By Crystal Tatum, newtoncitizen.com, March 24, 2010
COVINGTON — April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and a local organization dedicated to that cause year-round is making an extra push to raise awareness.
Prevent Child Abuse Newton will place 932 pinwheels — representing each case of child abuse or neglect reported in 2009 — at several locations Wednesday, such as the downtown square, Newton Federal Bank, the Department of Family and Children Services and the Church at Covington. In addition, a giant pinwheel will be placed at each school in the county.
The pinwheels are meant to serve as a reminder that child abuse exists in the community. But the good news is the number of cases in Newton County is decreasing, said Prevent Child Abuse Director Sheena Berry. Reported cases of child abuse and neglect have been as high as 1,400; in 2008, the number had dropped to 1,179. This year, the number decreased by nearly 250, to 932.
“I definitely give credit to the community, to all the organizations that work with the families, and I’d like to put Prevent Child Abuse Newton in there,” Berry said. “We’ve worked with hundreds of families over the last five years, and I’d like to believe we’ve been a part of helping to educate and give parents other resources that have, in turn, helped to reduce some of those cases.”
To further those efforts, Prevent Child Abuse Newton is hosting a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. April 1 at Eastside High School with a focus on positive parenting.
Parents will be able to ask questions of a panel of eight experts in various fields, such as public safety members who will address gangs and other issues, counselors and prevent child abuse specialists.
“Any parent and all parents,” are invited to attend, Berry said, “whether you’re having problems, whether you’re a grandparent or educator or day care worker or anyone that comes in contact with children and you have questions about what to look for with child abuse and neglect and how to handle different discipline situations, or even how to work with difficult parents as a professional.”
The event is free. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for attendees to peruse information that will be provided by various local nonprofit organizations.
On April 17, Prevent Child Abuse Newton is holding a motorcycle ride and family festival. The motorcycle ride will begin at 10 a.m. at the old Wal-Mart on U.S. Highway 278 and will take an hour-long route through the county.
The cost is $20 per rider and $10 for passengers. Funds raised will help pay for Prevent Child Abuse Newton operation costs. To register, call Prevent Child Abuse Newton at 678-342-4004.
Afterward, a family festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Church at Covington on Ga. Highway 142 in Oxford. The festival will include music, dramatic performances, food and games, as well as information booths from Prevent Child Abuse and other local organizations.
“Every year it gets a little bigger and a little more informative, I think,” Berry said. “We’re putting information out there that child abuse and neglect are everyone’s issues. Protecting our children is everyone’s issue, not just DFCS, Juvenile Court and the police department. We all have to play a part.”
For more information on Prevent Child Abuse Newton, visit www.pcanewton.org.
Reporter's Email Address: crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com
Friday, March 26, 2010
Prevent Child Abuse to hold events next month
Blue ribbon ceremony to raise awareness for child abuse
By Special to the E-E, Examiner-Enterprise.com, March 24, 2010
Child abuse prevention advocates at 11 a.m. Saturday in Earl Sears Park at Adams and Cherokee will dedicate a tree featuring 115 blue ribbons to symbolize the number of abused children in Washington County served by Ray of Hope Advocacy Center in 2009.
Sen. John Ford and State Reps. Steve Martin and Earl Sears will be in attendance in support of child abuse prevention and advocacy.
Mayor Ron Nikkel will declare a city proclamation on April 5 recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention month for the city of Bartlesville
“Oklahoma has more than its share of child abuse and neglect cases,” said Rhonda Hudson, director of Ray of Hope Advocacy Center. “By educating our community, we hope to change those statistics.”
Child abuse crosses ethnic, socioeconomic and religious lines, according to Hudson.
“Child abuse statistics show 65 percent of children growing up in the United States and Puerto Rico have been victims of child abuse,” Hudson said. “Child abuse statistics state four children in the U.S. die every day as a result of child abuse. Three out of four were under the age of 4. Child abuse statistics also indicate a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.”
Hudson said that according to a recent Geography Matters: Child Well-Being in the States report, from the Every Child Matters Education Fund, Oklahoma ranks 48 on the list and its children are 6.7 times more likely to die from abuse and neglect. In comparison, Oklahoma’s children are 13 times more likely to die from child abuse or neglect than children in Maine, she said.
To help raise awareness of child abuse prevention and promote family togetherness, Ray of Hope Advocacy Center will host its annual “h’ART of a Child” event from noon to 4 p.m. on April 18, from at the Richard Kane YMCA in Bartlesville. The free event consists of a variety of age-appropriate art stations including shoebox art, self portraits, decorative bowls, origami hats and a yummy ice cream and cookie decoration station, Hudson said. In addition to the art stations, there will be a silent auction with handmade jewelry, paintings, family entertainment baskets and kids’ art baskets.
Hudson said Ray of Hope Advocacy Center’s mission is to minimize the trauma to child victims during the investigation and prosecution of cases, and to improve the system’s response to child abuse and neglect by uniting the efforts of public agencies and enlisting community support. For more information, visit www.rayofhopeac.org.
To comment on this story, go to www.examiner-enterprise.com.
CAC gears up for child abuse prevention
By Jaine Treadwell, Troy Messenger, March 23, 2010
The Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center opened in May 2005. On Monday, March 22, 2010, the CAC opened its 933rd alleged child abuse case.
That number alone is staggering but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Mona Watson, CAC director, said there is no way to know how many incidents of child abuse are never reported or never acknowledged.
“But the numbers are being greatly reduced because the word is out that child abusers are not getting away with it,” Watson said. “Children are learning that it’s all right to tell and they are telling. And, adults are not getting away with abusing children. They are being punished.”
The Pike Regional CAC has programs in place to make children aware of child abuse.
“We go into the schools with our ‘Good Touch Bad Touch’ program for the second, fifth and seventh grades,” Watson said. “We also have a program for ‘at risk’ students who display social or emotional problems or need some form of anger management. We have a program for young parents designed to help them be good parents. These programs help head off problems before they start.”
Watson said the key to stopping child abuse before it happens is awareness.
“By bringing awareness to child abuse, we can prevent it,” she said. “And that’s what we are working so hard to do. Right now, we are gearing up for Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is considered child abuse prevention month and, all across the United States, people are joining hands against child abuse.”
Raising awareness also means raising funds because the Pike Regional CAC receives no funding for prevention.
“The Pike Regional CAC is a non-profit organization,” Watson said. “There are some funds available for intervention but non for prevention. So fundraising is huge.”
Child Abuse Prevention Month is a prime time for awareness activities and fundraisers.
April 5 has been designated Proclamation Day. The mayors of the four county municipalities will join together in encouraging the Pike County community to participate in activities that raise awareness about the horrible problems associated with the abuse of children.
The Pike Regional CAC has several fundraisers planned for the month. The blue ribbons that are being displayed at area businesses and private homes are visible signs of the community’s support of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“We have a few blue ribbons still available for a donation of $10,” Watson said. “We also have available our ‘It Should Not Hurt to be a Child’ yellow tee shirts with the blue PRCAC logo. The tee shirts are also $10 each.”
The ribbons and tee shirts may be purchased by calling the Pike Regional CAC at 670-0487.
“This year, we are also having a Boston butt/rib sale and the response so far has been really good,” Watson said. “The Boston butts are $20 each and a smoked rack of ribs is $15. Both must be preordered by April 1 for pickup on April 8 and 9.”
The school children of Pike County have an opportunity to participate in the fundraising efforts of the CAC.
“We place coin collection canisters in the Pike County and Troy City schools and the classes that donate the most money are treated with a pizza party,” Watson said. “We also have a poster contest for the school children and the winners receive a basket of goodies. All of this is geared toward raising awareness about child abuse and preventing it before it happens. With all of us working together, we can stop child abuse because it really shouldn’t hurt to be a child.”
For more information or to have someone speak to a club or organization about the Pike Regional CAC, contact Mona Watson at 670-0487.
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