The Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) is a multi-disciplinary, council that was created to help alleviate child abuse in Los Angeles County. The group was started in 1972 after a lack of communication between organizations that served abused and neglected children contributed to the death of a child. A meeting was called between the agencies to discuss ways to improve the system.
“No one in the country had a group like this,” said volunteer board member Joel Henrie. “It is an unbelievable, cutting-edge, problem-solving board.”
The L.A. program spawned several actions and national organizations that help prevent child abuse through education and technology.
“L.A. County pioneered the Child Death Review Team that investigates each death to see if it was accidental or [from] suspicious causes,” said ICAN supporter Mike McClure.
These groups also identify possibly dangerous situations where parents may need help caring for their children properly. Forty-four states now have similar teams.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills station, will participate in the 2003 L.A. Marathon in support of ICAN.
Sheriff’s deputies will run in the marathon along with Sheriff Lee Baca who is the chairperson of the ICAN council. Sponsorship money will go to support the operation of ICAN.
“When you work closely with your law enforcement, you can do wonderful things out in the community,” said McClure. “There’s something about that law enforcement uniform-that’s the first hero a kid has growing up.”
For more information on ICAN visit http://ican.co.la.ca.us/.