Our Accomplishments

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The Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth, Inc. (CAFETY) has primarily operated as a vehicle for youth and young adults who have had experience in institutional settings to have their stories told in public forums as well as a vehicle for these youth and young adults to provide support to peers in similar situations. These opportunities for education and support have occurred at academic conferences, family support conferences, forums for the purpose of receiving public comment on proposed regulations, legislative hearings, research projects, presentations at bookstores, media outlets, and here on our website

We present a listing below of the major activities that CAFETY has been involved in since it’s formation, through it’s incorporation, at present time and our future plans.

2006

  • Creation of www.cafety.org – Charles King and Kathryn Whitehead - January 2006
  • Assisted with the development of and data collection for ASTART survey – January 2006 – July 2006
  • Creation of CAFETY Myspace page – March 2006
  • Public Comment on NY State Education Department Hearing on the Use of Aversives – Brian Lombrowski - August 2006
  • Presentation at the American Psychological Association Conference – Kathryn Whitehead - August 2006
  • Tabled at 16th Youth Summit & 16th Annual Family Support Network Conference – Brian Lombrowski - October 2006

2007

2008

  • Presentation at the University of South Florida Research and Training Center Conference – Brian Lombrowski - February 2008
  • Creation of CAFETY Facebook Group & CAUSES page - February 2008
  • Organized a formal letter writing campaign and collected survivor testimony in support of H.R. 5876 (later H.R. 6358) – April 2008
  • Testified before the Congressional House Committee on Education and Labor "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens" in support of H.R. 6358 (later H.R. 911) – Kathryn Whitehead & Jon Martin-Crawford - April 2008
  • Formation of CAFETY – California Chapter - June 2008
  • CAFETY - California tabled at the Menlo Park, California Summer Block Parties – Heather Harding, Beck Miester, Ashely McCahill & April Peters - June - August 2008
  • Provided testimony at the D.C. City Council regarding "Protection of Students With Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008," Bill 17-0654 (Video 1 & 2) – Brian Lombrowski - June 2008
  • Held Senate Staff Briefing on H.R. 6358 – Brian Lombrowski, Kathryn Whitehead, Eric Beasley and Alex Koroknay-Palicz - June 2008
  • Interview - MOTHER JONES – ‘Under the Radar: The Child Abuse Bill Swap’ By: Maia Szalavitz – Kathryn Whitehead - June 2008
  • WE'RE OFFICIAL!  Incorporated with NY State - July 2, 2008
  • Presentation at the Georgetown Training Institute – Brian Lombrowski - July 2008
  • WE'RE OFFICIAL x 2! Officially Adopted By-Laws, Selected Officers, Held First "Official" Board Meeting – August 1, 2008
  • Presentation at 10th Annual NYRA Meeting – Brian Lombrowski, Kathryn Whitehead, Eric Beasley, Estefan Rivera - August 2008
  • Presentation at Bluestockings in NYC – Kathryn Whitehead, Siobhan Lynch, Nick Gaglia ( Director - Over the GW ) & Brian Lombrowski - August 2008
  • Presentation at the American Psychiatric Association Institute on Psychiatric Services – Kathryn Whitehead, Bill Boyles - October 2008

2009

2010

2011

  • Interview - TIME MAGAZINE  "Increasingly, Internet Activism Helps Shutter Abusive 'Troubled Teen' Boot Camps " by: Maia Szalavitz - Kathryn Whitehead- April 5, 2011
  • Presentation at National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) -  Tuscon, AZ - Kathryn Whitehead, Kristin Bennett, Chris Noroski,  January 22, 2011
  • CAFETY welcome's our first intern - Portland, OR - Shain Neumeier, 3rd year law student - June 1 - August 12, 2011 
    • Commentary on MTV's True Life: "I'm Being Sent Away by my Parents"
    • Major contributor to CAFETY's 30 pg report on our online survey findings and advocacy positions
    • Served as primary representative of CAFETY at the "National Gathering" (see below) 
    • CAFETY sign on letter in support of the MA's Department of Developmental Services's (DDS) proposal to amend 115 CMR 5.14 to prohibit the use of Level III aversive behavioral interventions (ie. see Judge Rotenburg Center)
  • OPB (NPR): Think Out Loud Radio Broadcast - "Helping Your Troubled Teen" -  July 2011
  • CAFETY - California tabling at the San Franciso Gay Pride Parade - Heather Harding, Angelique Rochelle, Eric Norwood, April Peters, Beck Miester, Ashley McHill - June 2011
  • Presentation at the "National Gathering"  - a meeting co-sponsored by the American Association of Children's Residential Centers (AACRC) and the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) -  Milwaukee WI - Shain Neumeier and Eric Norwood,  July 21-22, 2011
  • CAFETY hires an Administrative Director -  September 2011
  • NYC Teach-Out - CAFETY CHALLENGES ASPEN EDUCATION GROUP AND THE PRIVATE PROFITEERING OF YOUTH INSTITUTIONALIZATION -  October 2011
  • Happy Halloween, Love CAFETY -  October 2011
  • CAFETY organizes a Justice for Sergey Campaign calling the Oregon DOJ to prosecute staff and SageWalk for homicide -  November 2011

  • Upcoming projects

  • Additional Events - 2012
  • Publication of comprehensive report for the United Nations on the issue of inhumane treatment of youth in residential care - December 2012
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