This project developed out of a concern for the welfare of children, particularly those who are abused or neglected. We met with a service provider to determine the rate of child abuse in this community. We discovered that from 1990 to 1997, child abuse in Butte County increased from 10 to 17 incidents per 1000 children. Between the years of 1997 and 1999 the incidents decreased to 13 incidents per 1000 children. Although child abuse has decreased in the last several years, it remains a significant problem as there are approximately 700 Butte county children in foster care each month (Butte County Department of Social Welfare). After verifying that a need existed, we began to brainstorm ideas and ways to help prevent child abuse. In the beginning phase of this project, our goal was to provide information to parents and care providers. As the semester progressed we became interested in supporting and becoming involved with Child Abuse Prevention Month. This gave us an opportunity to take part in a month long prevention campaign that is recognized nationally and celebrated during April each year.
Statement of Need
To develop knowledge about child abuse and determine if prevention programs are effective, we began to research the subject. First we read articles and discovered that each year millions of children suffer some form of abuse or neglect. The effects of abuse on the child and society are great. Abuse can have negative effects on the physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral development of children. Child abuse is also linked with negative societal consequences, such as academic problems, drug use, teen pregnancy, delinquency, and crime. The consequences cost society by financially supporting programs such as mental health, substance abuse, police and court interventions, and correctional facilities. We also discovered that prevention programs are designed to increase parental competence and knowledge of the developmental stages of childhood. After our initial research, we interviewed administrators, supervisors, direct service providers, and clients from Parent Education Network. By interviewing people that work in an organization that provides services to parents, or directly involved, we were able to develop an understanding of how each views child abuse and the benefits of prevention programs. With the help of these individuals we determined that prevention programs are helpful in preventing child abuse.
Description of the Intervention
We developed several goals to enhance the Child Abuse Prevention Month Campaign. We wanted to increase the distribution area over previous years and broaden the distribution area to include Hmong and Spanish speaking individuals. We developed a list of organizations, schools, childcare establishments, businesses, social service agencies, health care providers, and churches that might be interested in obtaining prevention materials. Parent Education Network developed a letter that was to be sent to the community asking for their support during the month of April. We had the letter translated into Hmong and Spanish, and then proceeded to mail the letters to community members. Approximately one week after the letters were mailed, we began receiving requests for pamphlets, blue ribbons, and presentations. The week before April, we began delivering packets of information to businesses. Each packet included child abuse information, Never Shake A Baby information and blue ribbons. We also participated in a children's fair in Willows. This day long event gave us an opportunity to distribute child abuse prevention information to Glenn County residents. Information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Never Shake A Baby, programs offered by Parent Education Network, and blue ribbons were provided. Printed materials were provided in Hmong, Spanish and English.
Evaluation of the Intervention
In the process of developing our project we gained much knowledge regarding child abuse prevention and awareness. We discovered that from 1990 to 1997, child abuse in Butte County increased from 10 to 17 incidents per 1000 children. Between the years of 1997 and 1999 the incidents decreased to 13 incidents per 1000 children. Although child abuse has decreased in the last several years, it remains a significant problem as there are approximately 700 Butte county children in foster care each month. Butte County spends approximately $11 million annually for children that are placed into foster care system (Butte County Department of Social Welfare). We had the opportunity to work collaboratively with other organizations to educate our community of the facts regarding child abuse and how to prevent it. The community welcomed the idea of raising awareness to prevent child abuse, without the communities support, our project would not have been as successful.
In doing our project we learned how to sort through programs that exist, find a need within those programs, evaluate that need, and then implement a strategy to be of service to the unmet need that we found. When we found that Parent Education Network (PEN) had a campaign for Child Abuse Prevention month that could be expanded and broadened, we were very excited. By finding a program that existed, we did not have to create a program from the floor up, rather we could expand upon this existing program, and PEN was excited that we were there to be of service to them and to our community.
Reflections on the Project
Reflecting back on our project, it was an enormous success. We helped to place over 4000 information packets and blue ribbons out into the community, thus doubling the original goal of 2000. We were able to educate the community at large of the abuse that child across America are experiencing, and how to prevent such abuse.
April being Child Abuse Prevention month gave us the opportunity to participate in many events. Some other areas that we came up with to enhance our project was to distribute information to grocery stores and requesting that they place a flyer into customers bags, distributing flyers to daycare centers, and participate in presentations to local organizations.
Working as a group provided us with a tremendous learning experience. Not only did we learn about the macro systems in regards to awareness of child abuse and prevention; we also learned much about one another, ourselves, and how to work within a group despite our differences. Nurturing our relationship as partners was essential for the success of our project. Having an awareness of how our words and actions affected other group members was vital in creating a system of open communication. We made a commitment that if a problem arose we would become honest with each other for the better of the project as well as for our own personal growth. Our community project was a fulfilling way to be of service to our community, as well as a fascinating adventure of personal growth.
References
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Dore, M. M., & Lee, J. M. (1999). The role of parent training with abusive and neglectful parents. Family Relations, 48, (3) pp. 313-325. Retrieved September 24, 2000 from EBSCO database (masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com
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Kaplan, S. J., Pelcovitz, D., & Labruna, V. (1999). Child and adolescent abuse and neglect research: A review of the past 10 years. Part 1: Physical and emotional abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, (10) pp. 1214-1222. Retrieved September 16, 2000 from EBSCO database (masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. (1996, September). Executive summary of the third national incidence study of child abuse and neglect. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Administration on Children, Youth, and Families National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Sedlak, A. J., & Broadhurst, D. D. Retrieved September 29, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.calif.com/nccanch/pubs/stateinfo/nis3.htm
Prevent child abuse:america, (October 2000). [On-line]. Available: http://www.preventchildabuse.org
Smith, T. (1999). Neighborhood and preventive strategies with children and families: what works?
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Wattam, C. (1999). The prevention of child abuse. Children & Society, 13, 317-329.
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