New beginnings
at CAPE

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Some staff members at the Child Abuse Prevention Effort referred to their former home as a "dungeon."
For more than three decades, the program was housed in the basement of an apartment complex at 5245 Oxford Ave. in Northwood. There was very little sunlight.
Though the office served CAPE well all those years, employees are glad to be working out of a more modern location in a suite on the fourth floor of the Smylie Times Building, at Rhawn Street and Roosevelt Boulevard.
"This is a major improvement," said executive director Anna Masny, explaining that the group budgeted for a decade to make the move. "We outgrew the other space. This is a dream come true. It’s a whole different experience."
CAPE was founded in 1973 by Common Pleas Court Judge Lisa Richette, who died last October. Richette acted after seeing Philadelphia children hurt or neglected by their parents or caregivers.
In the first couple of years, CAPE had locations in Germantown, Center City and University City. The organization moved to Oxford Avenue and stayed until finding its present space last August. Unlike the previous location, this site has windows and plenty of them (41).
"This is a tremendous move for us," said Mary Ann Benner, president of CAPE’s board of directors for 15 years and a volunteer for 15 years before that.
Last week, the non-profit agency hosted an open house. The office of City Councilman Frank Rizzo marked the occasion with a citation.
CAPE operates primarily in four ways:
• Providing services to children in their homes through a contract with the city Department of Human Services.
• Offering community education programs in schools, homeless shelters and jails that are funded largely by private donations. The group also hosts an annual auction and casino night to raise money. This year’s event is May 2 at the Ironworkers Local Union 401 hall on Norcom Road. CAPE will honor the Philadelphia Flyers for sponsoring a Christmas toy drive.
• A hotline that receives calls from parents seeking help to deal with crying babies and out-of-control older children and from individuals who suspect child abuse.
• An emergency family fund that provides food, clothing, bedding, school supplies, appliances, household items and transportation tokens for doctor’s appointments to about 350 needy families a year.
All of the services are free.
Benner is especially proud of the family fund, which provides formula and diapers for babies, among other things. She explained that the lack of necessities in a home often leads to abuse.
For example, CAPE counselors sometimes see children sleeping on floors, using a coat as a blanket. Benner recalled one family using a Styrofoam cooler as a refrigerator.
"Can you imagine how that builds up tension in the family," she said.
Benner said poverty isn’t the only factor that leads to abuse. She said CAPE has clients throughout the Northeast and in every ZIP code of the city.
Drugs, alcohol and disputes over money can adversely affect a parent’s behavior.
"All of those things initiate abuse," Benner said.
CAPE defines abuse as a parent or adult caregiver hurting a child’s body or feelings. Abuse can also be caused by an older brother or sister or any other relative, family friend or neighbor.
The agency also treats children who are neglected through lack of food, clothing, education or a safe place to live.
CAPE presents about 250 workshops every year on topics including effective discipline tools, tips for better communication, anger management and family budgeting.
The organization’s staff of 26 includes 17 social workers, various supervisors, secretaries and hotline coordinator Sandra Bincarousky, who has been with CAPE from the start. There are also a few dedicated volunteers.
Masny said the counselors have a very demanding and challenging job, but the job is also rewarding and worthwhile.
"We have the best social staff in the whole wide world," she said.
The counselors act after DHS receives a tip about suspected abuse. A CAPE counselor will join a DHS staffer to develop a plan for each family. The visits take place on weekdays, but they can also take place on nights and weekends.
The CAPE counselors follow up with regular visits, including weekly checkups on children under age 2.
During visits, they check to make sure utility bills are paid, smoke detectors are working, the children are going to school and doing well on report cards and the living environment is safe.
"We become part of the family, like an aunt or uncle," said counselor Lou Grow.
The best part of the visit, counselors agree, is seeing parents and children begin to live in harmony.
"The job has a lot of frustrations, but we see people making changes in their lives," said counselor Nichole Morin. ••
For more information on the Child Abuse Prevention Effort, call 215-624-1176 or visit www.capepa.org
To report a suspected case of child abuse, call the hot lines at the Department of Human Services at 215-683-6100 or at CAPE at 215-624-1101.
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com