The Professional Accreditation Council of Equine Professionals, PACES, is
the equine industry 's first and only professional development
organization that encompasses all horse breeds, disciplines
and equine-related businesses.
The Center itself will be opened and run by a partnership between the Red
Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, North Country Health Services, MeritCare
Clinic, and Midwest Children's Resource Center of St. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee
of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

populations household

To address this growing national concern for child safety and crime prevention, a new
organization, PACES, Professional Accreditation Council of
Equine Specialists, has been formed.
Called the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota, it will provide
medical care, counseling and social services to any Minnesota victims of child
abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault -- paying special attention to the
Native American communities of Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth. CCStpa has a local
network of more than 35,000 providers in Minnesota and its bordering states.

victim victims

PACES background screenings will utilize a searchable
database of over 230 million records from federal, state, local, and
private sources and over 300 million arrest, conviction and disposition
records plus 6 billion records from other sources providing the most
extensive nationwide sexual
offender and criminal database search currently available. PACES offers a wide range of online certification opportunities
to its members, as well as a robust youth achievement program, horse career opportunities,
business services, horse job
advice and extensive horse
industry resources from its website, www.

household standardized

PACES believes in the strength of the horse industry to be
self-regulating.

(CCStpa) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Minnesota (Blue Cross) will help open an innovative new resource in Bemidji
for victims of violent crimes and domestic abuse. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest
health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.

600 killers

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"You wouldn't buy a horse
without a vet check, why would
you hire an employee without a background check? PACES is taking a
proactive role in risk
management and making professional development a
priority. EAGAN, Minn.
The U.

commonwealth household

Applying more stringent standards in our workforce is a
positive step for our industry. Entry level equestrians, skilled professionals, horse-related businesses, and consumers will all benefit from
PACES bold new direction ," said Starr.

paths victims

The Center's Board of Directors includes Randy Beck, executive partner of
MeritCare - Bemidji; James Hanko, president and CEO of NCHS; Floyd Jourdain,
chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians; Dr.

certain paths

equinecouncil. Paul.bluecrossmn.

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victim affect

PACES will make it easier and more cost effective for horse businesses, associations and
events to get accurate criminal background checks for its employees and volunteers.

CCStpa Blue Cross Contribute to New Regional Family Advocacy Center in Bemidji

Yet there are few resources for victims in
rural areas," said Lois Stevens, president of CCStpa.

paths household

Its mission is to promote a safer
workplace, improve professional standards, and provide a learning
platform for improved skills.
"It is estimated that domestic violence victims account for more than 25
percent of all violent crime victims in Minnesota, and Native Americans are
victimized at a much higher rate. It will operate
out of North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, near the emergency room
facilities. Bruce Preece, chief of police in Bemidji;
Judy Roy, tribal secretary of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians; and Dr. Paul
suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and
continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more
economical and timely availability of health services for the people of
Minnesota .

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affect populations

Carolyn Levitt,
pediatrician and executive director of the Midwest Children's Resource Center;
Earl Maus, Cass County attorney; Lori Petermeier, social worker with Itasca
County Health + Human Services; J.

Victimology is the study of why certain people are victims of crime and how lifestyles affect the chances that a certain person will fall victim to a crime.

disposition certain

Why? Because the
multi -billion dollar horse industry currently is not
required to conduct criminal
background checks or licensing for its youth coaches, professionals or
workforce. Founded in 1982, CCStpa has more than 100 employees and provides
benefit administration solutions to companies interested in self -funding as a
way to balance benefit needs with financial concerns.

violence disposition

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Ted Will, Board of Trustees member for NCHS.com .

victimology disposition

We
want our children protected.
Stevens added, "Supporting rural Minnesotans , especially the Native
American populations, is a strong business priority for CCStpa, so it's
exciting for us to contribute to a resource that will help victims of violence
in these communities overcome their trauma and be healthier."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St.

inmates populations

Are there sexual predators working at equestrian events? Parents and
vulnerable children may never know until it's too late. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota estimated there
were 1,089 cases of child abuse and 885 cases of rape reported in northern
Minnesota in 2002, the most recent year for which numbers were available.

disposition victims

PRESS RELEASE New Horse Organization PACES Requires Mandatory Criminal Background Checks for Certification

CCStpa, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is a full-service provider of
third-party administrative (TPA) services for medical, dental, life and vision
care plans.

policing commonwealth

6 million members in Minnesota and
nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated
companies. Visit
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota's web site:
http://www.

policing killers

Something must be done about the dangers they present .org.
"By focusing on the victim's own physical and mental recovery, rather than
the legal implications of the violence, this model empowers the victim and
helps break the cycle of violence that is all too common," said Hanko.

populations interact

Why Consider Certification?

According to PACES executive director, Claudia Starr, "Sexual predators
are everywhere.
The Center is believed to be one of the first in the country to bring
together professionals from a variety of disciplines to address the immediate
medical needs of victims, in addition to public safety needs, said James
Hanko, President and CEO of North Country Health Services.

surveys violence

PACES will require mandatory
criminal background screenings, as well as CPR and First-aid training, for all equine certification candidates.

PACES has teamed with a premier nationwide provider of pre-employment screening services
to provide background checks to PACES members and their candidates for
certification. They hope it will
become a national model for other rural areas.

600 sociology

The field of victimology can cover a wide number of disciplines, including sociology , psychology, criminal justice, law, and advocacy.

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, A joint $39,000 contribution from
Comprehensive Care Services, Inc.