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Message from the Executive Director

Spring 2010

On March 4, Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) was honored to host a special lecture with Dr. Bruce Perry, a national leader in the treatment of child maltreatment. His work gives hope to all of us who work with and for the children being hurt in our community, but his message is important for ALL parents and caregivers.

Dr. Perry’s gift to us is his combination of science with love. His study of the child’s developing brain provides us with the visible proof that how we parent matters—not just for our child, but for the whole community. He writes…

relationships in all forms create the glue of a family, community, and society. This capacity to form and maintain relationships is the most important trait of humankind, for without it none of us would survive, learn, work, or procreate.

When we provide our children with love and respect, their capacity to provide love and respect will grow as they grow. When we connect with them, they develop the ability to connect with others. It is our connection with others that creates a safe, stable community. A child’s contributions to that community begins with having a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with the person who matters most—you. What that means is if we want to nurture a child’s mental and emotional development, we must first nurture them.

During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, SCAN raises awareness for the children in our community who are not being nurtured with love and respect. Their brains, their minds are not developing in a way that will enable them to connect with others – with us – in positive ways. SCAN’s role also includes supporting all parents who want to have safe, stable, nurturing relationships with their children. As Dr. Perry demonstrates, parenting matters. But everyone – at some point - needs help adapting to their children’s changing needs.

Through our FAM (Families Are Magic) program, SCAN works with the community to make sure parents feel supported, accepted, and well-educated when it comes to child-rearing and child development. If we can promote healthy families throughout the community, every child will benefit. This special section will provide some helpful tips on how to get connected, be connected, and stay connected with your children so you can provide the foundation of positive relationships.

April is a time to remember the most vulnerable members of our community, but it is also a time to celebrate how our community nurtures and protects children. Our Pinwheel Partners—Style Weekly, Bon Secours Richmond Health System and Owens and Minor–have made so many opportunities for families possible in this area. We are especially grateful to the staff members of Style Weekly for their ongoing support of our mission. All three of our Pinwheel Partners are helping to build positive connections in our community, and we hope you will join our efforts, too.