BACA: Bikers Against Child Abuse

Bikers Against Child Abuse ("Bikers Against Child Abuse International") is a motorcycle club that tries to make a safer environment for abused children by making them feel better about the world they live in and making them not feel afraid. They work in part with officials that help abused children to let the kids know that there is a united community that is ready to lend physical and and emotional support for the children. They use their harsh persona to make the kids feel safer and stronger then their abusers. They do not use violence or force in any manner unless there is a circumstance where the child needs protection from further abuse.

BACA works with contact people that can connect them to agencies that help abused children. The agencys contact BACA if they feel that the child is still frightened from their enironment or feels threatened by their abuser. After BACA is contacted, BACA will look into the childs case to see if it is legitimate and if it is then the childs family is contacted to help set up the initial ride. The first ride to the childs house is with the whole BACA chapter and the child is given a vest with the BACA patch attached as well as other gifts. Then, the child is given the contact information of two BACA members who like closest tot them and those bikers become the childs primary contact information. BACA memebers are always given background checks and have to have rode with the chapter for at least a year as well as given instructions from the Licensed Mental Health Professional before they can become primary contacts. Whenever the child feels scared he/she can call up their BACA member to come to their house and make the child feel protected. BACA memebers can also help the child by being an escort whenever they feel scared, go to court hearings and interviews with them, as well as other services. They can not however go to the childs house alone without the childs and parents permission or without the parents knowledge. BACA's mission is to make the abused children and their family feel powerful and learn how much strenth they have.

BACA uses a four level intervention system when working with a child. Level one consists of the initial ride with as many BACA memebers to the childs house. Once arrived, the parents/guardians help assist in presenting the child with gifts such as a patch and a picture with the child and his/her new BACA family. Level two intervention consists of BACA memebers creating a stronger presence at the familys house by being visible more often and at times where the family might seem most vulnerable. It is only used if level one isnt good enough to keep further abuse away. Level three intervention is when BACA memebers find out the general location of where the abuser lives and goes door to door telling people who BACA is and what their missoin is. Once they reach the abusers house they step back to avoid any contact. BACA doesnt use or support any physical violence except if harm is inflicted on one of their members because it is their duty to protect their members.

BACA participates in court appearences to act as a physical presence so the child feels safer and less intimdated. BACA members can appear in the court room if the child requests them to be and if the court lawyer and judge approve. BACA members will not have physical contact of the perpetrator and if so then the members will be held accountable. The members that go to court with the child are the two that were assignes in the beginning. Those members also keep a listing of court dates and times so they know when they should be available.

BACA communicates a lot online through their website. On their website, their mission is listed as well as contact information for their international and state members. There is updated news, a way to email the members, and an officail store to buy merchandise or even donate. BACA International has an official facebook where they post information about their upcoming events and pictures of their past events. BACA International is also active on twitter. On twitter, they post pictures from events that different chapters held and show the impact their organization is doing. Although it wasnt possible to interview one of the members, a lot of information about their organization can be found on all of their social media. The pictures on twitter and facebook show the good work BACA is active in and how they differ from other sterotypical motorcycle clubs.

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