Child abuse prevention task force stands ready(not about fostercare but about keeping kids out of fostercare)

Child abuse prevention task force stands ready
The new alliance has a number of programs available for families in
need, as instances of abuse continue to rise throughout the county.
By BETH N. GRAY
Published May 28, 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BROOKSVILLE - Several dozen social service professionals, educators,
ministers, and child advocates gathered earlier this week to launch
the Hernando County Alliance, Child Abuse Prevention Task Force.

Funded by a state grant administered through the Department of
Children and Families, the task force is charged with developing
prevention services for Hernando County families by providing
networking, raising public awareness and offering education to prevent
child abuse.

Just how big is the problem locally?

"It's dramatically increasing," said Donna Stucchio, a supervisor for
DCF.

Ten investigators in Hernando are each seeing 20 new cases per month,
Stucchio said. That's an increase of about 15 percent since April
2003.

"Hernando is one of the fastest growing counties," Stucchio said.
"There's a large increase in domestic violence and drug abuse.

"Just about every case we get involves domestic violence," she
continued.

One of the trends is the sharp increase in low-risk cases, said Sandra
Lorean of the Child Abuse Prevention Project at the University of
South Florida, which is overseeing organization of the task force.

Low-risk cases include a first-time domestic violence incident, a
two-parent working household where a baby sitter isn't affordable, a
new mother with postpartum depression who can't keep up with house
cleaning, or a preteen who suffered bruises after being spanked by an
adult.

With the close link between domestic violence and child abuse, more
Hernando residents need to be taking parenting classes and family
workshops. But there is also the need to reduce the stigma associated
with attending those classes.

"If you recommend a parenting class, it sounds like you're telling
them they're a bad parent," said Pat Lonergan, who teaches teen
parenting at Nature Coast Technical High School.

Still, there is no shortage of parenting classes. The Women's Resource
Center, which operates a victim shelter, provides a course named,
"Shame-Free Parenting."

Harbor Behavioral Center, Head Start, Hernando High School, the state
Department of Health and other agencies also sponsor classes,
workshops and conferences, and distribute printed materials and videos
on parenting and abuse prevention. But few people attend the sessions
and informational material is left untouched.

Hearing the providers' lament, Annie McPherson, director of the Child
Abuse Prevention Project, suggested a media campaign to increase
public awareness of the problem and to get out the message that
parenting education benefits everyone.

But Robin Emmerman, a social worker in student services with the
Hernando schools, worried about kids, as young as 3 years old, coming
into the educational system, undeveloped socially and mentally for
their ages.

"We need a nurturing program in the home," Emmerman said. "If they're
not in DCF or under court order, there's nothing for them."

And parents need to be nurtured as well, preferably in a home setting,
added Dee Smith of Spring Hill, who described herself as a volunteer
and child advocate.

Smith suggested an organization of foster grandparents who would
mentor young parents and provide a few hours of respite from child
care.

Several churches hold weekly Parents' Night Out, when families can
take their children to group gatherings at church halls for some rare
hours of relief. A similar program is Mommy's Day Out, which church
volunteers provide.

But in-home services are vital, as many young mothers don't have
transportation, the group agreed.

"It's a shame when you have a service and no one comes or you have
needs and you can't fill them" McPherson said.

The task force tentatively set its next meeting for noon June 17 at
the Exceptional Student Education Building, 900 Emerson Road. More
information is available from Sandra Lorean at CAPP, 352-334-1330.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/28/He...reventio.shtml

Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action.

It's called Head Start and has been around since the Sixties.

Also, many legislatures and Guv's have opted for state-funded Preschools.

FL was one. Poor districts in NJ have FREE PRESCHOOLS.

"We need a nurturing program in the home," Emmerman said. "If they're
not in DCF or under court order, there's nothing for them."


This gal doesn't know what she's talking about.

A similar program is Mommy's Day Out, which church
volunteers provide.

Many churches and civic groups have such programs. Moms chat while kids play
in playroom with a supervisor.


Wex sent in: this sounds like California--I would be interested to know in
which state this story is from



Subject: Child abuse prevention task force stands ready(not about fostercare
but about keeping kids out of fostercare
From: wexwimpy
Date: 5/29/2004 5:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

Child abuse prevention task force stands ready
The new alliance has a number of programs available for families in
need, as instances of abuse continue to rise throughout the county.
By BETH N. GRAY
Published May 28, 2004


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------


BROOKSVILLE - Several dozen social service professionals, educators,
ministers, and child advocates gathered earlier this week to launch
the Hernando County Alliance, Child Abuse Prevention Task Force.

Funded by a state grant administered through the Department of
Children and Families, the task force is charged with developing
prevention services for Hernando County families by providing
networking, raising public awareness and offering education to prevent
child abuse.

Just how big is the problem locally?

"It's dramatically increasing," said Donna Stucchio, a supervisor for
DCF.

Ten investigators in Hernando are each seeing 20 new cases per month,
Stucchio said. That's an increase of about 15 percent since April
2003.

"Hernando is one of the fastest growing counties," Stucchio said.
"There's a large increase in domestic violence and drug abuse.

"Just about every case we get involves domestic violence," she
continued.

One of the trends is the sharp increase in low-risk cases, said Sandra
Lorean of the Child Abuse Prevention Project at the University of
South Florida, which is overseeing organization of the task force.

Low-risk cases include a first-time domestic violence incident, a
two-parent working household where a baby sitter isn't affordable, a
new mother with postpartum depression who can't keep up with house
cleaning, or a preteen who suffered bruises after being spanked by an
adult.

With the close link between domestic violence and child abuse, more
Hernando residents need to be taking parenting classes and family
workshops. But there is also the need to reduce the stigma associated
with attending those classes.

"If you recommend a parenting class, it sounds like you're telling
them they're a bad parent," said Pat Lonergan, who teaches teen
parenting at Nature Coast Technical High School.

Still, there is no shortage of parenting classes. The Women's Resource
Center, which operates a victim shelter, provides a course named,
"Shame-Free Parenting."

Harbor Behavioral Center, Head Start, Hernando High School, the state
Department of Health and other agencies also sponsor classes,
workshops and conferences, and distribute printed materials and videos
on parenting and abuse prevention. But few people attend the sessions
and informational material is left untouched.

Hearing the providers' lament, Annie McPherson, director of the Child
Abuse Prevention Project, suggested a media campaign to increase
public awareness of the problem and to get out the message that
parenting education benefits everyone.

But Robin Emmerman, a social worker in student services with the
Hernando schools, worried about kids, as young as 3 years old, coming
into the educational system, undeveloped socially and mentally for
their ages.

"We need a nurturing program in the home," Emmerman said. "If they're
not in DCF or under court order, there's nothing for them."

And parents need to be nurtured as well, preferably in a home setting,
added Dee Smith of Spring Hill, who described herself as a volunteer
and child advocate.

Smith suggested an organization of foster grandparents who would
mentor young parents and provide a few hours of respite from child
care.

Several churches hold weekly Parents' Night Out, when families can
take their children to group gatherings at church halls for some rare
hours of relief. A similar program is Mommy's Day Out, which church
volunteers provide.

But in-home services are vital, as many young mothers don't have
transportation, the group agreed.

"It's a shame when you have a service and no one comes or you have
needs and you can't fill them" McPherson said.

The task force tentatively set its next meeting for noon June 17 at
the Exceptional Student Education Building, 900 Emerson Road. More
information is available from Sandra Lorean at CAPP, 352-334-1330.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/28/He...reventio.shtml

Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become
a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at
http://www.aclu.org/action.