Prevent Child Abuse New York's Blog

Help Us Raise $1000 in One Day!

If you're anything like me, you'll be doing MANY more internet searches before you declare your holiday shopping done. As you agonize over those last few people on your shopping list, here's something to keep in mind. iGive.com has issued a special challenge to Prevent Child Abuse New York. For each person who joins iGive and does just one web search through their site, iGive will donate $1 to PCANY!

1,000 new members means $1,000 to PCANY. No purchase necessary.

There's more good news ... if you search more (or buy something) you'll earn even more money for Prevent Child Abuse New York. iGive is donating $.02 per search and a bonus $5 for that first purchase plus the usual percentage. 

Thanks and best wishes from PCANY for a happy holiday season. 

Growing into Happy, Healthy Children: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

Guest Post by Annamarie Russo

Children have the right to feel loved and protected. Since children have limited capacity for reason and logic, the child's parent, guardian or caregiver is there to provide the nurturing a child needs to grow to be a positive contributor in life and society. The caregivers are there to give their best to the child and look out for the child's best interest.

Parenting tips can be picked up, but the act of parenting is a learned skill. Sometimes, the caregiver may be in a position that compromises their ability and responsibility to nurture their children. Perhaps the caregiver may have suffered a job loss or maybe a relationship between adults is having problems. Stresses like these can become too much to bear and the parental experience may feel overwhelming. Unfortunately the child may be in an environment or home where the caregiver is letting these factors get the better of them, thus hindering the well-being and development of the child, BUT with prevention and programs available to help fullfill the needs of both the child and caregivers, child abuse and neglect never needs to begin.

Children need nurturing, patience, love, and security to grow. Children need to feel they will always have someone who loves and protects them. As the child's brain develops, the caregiver can help the child have a healthy positive self-image. This helps children become smart, healthy and giving adults Abuse, maltreatment and neglect damages a child's self-esteem and diminishes their happy spirit. This makes it difficult for the child to develop a healthy mental state because of the lack of tools to do so: security and love.

Although parents have ultimate responsibility for their children, community efforts are essential to children's happiness and well-being too. An example is a teacher. The teacher may also have a positive impact on the child, helping him or her learn and feel safe. Being part of a community is great support. Community centers, libraries and schools are a good ways to involve families and friends, as a way to grow and develop happy, healthy children into positive members of society.

Annamarie Russo is an actress, a writer (including a weekly column about NFL fantasy football), an identical twin, a Speech communications, rhetorical studies and public advocacy major at Hofstra University. She has a passion to prevent and end child abuse.

Early Learning: Key to National Defense

A new press release, published by Mission Readiness says that according to Pentagon data, that 75% of our nation's 17 to 24-year-olds are unfit for service due to failure to complete high school, past criminal record or are physically unfit. Military leaders are calling on Congress to pass the Early Learning Challenge Grant legislation.

The Obama Administration's Early Learning Challenge Grant proposal would challenge states to develop effective, innovative models that promote high standards of quality and a focus on outcomes across early learning settings, and dedicate $10 billion over ten years toward this effort. The goal is to reform and improve early learning programs to deliver a complete and competitive education to every child in America.

Congress is now considering the proposal, which would help states provide more at-risk kids with access to quality early learning programs. It would provide grants to the states of $1 billion a year for up to ten years to improve the quality of early childhood development programs and expand access to more at-risk kids.

Some of the goals of the fund are to:

• Drive results-oriented, standards reform across programs, setting a high standard of quality for programs to strive toward, in order to better promote early learning, child development, and school readiness.
• Fund and implement pathways to improve existing early learning programs, with the goal of increasing the number of low-income young children who participate in higher-quality settings.
• Ensure that more children enter kindergarten ready, with the healthy cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills and ability necessary for success.

The military is currently meeting recruitment goals, due in part to the severe economic recession, but the retired leaders said the challenge of finding quality recruits will return when the economy recovers. Rear Admiral Barnett said, “Our national security in the year 2030 is absolutely dependent on what’s going on in pre-kindergarten today. We urge Congress to take action on this issue this year.”

Major General Comstock adds: “I’m a lifelong political conservative, and I believe that government should intervene on a limited and targeted basis. Early education is not conservative common sense or liberal common sense, it’s just plain common sense. Reaching the most at-risk kids helps increase graduation rates and cut crime, so early education is a matter of national security.”


To view the full press release please visit : http://www.missionreadiness.org/press110509.html

November is National Adoption Month

Currently, there are 130,000 children and youth waiting to be adopted. National Adoption Month urges Americans to "Answer the Call" to adopt children and youth from foster care. National Adoption Month intends to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care.

The Ad Council's latest public service "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent" urges potential parents that perfection is not the goal. Children just need loving, caring environments with stability. This award-winning campaign is a partnership of the Children’s Bureau, the Ad Council, and AdoptUsKids. This year’s ads target the African-American community and finding homes for African-American children in care. The ads feature humorous everyday scenarios illustrating that parents need not be perfect to offer the stability and commitment that a “forever family” provides to a waiting child.

Visit the 2009 National Adoption Month Website for more information: http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/nam/

Additionally, The Children's Bureau Express has a Spotlight on National Adoption Month webpage The CBE has information about how agencies celebrate National Adoption Month, and find out more about the latest adoption resources and research.  They also offer more information and service on:

PSA Campaign Recruits Families for African-American Children
Adoption Month Calendar Features Innovative Activities
National Survey of Adoptive Parents Releases First Data
Post adoption Support Guide
Positive Outcomes for Late-Placed Adoptees
Court Collaboration Expedites Adoptions
Parent-to-Parent Support for Adoptive Families

To view more information please visit their Spotlight on National Adoption Month: http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm?event=website.viewSection&issueID=111&subsectionID=8

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention published a new report that discusses findings from a survey examining children's exposure to violence. The survey is the first to attempt to comprehensively measure exposure to violence for nationally representative sample of 4,549 children younger then 18 across major categories. Some of these categories were:

1. Conventional crime, including robbery, theft, destruction of property, attack with an object or weapon
2. Child maltreatment, other than spanking on the bottom
3. Sexual victimization
4. Witnessing and indirect victimization
5. Exposure to family violence
6. School violence and threat
7. Internet violence and victimization, including Internet threats or harassment and unwanted online sexual solicitation

Results suggest that most children in the U.S. are exposed to violence in their daily lives, with more than 60 percent of the children surveyed having been exposed to violence within the past year. Nearly half of the children surveyed had been assaulted in the previous year, and nearly 1 in 10 witnessed one family member assaulting another.

Safe Start Center is dedicated to teaching about the harmful effects of the exposure of violence on children. Safe Start's website is packed with information and resources for parents and the community to help our children stay safe. To read the full report of to learn more about the Safe Start Initiative, visit www.safestartcenter.org.

Illinois Toy Screening Finds Toys Fail to Comply Lead & Phthalate Limits

The Illinois Public Interest Research Group recently released a limited screening of 87 popular toys, which showed some toys still violate the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) standards for lead and contain illegal phthalates. Two out of seven toys tested for phthalates contained phthalates which were banned by the federal government earlier this year. Dress up costumes, construction toys, musical instruments, jewelry, outdoor toys, stuffed animals, and arts & crafts are some types of toy that are on the high risk list.

Other chemicals found in some of these products are lead, chlorine, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and bromine.

To view all the results from this latest posting please visit: http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/

For further information on all toys reviewed please visit: http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys/product.least.php?rank=high

James Humphrey

James Humphrey was an acclaimed poet, teacher, abstract artist, baseball player, and champion for victims of child abuse. In his life and through his work, Humphrey strived to break barriers. He began his life as an abused child but was able to over come the hardship and use his experience to better the lives of those around him.

The James Humphrey Trust, created to keep Humphrey’s work alive, just completed an audio compilation (Argument For Love, The Poetry Readings) of Humphrey reading early published and unpublished poems.

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit Prevent Child Abuse America, our national organization.

For more information please visit: http://www.jameshumphrey.net/

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: New York's Response

Recent medical research on "adverse childhood experiences" (ACEs) reveals a compelling relationship between the extent of childhood trauma and serious later in life health and social problems.   The social science knowledge base and the practical experience of social service providers become important in terms of understanding and responding to adverse life experiences in childhood and adolescence. The ACE research can be linked with prevention and intervention knowledge that involves evidence-based mental health practice, prevention of health risk behaviors, substance abuse treatment, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, community development, and service delivery and policy evaluations.  Social workers located in discrete professional settings can mobilize comprehensive responses to address the causal role of adverse childhood experiences by bringing together various professions to create more coherent systems for the development of children and the support of parents. 

Capital Region ACE Think Tank and Action Teams have utilized ACE research to connect various areas of concern (workforce issues, trauma-informed practice, prevention and intervention, treatment of co-occurring disorders, cross-systems/service integration).  This webinar outlines the ACE research, emphasizing this connection to social service knowledge for response strategy, and reports on new research on the Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Homeless People.  The mission and purpose of local ACE Think Tank and Action Team Meetings is discussed, outlining the policy journey in the NYS Capital Region along with next steps.  NYS has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in ACE response, promoting resilience, recovery, and transformation.

Proudly presented in partnership, the State University of New York at Albany's School of Social Work, the New York State Parenting Education Partnership and Prevent Child Abuse New York are pleased to announce the next in a series of professional development webinars, presented by Professor Heather Larkin.

Dealing with a Traumatic Event

In the wake of the tragic events at Fort Hood a last week, it’s important to remember that when traumatic incidents occur, the Center for Disease Control's Injury Center can assist by providing information that can help people cope and recover.

Sometimes after experiencing a traumatic event, including personal or environmental disasters, or being threatened with an assault, people have a strong and lingering reaction to stress. When the symptoms of stress last too long, it can cause people to feel overwhelmed and have an effect on their ability to cope.

Common reactions to a stressful event can include:
Disbelief and shock
Fear and anxiety about the future
Difficulty making decisions
Apathy and emotional numbing
Loss of appetite
Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event
Anger
Increased use of alcohol and drugs
Sadness and depression
Feeling powerless
Crying
Sleep difficulties
Headaches, back pains, and stomach problems
Difficulty concentrating


For more information, tips on how to hand a traumatic experience, or to read this full article please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandlingStress/ or http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=5256

Improving Children's Mental Health through Parenting Education

Guest post by Michelle Gross, Projects/Public Policy Manager, Prevent Child Abuse New York

In today’s difficult times, one of the most important skills one must possess is the ability to form healthy relationships and cope with life’s challenges. Our children are not born with these skills, but rather learn them through their social and emotional development.

While providers have traditionally focused on physical development, in 2006, the New York State Legislature passed the Children’s Mental Health Act. The Act required the development of a statewide plan to address issues in children’s social and emotional health, zero to eighteen. As a result of this legislation, the Children’s Plan was developed in collaboration with nine state agencies and led by the New York State Office for Mental Health.

The Children’s Plan serves as a blueprint for New York state agencies, providers, and communities to
improve the social and emotional development of children and their families. The Plan focuses on engaging children and their families in services early, ensuring that systems are collaborating to provide effective and efficient services and meeting families’ needs by focusing on their strengths and abilities.   

Within the Children’s Plan is a directive for the Office of Mental Health to work with parenting educators to better support parents in raising emotionally healthy children.  The New York State Parenting Education Partnership has been chosen to play this pivotal role in educating providers who work with families and supporting a network of family support and information.   

NYSPEP’s efforts to provide professional development sessions for parenting educators will enhance providers’ ability to communicate the importance of social and emotional development with parents, and offer both providers and families tools to facilitate children’s healthy development.
   
For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.parentingeducationpartnership.org.