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Sending Children Back to School Safely

August 16, 2025

Back to school shopping is underway, school and bus schedules are coming together, figuring out sports and after-school activities is an extra jigsaw puzzle thrown into the mix. The rush to squeeze out every last ounce of summer is here. However, somewhere in the middle of it all we hope you can take the time to look at what conversations about safety in the new school year could look like. We want to provide you with some suggestions for how you can engage your child, and their school, in these important conversations.

School Safety Guidelines

Do you know the child abuse prevention policies in your child’s school? How does the school focus on prevention? Do they incorporate safety into their hiring process? Are staff provided with training on prevention and recognizing signs of abuse and how to report it? Do they regularly evaluate if their building has a safe environment which minimizes opportunities where students are not able to be seen? If you don’t know the answer to one, or any of these questions, please inquire with your child’s school administration. Talk with your child about talking with you if they have any situation happens at school where they don’t feel safe.

Technology

Schools and technology now operate hand in hand, even at the elementary school level. While schools have installed online safeguards for children, there are many ways to navigate around such precautions.  Children may find themselves in a situation they did not intend or fully understand. Talk with your child’s school about what safeguards are in place, and how online safety is discussed in school. Talk to your children about online safety, and the risks which exist, even on games and social apps.

Three Trusted Adults

Talk with your children about identifying three trusted adults who are in their lives, other than parents and caregivers. Explain that these three adults would be someone who they would go to if something happened if they felt unsafe, embarrassed, or unsure of what to do. This gives children the reassurance that they can ask for help outside of their immediate family. It also tells you, as a parent, who the important adults in their lives are..Get to know their names and take advantage of parent-teacher nights and socials to meet these individuals, and show you are an engaged and informed parent.

Consent

Talking with children about consent is something which should begin early and repeated often. Not only about sex, but about being hugged, touched, sharing toys or food, or sharing information. Remind your children that they are in charge of their bodies and choices, and no one should pressure them to do something they don’t want to do. This extends to relationships with peers, teachers, and other adults in their school. If we can communicate this with children earlier, later it will be an easier conversation about dating, online safety and sex.

Have Conversations Without Judgment

It is important for children and teens to know that if they make a mistake, they can have a calm non-judgmental conversation with their parents and ask for help. Children need to know their parents will always believe in them, advocate for them, and put their health and safety first. Ongoing and regular conversations about safety with kids and teens will help them feel supported, can provide reassurance, and increase their likelihood of asking for help.

These are just some of the ways you can talk with children and teens about safety as they return to school. If you would like to learn more, please email our Community Programs Coordinator Heidi Friedel at heidi.friedel@childrenscove.org. If you would like to learn more about online safety, please email our Child Exploitation Program Coordinator Anna Colby at anna.colby@childrenscove.org.

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Community Partner Spotlight: A Safe Place Inc, Nantucket

June 16, 2025

For nearly 30 years, Children’s Cove has provided hope and healing for children across Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. This is accomplished through collaborative partnerships with local and regional investigative agencies, which allow for a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to cases involving children who have been victims of or witnesses to crime. Ensuring a trauma-informed and child-friendly investigative process is critical in the work we do in the region.

Just as critical is the care children and non-offending families receive following the initial investigation. Once a child makes a disclosure, there may be significant life disruptions for them and their family. Having quick and close resources at hand is critical, which can only be accomplished through community partnerships across the region. When we work with children and families on Nantucket, our most relied upon partner is A Safe Place, Inc.

Since 1987, A Safe Place has played a crucial role in the Nantucket community, offering free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Dedicated to ending violence and empowering individuals, the organization provides direct support, preventive education, supervised family visitation, crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy. Children’s Cove and A Safe Place have collaborated for over two decades, coordinating care for child victims and their non-offending family members on the island.

A Safe Place, Inc. stands as a vital pillar of support and advocacy, fully committed to eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault on Nantucket. As a free and confidential resource, it offers a lifeline to individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, immigration status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, ensuring critical support is accessible to everyone in need.

At its core, A Safe Place provides a comprehensive suite of services designed for immediate relief, ongoing healing, and empowerment. A central component is their 24-hour hotline (508-228-2111), offering immediate crisis intervention and emotional support to those impacted by violence. Beyond crisis response, they facilitate various support groups, creating safe spaces for survivors to connect and find solidarity. Individual trauma therapy is also a cornerstone, providing professional guidance through the healing process. Additionally, A Safe Place assists with the legal process, helping individuals navigate the justice system for protection and accountability. Integrated interpretive services highlight their commitment to accessibility, ensuring language is never a barrier to receiving help.

A Safe Place is also deeply invested in proactive community outreach and education. They regularly host events and conduct training programs to raise awareness, challenge harmful norms, and foster a culture of prevention. By engaging with schools, businesses, and community groups, they educate the public on the signs of domestic violence and sexual assault, promote healthy relationships, and equip individuals to intervene safely and effectively. This preventive approach is crucial for breaking cycles of violence and building a safer, more informed community for future generations.

The importance of A Safe Place to the Nantucket community cannot be overstated, especially given the unique challenges of island life. Nantucket’s geographical isolation can make it difficult to access specialized services from the mainland, making A Safe Place a critical, often sole, dedicated resource for these issues. The island’s tight-knit nature, while fostering strong bonds, can also make it harder for victims to come forward due to fear of judgment or lack of anonymity. A Safe Place’s unwavering commitment to confidentiality and non-judgmental support is paramount, providing a haven where survivors feel safe enough to seek help.

We are continually honored to call the team at A Safe Place our community partners in our vision to have a community free from abuse. We look forward to expanding the ways in which we serve the Nantucket community together.

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Welcome to the Team: Sheena Miller

June 17, 2025

Our team is excited to introduce Sheena Miller, the Mental Health Coordinator for Children’s Cove! Sheena joined our team at the end of May, who upon her start brought our team to 10 members, and fully staffed our Center. Sheena’s addition to our team allows us to more readily address the growing need for specialized clinical services in the region. Over the last year Children’s Cove has strategically shifted to being able to provide on-site clinical services. In addition to coordinating referrals with partner agencies, Sheena’s addition will allow us to meet the increased demand driven by rising referrals.

Following investigations of crimes against children, Children’s Cove team members most often coordinate referrals for community-based support services local to the child and their non-offending family. However, the need for specialized clinical care has outpaced the availability of behavioral health services throughout the region. Children and families often face waiting lists for months—or longer—to access the clinical services they need after trauma. There are more referrals for Problematic Sexual Behavior in children which need specific treatment modalities and family work.  Ensuring access to evidence-based trauma informed practices is essential for effective care, and as child advocacy center, we must ensure the most vulnerable members of our community receive support sooner.

Sheena Miller joins Children’s Cove to address a range of behavioral health needs. For children with specialized or immediate clinical needs who access Children’s Cove services, Sheena will provide trauma-informed clinical care to support both the child and their family. For families without an immediate need—or for whom traveling to Children’s Cove presents a challenge—Sheena will assist in finding and coordinating appropriate clinical care closer to home.

Sheena holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Georgia and has extensive experience in mental health and clinical social work roles in Florida. Her background includes working with children and families in outpatient, community-based, school-based, and intensive clinical settings. Having recently relocated to the region, Sheena sought to contribute to the community where the need is greatest.

We look forward to our community and behavioral health partners getting to know Sheena, and for the excellent work she will do with the children we serve. Welcome to the team!

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You’re Not Alone on the Cape & Islands

April 1, 2025

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This month is a rallying cry across the state and nation to urge our community to come together to make a difference. To increase  access to services for anyone who may need them, it is critical to raise the visibility of the services available to our community.

At Children’s Cove, we are among the hundreds of professionals serving the most vulnerable in our community. We partner often with Independence House, a Safe Place Nantucket and CONNECT to End Violence as the sexual and domestic violence agencies who support and serve Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. We know that sexual abuse, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation impacts people of all ages, genders, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

If you are, or know of a victim of abuse and don’t know where to turn, there is community support available. You are not alone. No matter what has happened, no matter what someone has said, no matter your fears: you are not alone. You have not done anything wrong, and you are not in trouble. Ask for help. There is an entire community that will believe you.

Our Partner Agencies:

Independence House, Inc., Hyannis  800.439.6507

A Safe Place, Inc., Nantucket  508.228.2111

CONNECT to End Violence, Martha’s Vineyard Commuity Servces  508.696.7233

DCF Child-At-Risk HOTLINE, Hyannis  800.792.5200

If you are not sure who to call, or where to seek support, click here.

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Welcome to the Team: Heidi Friedel

February 13, 2025

Children’s Cove continues to meet an increase in the need for services and support to the community in responding to crimes against children. In addition to increased referrals from partner agencies, Children’s Cove has also experienced an increase in demand for education and training across the Cape and Islands to recognize, respond to, and prevent child sexual abuse. To meet this rising demand, the organization has expanded staffing to its Education and Training program.

During the past fiscal year, the Children’s Cove team was joined by Anna Colby as Community Engagement Specialist, and through this added position, our education and training program doubled the number of community delivered programs from the previous year. The role of Community Engagement Specialist was made possible through funding courtesy the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance and has proven to be an invaluable tool in furthering Children’s Cove’s commitment to provide accurate and effective information on all aspects of child sexual abuse.

Anna has since transitioned to the role of Child Exploitation Program Coordinator within the organization and has completed training as a forensic interviewer, however her efforts in furthering the reach of our education and training team are a benchmark achievement. To maintain and continue to grow our outreach initiatives, Heidi Friedel has joined Children’s Cove as the Community Programs Coordinator.

Heidi grew up on Cape Cod in Harwich and received her Bachelor of Science from Liberty University. Heidi worked locally as a therapeutic mentor before continuing her work supporting children, teens and families in Texas. Heidi looks forward to supporting the mission of Children’s Cove by engaging with the community to build positive working relationships and raise awareness about child sexual abuse. She will coordinate child abuse prevention initiatives, informational and awareness events, as well as the Children’s Cove volunteer program.

We are excited to have Heidi join our team and look forward to the impact she will make to create a community where children are free of abuse, have a voice that is heard, and where they enjoy healthy, safe, and empowered lives.

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Welcome to the Team: Vicki Bice, PNP

December 18, 2024

The team at Children’s Cove is pleased to welcome our new Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Vicki Bice. In October Vicki was hired by The Massachusetts Department of Public Health to train and serve as the region’s PediSANE. Vicki will undergo several months of on-site facilitated training and observation as part of the onboarding process at Children’s Cove.

As the Child Advocacy Center for the Cape and Islands, Children’s Cove coordinates the multidisciplinary response to child victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, witness to domestic violence, and commercial sexual exploitation. This includes an investigative component, as well as coordination of community-based services, mental health referrals, and medical care. The specially trained Pediatric SANE nurse provides expert medical care, including the ability to provide or coordinate a medical forensic examination.

After a child has made the brave choice to disclose their abuse, there is often the question, “Is my body ok?”. The PediSANE plays a crucial role in providing reassurance for a child, while attending to discoveries that could aid an investigation. The position is further designed to:

• Provide an onsite visual medical exam in a child-friendly setting
• Ensure the health and safety of child through a non-invasive exam “using a do no harm approach”
• Identify, educate and provide referrals for instances of Sexually Transmitted Infections and/or pregnancy
• To photo-document and collect evidence if indicated.
• Support the child in their wellness.

During the exam, the PediSANE does not:

• Use any invasive tools
• Cause any pain
• Interview the child
• Speculate if anything did or did not happen

All medical exams are completed privately on site and with parental permission. Our PediSANE can act as a liaison and consultant to the child’s pediatrician as well.

Vicki Bice holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado and is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has previously served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Bramblebush Pediatrics in Falmouth, MA., as well as for Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Penn. Vicki’s experience also includes serving as a contracted medical staff member for the United States Air Force in various locations.

Children’s Cove is both happy and fortunate to have Vicki join our team and look forward to her working with other medical providers across our community toward the health and wellness of children receiving support.

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