Vol. 29, No. 2
Denise Uhl Jenkins, prevention specialist at CARE House, focuses her efforts on teaching adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child abuse.
CARE House uses Stewards of Children, a child sexual abuse prevention curriculum, developed by Darkness to Light. Jenkins is Ohio’s only trained facilitator of the Stewards of Children program.
HUGS (Help Us Grow Safely) is a workplace program that teaches employees and volunteers how to react when witnessing interactions between adults and children that may become abusive. This program has been used in hospitals, libraries, department stores, etc. Many of the HUGS tips are included in the article on this page.
To learn more about Stewards of Children or HUGS, call Denise Jenkins at CARE House – 937-512-1672 .
Preventing child abuse
Have you ever observed a stressful moment between a parent and a child in a public place? Many people have and they don’t know how to help.
“Fifty percent of the population reported that they did nothing when they saw a potential child abuse situation in public because they were unsure how to help,” says Denise Jenkins, prevention specialist at CARE House, a community advocacy center for children who have been abused.
Jenkins offers these tips to prevent child abuse in public places:
- Call 911 if the child is in immediate danger.
- Empathize with the parent. Offering simple phrases such as “It’s just one of those days, isn’t it?” or “It seems like you need a break” will help to take the blame away from the child.
- Talk with the parent to direct attention away from the child.
- Point out distractions to the child.
- Say something positive about the parent and
the child.
- Offer to assist the parent.
- Make sure the child is safe if being neglected or in jeopardy.
- Ask for help from someone in authority if a child is in danger.
- Suggest sources of support.
“Child abuse prevention is most effective when communities know how to recognize abuse and collaborate to prevent it,” says Jenkins.
Jenkins offers the following tips for the community to prevent potential child abuse:
- Mentor a parent who is struggling
. - Strive to be an effective parent for your children.
- Model good parenting skills for other parents.
- Praise parents and children who interact in positive ways.
- Give parenting information (books, magazine subscriptions, CDs, videos) as gifts.
- Know the indicators of and what to do in suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.
- Know local resources for child abuse prevention and intervention.
- Understand child-welfare and child abuse and neglect legislation. Voice your opinion to elected officials.
- Share your time and talents with a child abuse prevention agency or organization.
- Donate to child abuse prevention programs.
For additional information, contact CARE House at 937-512-1670.
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Table of Contents |
1 Go outside and enjoy the spring!
2 Fun - and safety - in the sun
5 Fighting childhood cancer locally
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