We are moving all of our blogging to our new website!

Thanks for coming here to check out the blog, but please head to our new Prevent Child Abuse America website, which you can do here, because we are now doing all of our blogging there. Thanks!

Home Visiting, Family Support and Bella Bond.

In response to the recent publication of 'Baby Doe' by Jill Lepore in The New Yorker, we posted a Statement titled "Home Visiting, Family Support and Bella Bond" today. We hope you will take a look and let us know if you have any questions. We have also pasted an excerpt below.

"The noble dream here is that, if only child-protective agencies collected better data and used better algorithms, children would no longer be beaten or killed."

When Jill Lepore writes this in The New Yorker, she is asking whether our society knows how to ensure the healthy development of all children. She is also writing about the sad case of Bella Bond – a child killed by her mother’s boyfriend and dumped in Boston Harbor by the couple – and asking whether it is possible for our society to prevent child abuse and neglect at all.

The answer is yes, to both questions."

Prevent Child Abuse America in The Washington Post.

Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, Vice President of Research & Programs at Prevent Child Abuse America was quoted this week in The Washington Post article "Is cleaning house the best way for schools to deal with sexual abuse?" Please let us know what you think about the article, and Dr. Rosenzweig's quotes, in the Comments section, and please note that we have published an excerpt from the article below. Thanks.  

“The adults in the building have to be taught that it’s not enough to have good or bad people; you have to maintain a healthy sexual environment. That means every teacher has to define the norms — set a dress code, talk about what kind of language is acceptable, talk about how teachers talk to kids.”

Announcing: The Montana Summer Institute 2016 - Applying Positive Community Norms to Cultivate Healthy Cultures.

We want to be sure you know that our partners at The Montana Institute have announced the dates for The Montana Summer Institute 2016 - Applying Positive Community Norms to Cultivate Healthy Cultures - July 6th-9th at the Big Sky Resort.

To quote The Montana Institute:

"Inspiring. Powerful. Transformative. These are just some of the ways participants have described the Summer Institute’s enlightening presentations, deep discussions, and skill-building workshops.

The 2016 Institute will focus on the core science and practice of Positive Community Norms (PCN). We will share instructive case studies, key implementation strategies, current research, and best practices to help you plan, expand, or sustain a PCN effort. Dr. Jeff Linkenbach, the founder of PCN, will lead an expert roster of speakers in delivering dynamic, interactive sessions on how to apply this framework to transform health and safety norms."

You can learn more about The Montana Summer Institute 2016 here.

Great childhoods, abuse and youth-serving organizations - the good news and causes for concern.

Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, Vice President for Programs & Research for Prevent Child Abuse America, has published a piece in philly.com titled "What is the rate of child abuse in schools, rec groups?" that looks at "Children Exposed to Abuse in Youth-Serving Organizations," a study published online today in JAMA Pediatrics. According to Dr. Rosenzweig, the study "offers both good news and cause for some concern when it comes to the rate of abuse in these groups." We hope you will take a look and let us know if you have any questions or comments. We have also pasted an excerpt below.

"Results from this study left me with an unanticipated area of concern: Of the children who reported abuse in a youth-serving agency or organization, 64 percent of the abuse by an adult was verbal or emotional. Based on this study, it’s estimated that up to 1 million kids could answer yes to the question: “Did you get scared or feel really bad because grown-ups in your life called you names, said mean things to you, or said they didn’t want you?” Emotional abuse, or bullying by an adult in a youth-serving organization, is 10 times more prevalent than sexual abuse, and the scars can be deep and long lasting. This is unacceptable, and is a call to action for parents.

Parents should consider action on two fronts: with their children and with their youth organizations. First, open communication with their children should include a conversation making it clear that coaches and other adults may say things are difficult to hear sometimes, but remarks from a good coach make a child want to work harder and do better, not make them feel bad or unwanted. Parents should encourage their children to share any concerns about a coach or staff members’ behavior or language.

Secondly, parents and caregivers should also investigate the policies and procedures of any organization serving their children. Learn the basics like how staff and volunteers are screened and trained, but don’t stop there. Most youth sports teams have specific volunteer or required roles to help the team operate, like “snack parent” or “equipment parent.” As the next team season approaches, think about collaborating with other parents to develop a rotating schedule for a “stand parent”, an adult to attend each game or practice to watch from the stands and cheer for each player, while keeping an eye and ear open for inappropriate treatment of kids by staff and volunteers."

Our 2016 Public Policy Agenda is now available!

 

And we are interested in your thoughts, so please take a look here and then please let us know what you think in the comments section below. Thanks! 

Now Is The Time.

What a year it has been!

This year because of your support:

• Over 85,000 families were able to participate in the Healthy Families America program, an evidence-based, family-centered program that supports parents in building the foundation for healthy child development;
• Peer abuse (bullying) prevention and child sexual abuse prevention technical assistance centers were created to provide information and share strategies throughout the 50 state chapter network; and,
• Thousands of Pinwheels for Prevention were planted in New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C. to raise awareness for all children to have the great childhoods they deserve!

Give now to make 2016 even more successful!

Did You Know?

Did you know that you can ensure all children have the great childhoods they deserve because our children are our future?

Or, that through Prevent Child Abuse America's signature program, Healthy Families America (HFA), families are finding the support to develop skills and attitudes to provide a foundation for healthy development? 

HFA is an evidence-based, family-centered home visitation program designed to support families as they nurture the parent-child bond and achieve their goals.

This year, over 85,000 families were able to participate in this program! 

Your contribution  can do much more than support a program. Your gift today will allow children an equal opportunity for healthy development. 

Give today to ensure an even more successful 2016!

You Can Do So Much!

You can ensure all children have the great childhoods they deserve because our children are our future.

This year, over 85,000 families were able to receive support from Prevent Child Abuse America's signature prevention program, Healthy Families America (HFA), a strengths-based, family-centered home visitation program.

"I like the continuous support in raising my child from my HFA Family Support worker and the information she brings at each visit pertains to the stage of development of my daughter. She is always available and answers any questions/concerns I have about my daughter and my family. Her support has extended beyond just caring for my daughter but also for the well-being of my family."
- HFA participant, Mother, from Orange, IA

A gift from you will do much more than support a program. Your gift will enable the children and families receiving support and education to nurture the parent-child bond and achieve their goals.

Give today to ensure an even more successful 2016!

Consumer Reports names Prevent Child Abuse America as one of the Best Charities for donations.

We are honored to share this with you, and even more honored to be in such fine company. Please take a look, share the link and let us know if you have any questions. Thanks, and thank you to Consumer Reports as well.