purchases beforeyou begin shopping. Amazon willremember your selection, and then everyeligible purchase you make atsmile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Can I change my charity?Yes, you can change your charity anytime. To change your charity, sign in tosmile.amazon.com on your desktop ormobile phone browser and simply select“Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”

Smile.Amazon.com

A Paws-atively Good Time!

SafeSpot’s facility dog, Pecos, would liketo invite you to a day devoted tocelebrating trained service dogs! Gatheryour friends, family, and dogs for the funand festivities!

Head to Reston Town Center onSeptember 22nd from 11:00 am to 3:00pm for the 6th Annual DogFest! Everyoneis invited to join in for a day of vendors,inspiring speakers, dog demonstrations,music, food, and more! Registration isfree.

Join our team, Pecos & Pals

Visit our website

OUR MISSION: The mission of SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax County is to provide a child-

friendly, culturally sensitive environment that promotes the safety and well-being of child victims ofabuse while facilitating a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team approach to the intervention,

investigation, prosecution and treatment of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse.

STAY CONNECTED