Children’s Cove partners with Monomoy Regional High School for Teen TASK Force

Filed Under: Other News

Cape Teens Volunteer to Raise Awareness of Child Sexual Abuse 

Children’s Cove, The Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center, has partnered with Monomoy Regional High School to recruit sophomore students to be a part of the second Children’s Cove Teen TASK (Taking a Stand for Kids) Force. The mission of the Teen TASK Force is to engage in dialogue with teens about child sexual abuse issues, educate them about the services Children’s Cove provides, and to empower them to raise awareness to their peers on child abuse issues. Teen TASK Force members will meet throughout the school year, learn about issues facing the Cape & Islands community, and complete a group project to raise awareness in their school and community.

The Teen TASK Force program debuted in the 2016-2017 school year with a partnership with Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District and 14 sophomores. After the tremendous success of the program, Children’s Cove began talking with other school districts about expanding the program. Stacy Gallagher, Director of Children’s Cove stated, “The work that was done with the TASK Force members from D-Y last year was beyond anything we could have hoped for. We are excited to bring this program to Monomoy Regional High School and are looking forward to working with another group of committed students.”

Throughout the month of October, Children’s Cove staff and the Monomoy High School Guidance Department will be presenting information about the TASK Force to sophomores to build interest and recruit volunteers. From December through the end of the school year, the teens will meet monthly with Children’s Cove staff and representatives of law enforcement, social services and other related fields. They will gain a detailed awareness of child abuse, learn about the services Children’s Cove provides and hear how various agencies in the community are responding to the problem. TASK Force members will also create a public awareness project to be released in April – designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“We believe this will benefit everyone involved in the Teen Task Force, as well as their peers in the Monomoy Community,” stated Melissa McGuire, Director of Student Services of Monomoy Schools. “They will learn about larger issues affecting our community and ways they can get help for their peers. It is an absolute benefit to our school.”

This year, Children’s Cove, a department of Barnstable County, is celebrating 20 years of providing coordinated and comprehensive multidisciplinary services to child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, witness to domestic violence and child sexual exploitation and trafficking. To learn more visit www.ChildrensCove.org