Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) was founded to address the fear and subsequent behavior reactions of abused children. The founder was a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist who integrated his skills as a mental health professional with his love of motorcycles. He was confronted with a particularly difficult case involving an eight year old boy who refused to leave his house due to the fear of his perpetrator. He sought the support of fellow bikers to volunteer to provide an empowering experience for the boy through social support therapy. With permission from the boy’s guardians 27 motorcycles and nearly 40 people from clubs, organizations, and solo riders responded and rode as one group to the child’s home. They dismounted, greeted the child, and offered him a ride on a motorcycle. He accepted. Within hours of his ride the boy was observed outside his house riding his bicycle on his own. This idea led to the formation of BACA on a local level, which grew regionally. Today BACA has progressed into an international organization in 47 states and 18 countries.
Today BACA has progressed into an international organization in 47 states and 18 countries.
BACA works in conjunction with local agencies and fills a gap in existing services and agencies and fulfills an unmet need within the community. Putting into practice the experience of the founder, BACA is based upon the finding that positive social support may modulate the trauma experience by a child through addressing their feelings of fear, anxiety, and trust and encouraging a sense of safety, based on a stable, reliable presence. BACA attempts to meet the needs of abused children living in fear by providing a presence during a crisis, where and when needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week through its volunteers. The object of BACA is to reduce or remove fear, so that the child may feel safe in the environment in which they live. What therapists call “social support therapy” BACA calls “showing up and being there.“
To be eligible as a BACA case, a child must be a victim of abuse, the case must be reported to either the police, prosecutorial authority, or agency, and the perpetrator cannot live in the home with the child. The child is screened and if found appropriate for BACA the organization employs two levels of intervention. Level one is the initial intervention during which BACA members from the local chapter ride as a group to the child’s home or place designated by the parent or guardian. The children are presented with a vest with their road name, patches and stickers of their choice, and a bear signed by members of the chapter. Photographs may be taken by the parent or guardian of the child with the BACA members. The child is offered a ride on a motorcycle. The rest of the visit is devoted to the activity requested by the child. The children are assigned to primary contacts who they can call at any time if they are feeling fearful. The primary contacts make regular visits with the child until the situation stabilizes.
Many children obtain empowerment through justice in the criminal court system. The court system can be overwhelming for children. The organization provides escorts for the child to meetings with the police, the District Attorney’s Office, grand jury, trial, and sentencing. BACA children are significantly more likely to testify against their abusers than children outside of the organization.
The Buffalo Chapter of BACA was founded in 2014 and serves Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
In the event of a threat against against the child, or if the child continues to be in fear, a Level 2 intervention may be called wherein a 24/7 presence of the chapter at the child’s home is maintained until the child again feels safe.
BACA is a committed all volunteer organization. This means that BACA has no paid employees. The membership willingly and freely gives their time to the children and their mission. All services are without charges.
In every country, all potential members must undergo a background check to verify they have no crimes against children or crimes involving children such as Domestic Violence charges.
In the United States, it is the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) background check through the FBI. In other countries, it is a criminal background check approved by the government which discloses any and all charges of a similar nature. Once a potential member is cleared through the approved background check process, they must participate in the chapter for a MINIMUM of one year. During that year, they ride with that chapter so they get to know the chapter members and the chapter members get to know the potential member. In addition, potential members are assigned a sponsor. This is a seasoned, full patch member who ensures they complete training that includes topics like: child communication, courtroom etiquette, how to be a primary to a child, and other BACA specific topics.
Once a member earns the right to wear a BACA membership patch in addition to service as a primary they also become eligible to hold positions such as Child Liaison, Court Liaison, and Agency Liaison, as well as many other positions. Members receive extensive training on how to perform the duties of those positions.
Anecdotal evidence provides strong support for the effectiveness of BACA. BACA members have personally experienced the positive changes in children as early as during the first visit. This was confirmed by an independent study published in Evaluation Program Planning 65 (2017), titled “Evaluation of Bikers Against Child Abuse Program: A Community Intervention for Child Abuse Victims.”
The study evaluated 150 children who were referred to the organization. Results indicated children demonstrated substantial improvement in their overall levels of emotional distress, conduct, concerns, hyperactivity, and behavioral and emotional functioning. The report supported the premise that services provided that BACA constituted a unique intervention for children who have experienced abuse. Facts regarding the origin of BACA are derived directly from that published study. The study is linked to the www.bacaworld.org homepage.
For more information on BACA, an all volunteer 501(c)(3) organization, visit www.bacaworld.org or call the Buffalo chapter information line 716-222-2856 or help line 716-342-4107.