Infographic: Preventing Costly Child Abuse

This is from the PEW Center on the States post (http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=85899375913)
Some of our nation’s costliest social problems—like child abuse and neglect—are rooted in early childhood. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the proven policies that help break the cycle of abuse and that promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families.

Voluntary home visiting matches parents with trained professionals to provide information and support during pregnancy and throughout their child’s early years—a critical developmental period. Increasingly, states are turning to evidence-based home visiting programs in an effort to prevent abuse and neglect.

Learn more about how home visiting gives families a solid foundation and helps states save money.

Bottoms up.



CCFI Baby Pantry



Imagine everything it takes to be a parent.
Now imagine it without diapers.

Many families struggle to provide basic needs for their children. In fact, one in three mothers will struggle to provide clean, dry diapers for their babies. Contrary to popular belief, government programs do not assist with paper products, including diapers, and many daycare and child care agencies will only accept disposable diapers. With that said it becomes a difficult situation, and often times a choice, for parents struggling to make ends meet.

However, the Center for Children and Families, Inc.’s (CCFI) Baby Pantry assists parents in being able to meet these essential needs. One of our core organizational beliefs here at CCFI is that all parents need help and should never be ashamed to ask for advice, diapers or support. We see caregivers that seek help in raising their children every day at CCFI and know it is a sign of maturity and hope – never failure.
Anytime you can help lessen stress and assist families in being successful parents you are teaching them valuable skills.  Stressed parents do not always make positive decisions. By offering support and hope we are providing the opportunity for parents to have one less stressor in their lives.  Sometimes it helps just knowing that someone cares…and is there when you need them the most. Our Baby Pantry serves that role and is there for when parents need it the most.

At CCFI we’ve been fortunate to stock our Baby Pantry entirely on community donations and provided thousands of parents with nearly 40,000 diapers and hundreds of essential items (baby wipes, formula and cereal) in 2011. If we can provide support, encouragement and hope to families by allowing them to focus on the more important areas of parenting, like the relationship with their little ones, then it’s truly a benefit for the parent, child and the family as a whole, all of which transcends into a healthier community.

This April...

Promote Happier Childhoods

Across our neighborhoods, community and state we want to see love in place of the abuse that shatters the lives of more than 8,000 children in Oklahoma annually.

Abuse is an epidemic affecting our entire state — taking the lives of too many children — yet no one wants to talk about the topic of child abuse. Moreover many people are just not aware of child abuse, its signs or that they can and must speak up – because it may save a child’s life.

Starting today, we want to inspire you to begin conversations and attract attention to the cause and join CCFI in promoting happier childhoods across our community for National Child Abuse Prevention Month during Apri

Show your support. Help us prevent child abuse.

Host a diaper drive

Donate/collect diapers of all sizes for our Baby Pantry at CCFI. Help us keep little bottoms covered, clean and dry. Tell your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to join you or do the same!

Go BLUE

Since 1989, thousands of people nationwide wear the blue ribbon to create awareness of the need to keep kids safe and families strong. Get all the information for blue ribbon and children abuse prevention awareness initiatives here.  

Join Us

Join us at the Capitol as we meet with legislators and showcase prevention efforts in our community. Please come by and visit our booth, we'd be glad to answer any questions or to have your help! For more information on Child Abuse Prevention Day at the Capitol click here.

Lend Your Voice

Get involved as an individual by:

Write your state or federal elected officials to advocate for greater healthy child development and child abuse prevention funding. After all, child development is a building block for community development and economic development, things we all believe in.

Get involved as a local organization by:

·         Joining Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in April.

·         Incorporating child abuse prevention into your work.

·         Discussing child abuse prevention at your conferences and meetings.

·         Contacting us to explore the possibilities.

Get involved as a company by:

·         Having change canisters, pinups, or electronic donation opportunities for customers.

·         Sponsoring awareness activities in the community.  

·         Printing messages on your bags or insert bill-stuffers to bring attention to this issue.

·         Inviting your employees to show their support by building a blue ribbon tree.

·         Creating a pinwheel garden on your company's premises in April to show your support during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

·         Contributing your company's professional expertise to help us advance this campaign and our organization's mission.

·         Donating or supporting the purchase of advertising space to help continue getting the word out.

If you have any questions or would like any more information about the content above, contact Stacy Hawthorne at shawthorne@ccfinorman.org or call 405-364-1420.

2011: State of Children

Oklahoma ranked

43rd

for overall child well-being.

Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2011 Kids Count Data book is out, Oklahoma's children face worsening indicators of well-being:

 

Brain Hero

We are digging this video.  

Are you a brain hero?

 

Much of the work we do at the Center is to promote stronger relationships and positive development during the early years of life for brighter futures. 

This video is a great visual display of why the solution to complex social problems is within early childhood experiences.