1) How Can I Help Prevent Child Abuse?
2) Timely Topics
3) Buckle Up!
4) Frequestly Asked Questions
5) What Resources are Available to Help Families?
6) Articles and Links
7) We Want to Hear from You
PROTECTING CHILDREN AND PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY!
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO!
1) What can I do as a parent?
*Infants, toddlers and young children need to be in age/weight appropriate seat restraints when riding in an automobile. Read the full article under Buckle up further down for more information.
*Keep your home environment tidy and free from safety hazards. Pick up trash and put outside in garbage bins frequently. Keep up with dirty dishes daily to avoid attracting roaches and rodents. Have the family pitch in to sort laundry and fold clothes. Clear out debris from around the home as well where curious children play. Children living in substandard housing situations are more susceptible to inuries and diseases. Is there peeling paint? Exposed wires? Do you have a smoke detector/alarm?
*Develop a support system that you can rely on for help when needed, and don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. The responsibilities that go along with parenting can sometimes be overwhelming, and everyone needs help from time to time. Check into local community services in your area for assistance with parenting, housing and food.
Explore Mentor programs that may be available. For more information, visit: www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org
*Give age appropriate choices to children to empower them and avoid power struggles. You can give them a choice in what snacks to have (apples or pretzels?) or what shirt to wear (Blue or red today?).
*Use discipline instead of punishment. Spanking may cause a child to fear you instead of learning the lesson you are trying to teach. Discipline is about education, not violence.
*Be drug free! Abuse of alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs (including prescription drugs) can be harmful to you and your child, including a growing fetus. Children exposed to substance abuse are at increased risk for physical, emotional, and mental health problems.
For help with substance abuse, talk to your physician. You can also check out these resources:
www.nida.nih.gov
www.aa.org
www.ncadd.org
As an individual and/or organization
*Volunteer as mentors at the YMCA, Big Buddy Program, or other after school programs
*Donate new car seats and booster seats to organizations that work with needy families.
*Support a local family or child oriented non-profit organization with a donation of a percentage of your sales for the day.
*Adopt a family and purchase uniforms/school supplies to assist with school preparation.
*Participate in community projects such as Habitat for Humanity. Encourage your employees to participate by offering added perks such as a percentage of a day’s wage or free lunch. Many children in Louisiana are still living in cramped FEMA trailers over two years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There are numerous volunteer organizations that would welcome the labor, even if for one day, to help gut homes, replace sheetrock and paint.
*Volunteer with childcare organizations, Prevent Child Abuse, or CASA
*Contact your local officials to advocate for policies that strengthen and support families.
*Become a foster/adoptive parent
2) Timely Topics
With the holiday season upon us, keep in mind these tips:
*Despite the nice weather, never leave children in the car for any length of time while you run inside a store for "just a minute". That’s all the time it takes for child to be accidentally injured or possibly victimized.
For more information, visit www.kidsandcars.org.
*This time of year can be difficult for some people. If you find yourself with a short fuse and feeling irritable, be proactive and plan now. Enjoy the daylight hours with a walk outside. Discuss with family and friends ways you can spread holiday cheer to others through donations of time, clothes, or food instead of the traditional gift exchange. Call or visit your doctor if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Never, ever shake your baby!
Frustration over an inconsolable crying infant can push caregivers over the edge. Have a plan to combat stress and fatigue.
Allowing your child to cry is alright if all needs have been met. Rule out such things as: hunger, soiled diaper, discomfort, and injury. If you are concerned, consult your healthcare professional. For more information, visit www.dontshake.com
To comfort an inconsolable infant
*Try movement: Take the baby for a ride in the stroller or car, or rocking the baby in a rocking chair or cradle.
*Play soft music.
*Call a relative, friend, or neighbor to give you a break if you feel on edge.
3) Buckle Up!
Two weeks in a row, the local newspaper had articles about children that were ejected from their cars while not properly secured in a moving vehicle. One toddler managed to open the car door while in motion and tumbled into traffic. Fortunately, he survived. The other infant was ejected after the driver lost control of the car. He died from the impact.
There are many excuses given for not placing a child in a car seat or booster seat, however, none are convincing enough to ignore this basic safety practice that saves lives.
Some excellent tips on car seat safety can be found at http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html
Here are some notable highlights:
*Infants should be rear-facing until they are BOTH one year AND twenty pounds at the very minimum
*When a child becomes too big for a car seat, they should move into a booster seat, usually until they are around 8 years old, unless they are already 4' 9" tall
*Never allow children to share a seatbelt.
*Never let your infant/toddler sit on your lap while traveling in a car - they can become your airbag in an accident.
*Airbags can be deadly to infants in rear-facing carseats, and to children 12 and under using the seatbelts in the front seat. The front seat is generally not recommended for children 12 and under. Disable the front passenger airbag if you must use a rear-facing child seat in the front. Also, move the front seat as far back as it will go. Please only consider a front seat if no other option is available.
*Car seats must be properly installed according to directions or it will not offer your child the safety that was intended.
*Purchase new car seats and boosters whenever possible as opposed to buying a used one, unless you are sure it has all parts, the owner’s manual/instructions, and has not been recalled. Recall information can be found at: http://www.carseat.org/Recalls/recall.shtml
Co-Sleeping
Your baby sleeps safest in their own bed.
- Never sleep with your baby on the couch or a water bed
- Never in an arm chair or with a pillow
- Never sleep with a baby or toddler while under the influence of medication, alcohol or drugs
- Remember: Back to sleep! Lay your child on his or her back rather than on their stomach for naps and bedtime.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advise parents not to place their infants to sleep in adult beds, stating that the practice puts babies at risk of suffocation and strangulation.
Potty Training
Potty training can be a stressful time for you and your toddler. Patience is key. There is no standard age to begin potty training, although experts agree that trying to potty train before a child is 18 months old is a waste of time because the child does not yet have control over his bodily functions. Some children will not be ready until 30 months of age. Accidents are common and are to be expected. Punishment and scolding for accidents is not motivating. Use praise and simple rewards such as stickers for positive attempts and successes. Check out books from the library for ideas and hints. More information is available from the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org.
4) Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is my role as a parent?
Raising children can often seem challenging and complicated, but it can also be a very rewarding and satisfying experience. There is no one recipe for doing it right, and all parents need help from time to time. Here are a few guiding principles you might find helpful in thinking about your role as a parent.
Meeting the physical needs of children:
Parents are expected to meet the basic physical needs of their children; for example, the need for food, shelter, clothing, and appropriate medical care. All children deserve to live in a safe and stable home environment. Keep your home clean and free of clutter and objects that could harm your child.
Children also need appropriate supervision. (while both inside and outside).
If children are old enough to be left at home alone, always leave clear instructions about what to do in an emergency. All children should be taught to phone for emergency services.
Never leave a baby or very young child alone at home, even for a few minutes, and even if they are asleep. It only takes a moment for a child to get into a dangerous situation.
Always supervise children while they are bathing or around water in which they can drown (buckets/pans filled with water, for instance). There are numerous drowning incidents of young children when a parent walks away for just a few seconds.
*It is never safe to leave young children in a car alone. Proper supervision should always be provided while children are in a vehicle.
Meeting the emotional needs of children:
*Spend time with your children.
Whether it is time spent playing a game, doing household chores, or reading, it is important for parents to put aside time each day to give their children some undivided attention.
*Be fair and consistent in discipline.
Set reasonable limits and rules and enforce those rules consistently as often as possible. When a parent is inconsistent with a rule, it often leads to whining, pleading and begging by a child to get his way.
*Show affection to your children.
Show your children how much you love them with words and affectionate touches. A kind word or hug goes a long way in helping children feel good about themselves.
*Teach children to respect others through your example.
By teaching your child to respect others, you are providing your child with the basis for getting along with peers as well as those in authority. And remember, your actions speak louder than words so the most effective way to teach a child to respect others is to model that behavior. Yelling and hitting, whether geared towards your child or partner, can be very damaging for a child to witness. If there is domestic violence in your household, seek help immediately. You may also visit www.LCADV.org (Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence) for more information (1-888-411-1333).
5) What resources are available to assist families?
Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana
*Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to preventing the abuse and neglect of our state’s children. Visit their website at www.pcal.org
Office of Family Support
*The Office of Family Support’s mission is to build and support a team of engaged staff serving together to empower families to attain self-sufficiency and ongoing independence. You may contact this office to find out more about : Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Disability Determinations Services Program (DDS), Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), Food Stamp Program, Head Start Collaboration Project, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) and Support Enforcement Services (SES). Visit their website at www.dss.state.la.us
LaCHIP
LaChip is no-cost health insurance for children. If your child is younger than 19 and does not have health insurance, he or she could get LaCHIP to pay for seeing a doctor or dentist. LaCHIP covers care at a hospital, prescription drugs and shots too. Visit their website at www.dhh.state.la.us/MEDICAID/LaCHIP or call 1-877-252-2447
211
Calling 211 is an easy way to learn of resources in your area from your home-based phone* (not cell phones, pay phones, or computer-based office phones). 211 will connect you with community services. See also www.211.org. * As long as the phone line allows directory assistance calls.
6) Articles and LinksArticles
Check out these links!
7) We Want to Hear from You.
Please feel free to share your ideas with us. What are you doing to help prevent child abuse? Please e-mail your comments to prevention@dss.state.la.us. Your idea may be published on our website, without use of your name, so that others can see how to help |
