Although sheltering in place is deemed important to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of child and domestic abuse also historically increase amid national crises. While the novel coronavirus has certainly exacerbated stress for families, the Buffalo chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse remains emphatic in their mission to build up victims of child abuse, to mitigate their fear of the world in which they live, according to Bull, the road name of the public relations officer for the Buffalo chapter of BACA.
As agents of victim empowerment, BACA members only engage with ongoing cases in the system. Once BACA learns of a potential case, a child liaison accompanies the sergeant-at-arms on a visit to meet the child and family.
“If the board decides to take on the case, then the child comes into the family with us. It’s pretty involved with taking the child on,” Bull said. “Our mission is very narrow and straight-focused. We’re pretty unique in that aspect because we’re not big brothers and sisters, or mentors. We’re there for the child, and that’s our focus.”
In almost all weather conditions, the Bikers Against Child Abuse team rides their motorcycles as a show of solidarity and support for youth victims of abuse.
To join BACA, individuals must undergo months of extensive training and complete a background check. Once trained, members interact with children in groups of two or more only, Bull explained. Established by a licensed clinical social worker, BACA often engages in contact with caseworkers and other personnel on the victim’s open case. In addition to receiving referrals from parents and guardians, BACA also has connections with law enforcement and child care agencies.
After accepting a new case, BACA members coordinate a level one meeting between the child, their family and any cleared BACA supporter or certified member in the surrounding areas. If the level one meeting cannot, for safety or comfort reasons, happen at the child’s home, they convene at a nearby location, like a park or playground.
For each case that BACA assumes, the board identifies two primary contacts for that child.
“If that child is afraid or needs anything at any point in time, they can get a hold of that primary. We take in any children in that family,” Bull said. “[Most] of the time, the members don’t know what happened or the history of what’s going on. That’s a pretty closed book because it’s better and safer that way for everyone involved.”
At the level one meeting, the child receives an outpouring of generosity and support from their new BACA family. In addition to receiving a backpack with coloring books and crayons, the child also receives a teddy bear wearing a T-shirt signed with the road name of everyone at that level one meeting, as well as a BACA blanket.
To achieve their mission of empowering child abuse victims, BACA members also encourage the children to pick their own road names, similar to those used by the bikers themselves. By giving the child that power, the BACA team intends to help them regain the sense of control typically lost in abuse situations.
“The first step of empowerment for the child in taking back what they lost is they can pick their road name, just like us,” Bull said. “ At the level one when we give them their backpack, we actually give them a “cut,” which is a leather vest with the BACA back patch on the back and a patch on the very bottom that says ‘I will not live in fear’ and then, on the front, their road name.”
When abuse victims interact with their BACA contacts, the bikers engage in a range of fun and distracting activities, from doing cartwheels to having their nails painted, Bull explained.
Given that they often work with open abuse cases, BACA members can also escalate their presence from a level one to level two. At level two, the family might find themselves in danger or the child might experience fear of an imminent threat.
When circumstances call for level two engagement, the BACA group arrives, on bike, at the house in question, where they will guard that child and family nonstop, until the child feels comfortable. This heightened level of protection also extends to if the child must make appearances in court.
“We’ll escort them, cleared supporters and patch members, to and from court if in the open case there’s court cases. We have pretty good rapport with judges and law enforcement,” Bull said. “Most times, if the child has to testify or anything like that, we’ll give them a coin or a pin that they can have in their hand and hang onto to make them feel comfort. That and seeing us empowers them to have a voice and do what they need to do.”
Since COVID-19 arrived in Western New York, the Buffalo chapter of BACA has remained active in pursuing their mission, while following social distancing and public health best practices. For more information about Bikers Against Child Abuse, visit www.bacaworld.org
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Source: West Seneca Bee