Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month: By
proclamation, the Board of Supervisors has recognized April as Child Abuse and Neglect
Prevention Month.
Siskiyou County ranks 57th out of 58 California counties
in incidences of child abuse. The substantiated cases in 2009 in Siskiyou County were
three times that of the state average. Three of every 100 children living in our county
experience child abuse or neglect. Statistics
indicated that these children and adolescents are more likely to: (1) Do poorly in school;
(2) Drop out of high school; (3) Be arrested; (4) Be diagnosed with a psychiatric
disorder; (5) Become a teen parent; (6) Use drugs and alcohol; and (7) Attempt suicide.
When they reach adulthood, statistics show that these children are
more likely to: (1) Abuse alcohol and drugs; (2) Attempt Suicide; (3) Have a sexually
transmitted disease; (4) Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, or
ischemic heart disease; (5) Be depressed; (7) Have unwanted pregnancies; (8) Commit a
violent crime; (8) Be involved in domestic violence; and (9) Have multiple sexual
partners.
Adults at highest risk of maltreating a child are: (1) Those with a
personal history of child abuse or domestic violence; (2) Those with poor parenting skills
and a lack of understanding of child development; (3) Those in poverty; (4) Those with substance abuse and/or mental health
issues; (4) Those who are young, with low education, single parenting, and with a large
number of dependent children; (5) Those who are socially isolated; (6) Those with a
special needs child under the age of four; and (6) Those under family stress
(unemployment, financial, housing, health.)
In addition to the tragic individual impact of child abuse and
neglect, families caught in the generational cycle of abuse consume massive amounts of
public resources in Human Services, mental health, Public Health, law enforcement and
court costs. Much of our County budget goes to providing services for members of the same
families in the “system.”
Recently, Jill Phillips of the Siskiyou Community Services Council
(CSC), which serves as our Child Abuse Prevention Council, briefed the Board of
Supervisors on the its efforts.
Research has given us evidence that strengthening families in five
areas reduces abuse and neglect. These areas are: (1) Increasing parental resilience; (2)
Building social connections; (3) Providing concrete support in times of need; (4)
Increasing knowledge of parenting and child development; and (5) Improving the social and
emotional competence of children.
Currently, the 10 Family/Community
Resource Centers (FRC) in Siskiyou County in partnership with the CSC and
First 5 Children and Families Commission are implementing several strategies to strengthen
families, including: engaging families through family fun nights and other activities and
services; providing child development activities; providing
resources and referral services; offering parenting education for parents of children 0-6
years old; offering the family-based relapse prevention classes; providing youth
activities; and providing services through the Mental Health Services Act.
Jerry Endres, of the “Family Development Matrix Pathway”
explained that the Matrix Outcomes Model measures changes in a family’s situation
over time. Under “Differential Response,” a family may be identified as at risk
of child neglect or abuse, but have not yet reached the level where they enter the child
welfare system. When an “at risk” family
is referred and taken on for case management by the FRC, a baseline assessment is done to
identify stress factors. The family is then assisted in creating a plan just for them
using “evidence based interventions” such as taking parenting classes. Family
progress is measured and tracked. The more a family is engaged and participates, the
greater the success. Results have shown the greatest family improvement in the first three
months.
So far, initial assessments have tended to show high unemployment,
high crisis, lack of resources and parenting knowledge, isolation, need for childcare,
lack of a support system and budgeting issues. After plans have been implemented, results
are showing good progress.
Future plans are to increase collaborations between County
departments and the FRCs. There also is a need to involve the community in education and
support. The CSC is looking into local implementation of “The Front Porch Project.”
[American Humane Assoc. – note this is NOT the Human Society.] This involves a
two-day Community Training where everyday community members can learn new information,
tools and methods to more safely, confidently and appropriately intervene when
encountering a situation where treatment of child makes them concerned or uncomfortable.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/child-abuse-neglect-prevention/the-front-porch-project/
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