Remember: April Is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Let's End Child Abuse.
Health Matters: Putting a stop to abuse of children
By MAUREEN MAHANEY
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Being a parent is not easy. It takes patience, energy, creativity, commitment and lots of love. Some parenting skills come naturally, but others are learned. Children misbehave, and it is our job, as parents, to correct negative behaviors and to instill discipline. But teaching these lessons should never hurt you or your child.
Discipline is helping children develop their own sense of self-control. It involves setting limits and correcting bad behaviors. But it also includes encouragement, guidance and helping them feel good about themselves, while teaching them how to think for themselves.
Focusing on the positives and letting your child know when they are doing something right is key to establishing a healthy self-image. Hearing good things makes us feel good. It also makes us want to do more good things. Try saying at least two nice things every time you correct your child. Try to “catch” and compliment your child for behaving well, rather than always correcting negative behaviors. Small improvements in behavior can blossom into major improvements when accompanied by praise and encouragement.
We can talk until we are blue in the face, but if we really want our children to obey rules, solve their own problems, control their anger and live in peace with others, we have to show them. We have to demonstrate by our actions that this is possible.
Every parent gets angry sometimes, but we can learn to control our anger. Find a way to help yourself calm down so that you don’t do or say something you will regret later. Remember, what you do always teaches your children what to do. If you lash out, your children will learn to do the same. If you do lash out, apologize to your child; it will teach them what to do if they offend others.
April has been recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1983, when President Ronald Reagan officially signed the federal proclamation. The goal was to promote the prevention of child abuse and to support the raising of children in safe and nurturing environments. The Blue Ribbon Campaign was started in 1989 by a Virginia grandmother who tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna as a tribute to her grandson, who died as a result of abuse. Since then, the Blue Ribbon Campaign has expanded across the country and now serves as a visual reminder of our collective responsibility to prevent and confront all forms of child abuse and neglect.
“We are always working to raise awareness about the prevention of child abuse,” said Anne Embry, LifeSkills community based services program manager. “But, during the month of April, we join with the rest of our county in making a more concentrated effort. It is important that people know that everyone can play a role in helping to keep our children safe.
“Thanks to the Family Enrichment Center and the Community Collaboration for Children, we were able to distribute blue ribbons to all of the 138 employees in our corporate office,” Embry said. “They supplied us with pin wheels, magnets, big blue bows for our doors and blue ribbon decals for our windows. We also have blue lapel pin ribbons for everyone to wear. It has made a huge impact, and we sincerely appreciate the extraordinary efforts of these outstanding organizations in their quest to spread the message of child abuse prevention.
“By wearing and displaying our blue ribbons,” Embry said, “we are reminding our family, friends and community members that we are against child abuse and neglect, and that there is hope for the future.”
Sadly in 2010, there were 982 reported cases of child abuse in the Barren River region. “To lower this number, we need to educate everyone about child abuse prevention,” Embry said. “The more people we reach, the more children could be saved. People need to feel empowered to pick up the phone and file a report if they see something that doesn’t feel right, or if they suspect abuse. They might be saving a child’s life.”
Embry recommends entering the toll-free number in your cellphone, so that it’s handy if you need it. Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky’s number for reporting suspected child abuse is 1-800-CHILDREN. Another option is to contact the local authorities.
Some of the local organizations that assist in protecting our children are:
LifeSkills Child and Family Services, 270-901-5000, ext. 1265.
LifeSkills Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit, 901-5712.
Rivendell Behavioral Health Center, 843-1199.
Bellewood, 796-2012.
Family Enrichment Center, 781-6714.
Hope Harbor, 782-5014.
Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, 783-4357.
Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs, 746-7816.
— Maureen Mahaney coordinates public information for LifeSkills Inc., a nonprofit, behavioral health care corporation that plans for and serves the people of southcentral Kentucky in three main areas: mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities. Her column appears monthly.
By MAUREEN MAHANEY
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Being a parent is not easy. It takes patience, energy, creativity, commitment and lots of love. Some parenting skills come naturally, but others are learned. Children misbehave, and it is our job, as parents, to correct negative behaviors and to instill discipline. But teaching these lessons should never hurt you or your child.
Discipline is helping children develop their own sense of self-control. It involves setting limits and correcting bad behaviors. But it also includes encouragement, guidance and helping them feel good about themselves, while teaching them how to think for themselves.
Focusing on the positives and letting your child know when they are doing something right is key to establishing a healthy self-image. Hearing good things makes us feel good. It also makes us want to do more good things. Try saying at least two nice things every time you correct your child. Try to “catch” and compliment your child for behaving well, rather than always correcting negative behaviors. Small improvements in behavior can blossom into major improvements when accompanied by praise and encouragement.
We can talk until we are blue in the face, but if we really want our children to obey rules, solve their own problems, control their anger and live in peace with others, we have to show them. We have to demonstrate by our actions that this is possible.
Every parent gets angry sometimes, but we can learn to control our anger. Find a way to help yourself calm down so that you don’t do or say something you will regret later. Remember, what you do always teaches your children what to do. If you lash out, your children will learn to do the same. If you do lash out, apologize to your child; it will teach them what to do if they offend others.
April has been recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1983, when President Ronald Reagan officially signed the federal proclamation. The goal was to promote the prevention of child abuse and to support the raising of children in safe and nurturing environments. The Blue Ribbon Campaign was started in 1989 by a Virginia grandmother who tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna as a tribute to her grandson, who died as a result of abuse. Since then, the Blue Ribbon Campaign has expanded across the country and now serves as a visual reminder of our collective responsibility to prevent and confront all forms of child abuse and neglect.
“We are always working to raise awareness about the prevention of child abuse,” said Anne Embry, LifeSkills community based services program manager. “But, during the month of April, we join with the rest of our county in making a more concentrated effort. It is important that people know that everyone can play a role in helping to keep our children safe.
“Thanks to the Family Enrichment Center and the Community Collaboration for Children, we were able to distribute blue ribbons to all of the 138 employees in our corporate office,” Embry said. “They supplied us with pin wheels, magnets, big blue bows for our doors and blue ribbon decals for our windows. We also have blue lapel pin ribbons for everyone to wear. It has made a huge impact, and we sincerely appreciate the extraordinary efforts of these outstanding organizations in their quest to spread the message of child abuse prevention.
“By wearing and displaying our blue ribbons,” Embry said, “we are reminding our family, friends and community members that we are against child abuse and neglect, and that there is hope for the future.”
Sadly in 2010, there were 982 reported cases of child abuse in the Barren River region. “To lower this number, we need to educate everyone about child abuse prevention,” Embry said. “The more people we reach, the more children could be saved. People need to feel empowered to pick up the phone and file a report if they see something that doesn’t feel right, or if they suspect abuse. They might be saving a child’s life.”
Embry recommends entering the toll-free number in your cellphone, so that it’s handy if you need it. Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky’s number for reporting suspected child abuse is 1-800-CHILDREN. Another option is to contact the local authorities.
Some of the local organizations that assist in protecting our children are:
LifeSkills Child and Family Services, 270-901-5000, ext. 1265.
LifeSkills Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit, 901-5712.
Rivendell Behavioral Health Center, 843-1199.
Bellewood, 796-2012.
Family Enrichment Center, 781-6714.
Hope Harbor, 782-5014.
Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, 783-4357.
Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs, 746-7816.
— Maureen Mahaney coordinates public information for LifeSkills Inc., a nonprofit, behavioral health care corporation that plans for and serves the people of southcentral Kentucky in three main areas: mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities. Her column appears monthly.
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