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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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Community Partner Spotlight: Cape Cod Children’s Place

October 21, 2024

Children’s Cove works closely with a vast network of community partners across the region. Fundamental relationships are maintained with those who are a part of a multidisciplinary team, (law enforcement, district attorney’s offices, The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and The Massachusetts Department of Public Health)Additionally, Children’s Cove is engaged in relationships with service organizations accepting referrals as a part of the support process for children and their non-offending family members.

Relationships that Children’s Cove maintain with youth-serving organizations across the region are critical when we consider the essential elements of the prevention of child abuse. This necessary dynamic is best described as per language used in the national accreditation standards set forth by the National Children’s Alliance, “The numbers of individuals who need and would benefit from prevention education, training and related services may exceed the capacity of any one agency.” Children’s Cove has partnered with numerous regional agencies to provide prevention education across the communities of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. One of the most critical partners is Cape Cod Children’s Place.

Cape Cod Children’s Place, with a primary location in Eastham, and a secondary location in Yarmouth, is an early education and care program serving Mid to Outer Cape Cod. In addition to providing year-round, full-day early education and care for children of preschool age, they also provide free parent education programs and free playgroups promoting early literacy and community connections for isolated families. As community needs have evolved, CCCP has continued to develop new services to meet those needs, including programs to support families affected by substance use disorder and support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren.

In 2020, Children’s Cove was a key partner in CCCP obtaining the Children’s Trust SAFE (Strengthening All Families Everywhere) Child Communities grant from the Children’s Trust. The grant focuses on abuse prevention education and strengthening a family’s resiliency in experiences of trauma. Since that time, Children’s Cove and CCCP have provided numerous ongoing in-person and online abuse prevention education programs for parents and caregivers across the region in English, Spanish and Portuguese. One such program for parents titled “In the Interest of Every Child” provides information about specific prevention tips, conversations for children of all ages, and how to access confidential support if a child makes a disclosure. Children’s Cove and CCCP utilize the programming provided through the Children’s Trust “Keeping Kids Safe” curriculum and the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance “Recognizing and Responding to Abuse” curriculum to share  evidenced based information to parents and caregivers.

Using evidence-based frameworks while applying proven research observations in regard to the brain development of children, our collaborative work toward prevention is focused on developing understanding, and increasing family access to what are known as the “Five Protective Factors.” These protective factors include:

• Parental Resilience: Having the skills and ability to cope and bounce back from challenges.
• Social Connections: Having friends, family, and community to provide emotional support and assistance.
• Concrete support in times of need: The knowledge and ability to access life-essentials such as food, clothing and housing when there is need.
• Knowledge of parenting and child development: Accurate information and skill development in raising children with appropriate expectations and interventions.
• Childrens social and emotional development: Understanding a child’s ability to interact positively with others and teaching them to communicate their emotions.

The programming and staff at CCCP provide education and skill development around these protective factors and incorporate them in all the work they do. More than that, however, there is a critical component surrounding the enduring application of this work; which is helping move community-based agencies in a shared direction of promoting prevention.

While Children’s Cove and CCCP are proud to emphasize the potential of our collaborative work, CCCP deserves special recognition for providing so much more to the Cape Cod communities it serves. The whole of CCCP’s work is no less than a comprehensive safety net  featuring direct early education and care services, family resources, co-location with the Outer Cape WIC office, hosting the Immigration Resource Center staff, healthy parenting courses and so much more.

Cape Cod Children’s Place has been an essential part of the Outer Cape community for decades, and a close community partner for just as long. We are excited  to continue our collaborative work to create a community free from abuse for children in the for many years to come.

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Community Partner Spotlight: WE CAN

August 15, 2024

To accomplish our vision of creating communities where children are free of abuse, have a voice that is heard, and where they enjoy healthy, safe, and empowered lives, it takes involvement and partnership with the community itself. Children’s Cove is fortunate to work with so many incredible organizations who support children and families on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. This month we would like to focus on just one, WE CAN.

Following a forensic interview and investigative process, there are times when a parental figure may no longer be in the home. Often, this leaves a female-identified caregiver in the lead, responsible for everything which may be needed for the child(ren.) These challenges can include legal and financial issues, as well as needed support for employment. This is where we make referrals to the incredible team at, WE CAN.

WE CAN (Women’s Empowerment through Cape Area Networking) was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to empower Cape Cod women by providing unique services that inspire hope and bring increased stability, self-sufficiency, and opportunity to their lives. WE CAN serves over 2,000 women each year across Cape Cod with free and confidential legal services, employment and business support, financial empowerment, mentoring, and personal development programs.

With their dedicated team, WE CAN coordinates more than 300 volunteers including attorneys, and employment and financial specialists to run groups, provide individual consultation, mentoring and professional development to support women in their growth.

Throughout the 23 years of their organizational history, WE CAN has been able to establish two permeant locations to provide dedicated support, one in Harwich (home base) and a space in Hyannis which is primarily used for programs and workshops and can accommodate appointments as well as walk-ins for urgent matters.

The hope is, that any woman on Cape Cod who seeks to improve the condition of her life knows that WE CAN is the leading source to guide her journey toward realizing her personal goals.

To do this incredible work as a nonprofit organization, more than 600 individual donors, businesses, and private foundations generously support WE CAN through annual gifts, monthly sustaining support, grants and event sponsorship. WE CAN is also one of this year’s beneficiaries of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Second Summer Cycle – the safest and most enjoyable ride on Cape Cod, spanning 11 towns and benefiting 19 nonprofits. Participants can choose between three distances in the event, all of which end in a celebration at Motta Field in Provincetown. If you are interested in volunteering to support this benefit please check out the information at the Second Summer Cycle Website or by reaching out to Sunny Fellman, Outreach & Volunteer Manager, at sunny@wecancenter.org.

WE CAN’s new Hyannis Office (located at 127 Airport Road) is now open four days a week, from Tuesday through Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm. You can take a look at their upcoming fall workshop schedule at the link here.

It is through incredible partnerships with organization such as WE CAN that allows us to support children and families so that they may enjoy healthy, safe and empowered lives.

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Community Partner Spotlight: Katelynn’s Closet 

June 17, 2024

At Children’s Cove we serve children from 0-17 years old, and families of all backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomics. Regardless of circumstances before being seen at Children’s Cove, a child and non-offending family’s needs can change dramatically afterwards. Our Family Services program is here to provide information or referrals to community resources and assistance. This could be as simple as a phone call to tell a family where to go or to provide hands-on assistance in completing an application for assistance. Sometimes the most seemingly simple need is the most important and impactful. One of our most called upon and supportive community partners is Katelynn’s Closet.

Katelynn’s Closet serves children on the Cape & Islands who are from 4–18 years old and in need of comfortable, current, in-season and clean clothing. At the call of social workers, school nurses, doctors, police and fire departments an order can be placed based upon the child and their specific needs. To protect the privacy and anonymity of children and families, Katelynn’s Closet uses an individualized distribution system, where partner agencies assess the needs of the child. Afterwards, they place an order with Katelynn’s Closet where they provide the child’s age, size, initials, and any special request items like a winter jacket, swimsuit or footwear. The referring agency then picks up the clothing order at our warehouse and delivers directly to the child in need.

At times, Katelynn’s Closet will provide a gift card for a teenage child, or for a child who wears a size they do not carry. The social worker, or a responsible adult then shops with the child in need. All gift card purchases are tracked to ensure funds are used for the child’s needs. However, given different circumstances, sometimes this type of shopping and personalized time isn’t available for the child, so Katelynn’s Closet will provide gift cards and social workers shop online with their clients, instead of having to go shopping physically.  Orders over $50 have free shipping and our gift card amount is $100 so they are able to order the clothing they choose online and have them shipped directly to the client’s home.

Last year Katelynn’s Closet provided more than 900 bags of clothing and gift cards to children in need across the region. Many of those bags were provided to children who were supported by Children’s Cove.  We want to ensure we put the spotlight on Katelynn’s closet for the phenomenal work they do and how many children they have supported over the years.

Thank you to the entire team, individuals who volunteer, and those who donate to make Katelynn’s Closet the incredible community partner they are. We are inspired by their dedication, hard work, and how quickly they can pull something together for the families we serve in need.

To learn more or how to support Katelynn’s Closet visit their website here.

Note: All orders for children in need must be placed by an identified partner agency, Katelynn’s Closet does not respond to requests for clothing from family members or the public.

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Children’s Cove’s Expanded Services: An update from our team

February 28, 2024

Over the last few years, Children’s Cove has experienced an increase in need for all aspects of services and support to the community. To meet the need from increased referrals from partner agencies, our team hired our current Child Exploitation Program Coordinator, Alex Foley, and Clinical Program Manager Kathy Fayerberg in 2021. In 2022, we welcomed our Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator Lauren Ackles. With these incredible additions to our team, we then focused on additional ways to expand our programs and services. As we announced in Fall of 2022 at our 25^th Anniversary Celebration, we knew there were two other primary needs we had to address. One need is the ongoing demand for more education, outreach, and training across the Cape & Islands in child abuse awareness and prevention. Another, more availability and access to behavioral health providers to support child-victims through trauma-informed clinical care.

To meet this rising demand and fulfill part of the strategic plan, the organization has expanded staffing through the hiring of Anna Colby as our new Community Engagement Specialist in October, and Deena Anderson as our new Mental Health Clinician in January

Anna Colby, Community Engagement Specialist

With the increased demand for outreach and education in our community, we have found ourselves in need of additional staffing for community engagement and education for some time. Thanks to grant funding through the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, we were able to create this much needed position to increase our reach in the community.

Anna Colby joins Children’s Cove as the Community Engagement Specialist after working in education for several years. Anna received her Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater State University and will support the mission of Children’s Cove by engaging with the community to build positive working relationships and raise awareness about child sexual abuse. Anna will participate in informational and outreach events, develop and coordinate volunteers, and support child abuse prevention initiatives.

Anna joining our team represents the first addition to our education and training program in more than 10 years. This is a great step to increase prevention and early intervention for victims of abuse.

Deena Anderson, Mental Health Clinician

As a part of our mission and services following the investigative elements of our work, team members make coordinated referrals for support services in the community. However, the need for specialized clinical services has outpaced the behavioral health service available in our region.

We are seeing more cases with complex clinical needs, and, more than that, an immediate need for services. Children and families are often on waiting lists for months (or longer) to get the clinical services they need following trauma. We have an obligation to create an opportunity for children to be supported sooner.

Deena Anderson joins Children’s Cove as its first in-house Mental Health Clinician in almost 10 years. As children with specialized clinical needs, or a more immediate need for clinical services, access Children’s Cove services, Deena will provide trauma-informed clinical services to support the child and family. Deena received her master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Central Florida and has worked in various mental health and therapeutic roles across Cape Cod.  Deena has specialized in individual and family therapy utilizing a person-centered and strength-based approach. Deena utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities in her personal practice including Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Deena previously provided individual and family therapy at Child & Family Services and with Gosnold Behavioral Health as a Substance Use Counselor and School-Based Clinician. A significant focus in her work has been anxiety management and helping her clients live more fulfilling lives with less stress and worry by helping them develop healthy coping strategies.

As the needs for our community continue to rise, we are proud to be able to rise to meet the demand. Deena is a wonderful addition to our team, and we know she will make a positive impact in the hope and healing of children who have come to the Cove.

As we look to the future, plan with key multidisciplinary and community partners, and expand our services we strive to not only increase our response to children and families in the most challenge of circumstances but continue 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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Cape Cod Family Resource Center is a Dedicated Partner in Serving Our Community

December 23.2023

After a child and their non-offending family comes to Children’s Cove, the first big question is “what’s next?” As each case goes through the investigation, prosecution and healing process, our team is there to help the family understand the process, learn about their rights, and access resources that will help their family. However, because needs for each family can vary, require different languages of access, or become complex, we often depend on dedicated community partnerships to steer families in the right direction for their needs, resources or assistance. One of those strong partnerships is with the Cape Cod Family Resource Center.

First, a little background. In 2012 there was a change in legislation in Massachusetts that changed the ways families with challenges or children with behavioral or education issues were supported. Rather than continuing with a system which could be punitive through the filing of court petitions, a new system to directly support Families and Children Engage(d) in Services (FACES) was passed in the Massachusetts Legislature. Under this law, Family Resource Centers began to develop across the Commonwealth to provide services and service coordination directly to families in the community they serve.

Family Resource Centers are there to support individuals and families of all ages, incomes, and languages, and to develop meaningful community connections. Family Resource Centers provide support to parents, children, and families with practical solutions and resources for the challenges in their lives, whether for medical, educational, employment, behavioral health, or anything else. This is why we work so closely with the Cape Cod Family Resource Center (FRC).

Led by Molly Titus, Program Director, the Cape Cod FRC is comprised of a team including a School Liaison, two Family Support workers, a Family Partner and an attorney who works in collaboration with the FRC from the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids. Over the last year the FRC has made an incredible impact in our community. Since January 1st the Cape Cod FRC has directly supported 939 families with a combined 5,329 rendered services.

Some of these services include:

• Direct tangible resources or referrals to community
• School support – IEP/504 assistance, CRA/Pre-CRA support
• Legal representation for health-related matters
• Basic needs support – food pantry, personal hygiene products, diapers, clothing
• Parenting Education, including the Nurturing Fathers series, Active Parenting series, and Parenting Journey series
• Support Groups – Moms, Dads, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
• Teen programs
• Family Activities – events, craft hours, DIY Kits throughout the year
• Assistance with holidays – Thanksgiving Baskets, Christmas gifts
• Life Skills workshops
• Child Safety presentations

The Cape Cod FRC has been a go-to resource for the children and families we have served for many years, and we continue to expand our partnership. This past fall our Child Exploitation Program Coordinator, Alex Foley, worked with the Cape Cod FRC, as well as numerous community partners, to run a 7-week course titled “Now, That’s What I Call Adulting!” Each participant learned about community resources, financial literacy, resume building, interview preparation, work skills development and more. Due to generous funding from our friends at WE CAN, each participant received a $100 gift card to help purchase new interview outfits for future job interviews!

We will continue to work closely with the Cape Cod FRC for many years to come, and we are looking forward to expanding our trainings, presentations, and groups with them, some coming as early as this spring!

Thank you to the entire team, it’s a pleasure to work with each of you!

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