Jim Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America interviewed on the Dialogue Program at Idaho Public Television.

We wanted to let you know that Jim Humurovich, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America was recently interviewed on the Dialogue Program at Idaho Public Television. We hope you will listen and then give us a shout if you have any questions or comments.

Update: The interview is now available as a video as well and can be viewed at the following link.

A much appreciated shout-out and plea for Healthy Families America and home visiting from Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund.

We wanted to draw your attention to a recent plea from Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund regarding the need to fund home visiting programs like Healthy Families America. We have pasted a brief excerpt below.

"Studies have found quality home visitation services produce measurable outcomes for children and families that are real and lasting: better health; greater school readiness, academic achievement, parental involvement, and economic self-sufficiency; and reduced child maltreatment and injuries and juvenile delinquency. Programs such as the Nurse Family Partnership and Healthy Families America have prevented child abuse and neglect by helping parents better understand their children’s development, thereby preventing inappropriate expectations of the children and inappropriate discipline."

The District of Columbia Launches First Child Abuse Prevention Plan.

James M. Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America has been actively involved in the development of A Call to Action: The District of Columbia's First Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan and we wanted to share the following press release with you regarding completion of that plan and the District's plans going forward.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC—Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Director Roque Gerald launched a three-year initiative to coordinate public, private, and community efforts to strengthen families as a means of preventing child abuse and neglect throughout the city. A Call to Action: The District of Columbia’s First Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan describes the District’s strategy for raising awareness about child abuse and neglect, investing in approaches that support healthier children and stronger families, and measuring outcomes of investments.

"As a councilmember, I asked for a survey of existing child abuse and neglect prevention programs that would identify service gaps in the District," said DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. "The city’s first child abuse and neglect prevention plan will serve as a vehicle for filling the gaps. It will also guide investments designed to reduce risk factors that can lead to child maltreatment."

Long-Term Strategy Promotes Healthy Children, Strong Families
Over three years, the plan will integrate prevention efforts into a long-term strategy to promote healthier child development and stronger families, thereby reducing the risk and incidence of child maltreatment. The plan seeks to improve the effectiveness of support for families by more closely aligning District government and community programs. The initial implementation phase will involve:

Building capacity in proven, targeted prevention strategies. The plan identifies approaches that independent research and evaluation have shown to reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect and improve protective factors, including: home visitation, parent education and support, and teen pregnancy prevention.

Aligning District and community services. The District will create an inventory of existing child abuse/neglect prevention programs as a baseline for citywide capacity. The inventory will identifying service gaps and allow future initiatives to avoid duplication of efforts.
Measuring outcomes to ensure resources are used effectively. The District will establish an evaluation process for government and community programs, both to assess achievement of desired outcomes and to determine the efficacy of the District’s financial investment.
Raising community awareness and seeking input. Through a variety of outreach efforts, the District will introduce and discuss the plan, raise public awareness, and engage the community in helping to prevent child abuse and neglect.

City-Wide Effort Supports Positive Outcomes
The Statewide Commission on Children, Youth and Families (formerly the Interagency Collaboration and Services Integration Commission) worked with the national advocacy organization Prevent Child Abuse America to develop the plan. Under the Deputy Mayor for Education, the Commission functions as the body many states call a "Children's Cabinet," regularly bringing together over 25 District government agencies to focus on specific goals that support positive outcomes for children from birth to adulthood. The Commission will play a major role in governing the plan, along with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Child Welfare.

"District government and community partners currently provide a broad range of services that strengthen families,” said Roque Gerald, Director of the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). "I look forward to city-wide implementation of this plan, which will improve coordination of existing programs and build capacity in proven prevention strategies."

Talking points. Increases in cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome, also known as Abusive Head Trauma.

There have been a series of articles in the media this week about increases being reported for Shaken Baby Syndrome which is also known as Abusive Head Trauma. In response Prevent Child Abuse America has developed the following talking points.

The Major Talking Points:

Shaken Baby Syndrome also known as Abusive Head Trauma is preventable;

Investments in promising Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention strategies, especially those focused on fathers and maternal boyfriends, as well as, home visitation, parent support and education and information on early childhood development do work and will prove less costly to individuals, our communities and nation;

Social services are being cut and the prevention infrastructure across the nation is at-risk of being un-raveled due to budget cuts;

Getting prevention right early is less costly to individuals, and to society, than trying to fix things later.

What we know:

We must place these reports in the context of the current economic crisis;

Stress is a risk factor for Shaken Baby Syndrome;

We can’t cut the prevention budget in these challenging economic times and expect to have the impact we want to have on preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome.

What caregivers can do (courtesy of SafeSoundBabies.com):

It's normal for babies to cry, and long, inconsolable crying can occur in completely normal developing babies;

The most common trigger for Shaken Baby Syndrome is infant crying;

When a parent or caregiver feels like they are about to explode:

Make sure the baby is safe - in his or her crib, on his or her back.

Make sure the baby isn't hungry, sick or in need of a diaper change.

Then, step away for a few minutes if you have to. Or call someone for help.

Just make sure you have a plan.

If you are a friend, relative or neighbor of parents of a newborn offer them scheduled "parent time" breaks.

Mother's Day. FTD. And Prevent Child Abuse America.

Mother's Day is this Sunday, have you bought your gifts yet? Be sure to shop with FTD and Prevent Child Abuse America will earn 20% on all orders. If you prefer to shop by phone, be sure to mention this code: 13060. Give the gift that gives twice this Mother’s Day!

Just a quick message from Evan and Christa, co-founders of the Society Against Child Abuse regarding the One Percent to Prevent Challenge.

We (Evan and Christa) want to take some time and thank you for all of your hard work within the Society Against Child Abuse Cause, especially during this month. We want to live in a world where life, trust, prosperity, health as well as other concepts are taken more seriously. However, the acts of child abuse that occur everyday completely undermine this world. So we want to talk to you about something important. As some of you may know, we started this Cause about five years ago in hopes to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention.

Over these last five years, it has been a joy to watch not only the Cause grow in numbers but also in personality and strength. When we first started the Cause, we never dreamed that it would grow to be as strong as it is now. We started off inviting our friends and family, and before we knew it, we were more than 3 million strong and growing every day. With starting this Cause, we became part of the 1% who are advocating for child abuse prevention. We are both truly honored to be a part of that 1% who are standing up for children and families, and you can be too!!

Our challenge to you is that you become part of the 1% who stand up for children and families. How? It's simple. All we are asking of you is to invite five people -- they can be friends, family, co-workers – to join the Cause. OR you can donate to our Cause. Every little bit helps.

By joining us in the One Percent to Prevent Challenge, you too can show your support for a great cause, and there is nothing better than standing up for what you believe in. Getting prevention right early is less costly to society and to individuals, than trying to fix things later. Join us today!

Sincerely, SACA Co-Founders Evan Kalish and Christa Laukevicz