Preston Youth Correctional Facility raised money for the Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Council. From left, ward Emmanuel Small, student council representative; Pat Thomas, Treatment Team supervisor; Robin Valencia, ACCAPC program coordinator; and Larry Fossen, chairman for ACCAPC. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

Preston Youth Correctional Facility recently held a Blue Jeans Day Fund-raiser to benefit the Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Council on Friday, Oct. 5.

Elaine Struffenegger, the victim's coordinator at Preston, came up with the idea for the Blue Jeans Day, organized the entire event, and collected the money from staff. Struffenegger chose the ACCAPC to be the beneficiary of the fund-raiser because staff wanted the money to stay in the community, and because the council has recently presented three shaken baby syndrome prevention workshops to wards at the facility.

Staff, except for maintenance workers, is not normally allowed to wear jeans at the facility. Struffenegger sold badges for $5 each that allowed staff to wear jeans on Oct. 5. Struffenegger reported that even maintenance workers who are allowed to wear jeans to work contributed $40, and that many staff who must stay in uniform also bought badges because they believed it to be a worthy cause.

Council Chairperson Larry Fossen and Program Coordinator Robin Valencia were presented with a check for $820 at the student council meeting held Oct. 9. Both Fossen and Valencia expressed their gratitude to Struffenegger and the Preston staff for choosing the council to be the beneficiary of this fund-raiser, especially in light of recent funding cuts the council has had from the state. Valencia, who presented the workshops, said that the wards were very attentive during the presentations, and that they appeared to be appreciative of the information. One ward told Valencia, when asked for feedback on the presentation, that "this was valuable information that we all need for our new lives when we're out of here." Valencia will be presenting a fourth workshop at Preston on Oct. 25.

The ACCAPC is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that promotes child abuse and neglect prevention education and awareness activities in Amador County. ACCAPC offers free prevention education programs in the areas of shaken baby syndrome, Internet safety, and child abuse and neglect mandated reporter training workshops. The council receives its limited funding from the state, county Children's Trust Fund, grants and donations.

ACCAPC will present a free child abuse and neglect mandated reporter training workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the County Administration Building in Jackson from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Contact the council at 223-5921 or info@amadorcapc.org to sign up for the workshop.