Shofar Coalition in the Media
Survey Results to Drive Community Outreach and Recovery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE, September 2, 2008
The Sidran Institute, in conjunction with Principal Investigator Bethany Brand, Ph.D., of Towson University, today announced the launch of its Baltimore-area survey of Jewish adults to determine the extent of childhood abuse, neglect, and other maltreatment in the greater metropolitan Baltimore Jewish community.
While reporting of adverse childhood experiences (including child abuse and neglect) has increased in the general population, leading to increased awareness and resource allocation, such data from the Jewish community has been scant. This survey (Childhood Experiences in the Jewish Community) will address the lack of data for the Baltimore-area community.
The survey, available online (see below), uses questions developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is based on research results that clearly demonstrate that adverse childhood experiences are common in the general population and, most significantly, that they contribute to a multitude of health and social problems for children, adolescents, and adults. Bodies of research demonstrate that a high number of adverse childhood experiences (referred to as ACEs) is also associated with childhood and adolescent behaviors contributing to negative health consequences (e.g., smoking, use of drugs and alcohol, and other risky behaviors). Significantly, the higher one's "ACE score," the higher the likelihood of serious health, mental health, and behavioral conditions.
With that data gathered from the survey, the Sidran Institute's Shofar Coalition will map the needs of the Baltimore-area Jewish community and assist community and religious leaders and service agencies in their efforts to meet the needs of the community. The Shofar Coalition is a collaborative, community-wide, multi-disciplinary response to the needs of Jewish children who have been abused, neglected, or witness to violence and to Jewish adults who have survived adverse childhood experiences. For more information, visit www.shofarcoalition.org.
The survey is available at www.shofarcoalition.org/survey from 9/1/08 until 12/1/08. The Shofar Coalition encourages all Jewish community members 18 years of age or older to respond to the survey, whether they consider themselves "abuse survivors" or not. It is completely anonymous and should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. There is no mechanism by which a respondent's answers can be traced to them.
Contact information for support resources are outlined in the survey for those respondents who wish to speak with a specialist for help with any ongoing issue or immediate crisis.
Help spread the word about the survey! Download a printable flyer 