Important Presentation - Save the date!

This Thursday, February 26, 2009:

The Children's Collaborative Action Team (CCAT), of the San Mateo County Child Abuse Prevention Council is putting on a FREE presentation discussing the need for citizens to take responsibility in reporting offenders, and experiences with reporting abuse in the william hamilton ayres case will be part of the discussion.

Please go to the CCAT website for the details, contact and R.S.V.P. information.
Follow the link below, and then click on the "click for more info" link in the box on the right hand side of the page.

http://www.smcccat.org/index.html

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time: 6-8 PM
Location: Human Services Agency, 400 Harbor Blvd. Bldg B, Belmont CA


CCAT FREE Community Presentation
CITIZEN WHISTLEBLOWERS:
TAKING ACTION WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL

Join CCAT for a FREE evening presentation by Victoria Balfour, Investigative Journalist and citizens advocate whose articles have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine and many other publications and Jane Smithson (see NOTE below), Attorney at Law and Mandated Reporter Trainer, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.


From her own firsthand advocacy experience in the Dr. Ayres case, Balfour will offer her views on:

*Why it's important for parents to take their children's confidences seriously

*The damage done to children when they keep devastating secrets to themselves

*Options for parents who want justice for their children

*Working with law enforcement agencies when you're trying to make your voice heard


NOTE:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jane Smithson will not be moderating. Standing in for her will be Patricia Bresee.

From Patricia's biography:

Patricia Bresee

A recognized expert in Juvenile Law, the Honorable Patricia Bresee (ret.) has devoted most of her professional life to children’s issues. When in private attorney, she represented children in juvenile courts who had been neglected or abused or who had been accused of committing a crime, and children who were caught in the middle of custody battles in family court. Serving as a Superior Court Commissioner in San Mateo County for 15 years, she was assigned to sit as a Juvenile Court Judge, and handled dependency and delinquency matters, as well as adoptions and guardianships. As an original member of the California Judicial Council Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, she served as Chair of the Juvenile Law Rules and Forms Committee. She continues to participate as faculty for the California Center for Judicial Education and Research, and is a regular presenter at Beyond the Bench and other conferences. In 1994 Commissioner Bresee was named Juvenile Court Judge of the Year by the California Judges Association, and in 1998 the National Court Appointed Special Advocates awarded her the title of Judge of the Year. She served a full term on the San Mateo County First Five Commission. She is a Consultant to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Council Center for Families and Children in the Courts, and other public and private agencies and currently serves on the Board of Directors of California CASA. She is an American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley fellow. As former Chair of the Peninsula Community Foundation Board, she participated in the negotiations for, and implementation of the merger with Community Foundation Silicon Valley, and in January 2008 completed a term as Chair of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Board of Directors