Speak Up, Save a Child! 2018 Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse in Jefferson County
Started in 1989, the Blue Ribbon Campaign is used throughout the United States as a way to bring communities together to protect children. We are asking you to “Speak Up and Save a Child.” This is a call for the adult community to take an active role in protecting the children of Jefferson County from child abuse. Everybody holds a piece of the puzzle in preventing child abuse. You can “Speak Up and Save a Child” by: • Alerting authorities immediately if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse • Taking Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training and joining more than one million adults who are trained to recognize, report, and prevent child sexual abuse • Donating to MountainStar Family Relief Nursery at mtstar.org or to KIDS Center at kidscenter.org • Talking to children about their bodies and what they can do if someone is making them feel uncomfortable • Talking to other adults about child abuse prevention in your neighborhood and community Child abuse happens every day in Central Oregon. Let’s give kids the same voice we’re giving women. #KidsToo
Recognize It • Report It • Prevent It
In Partnership: 541.383.5958
541.322.6820
The Power of Prevention Prevention promotes a positive action or behavior and, in turn, stops a negative action or behavior. In the case of child abuse interventions, the promotion of protective factors and the reduction of risk factors have been found to ensure the well-being of children and families. Child abuse prevention occurs along a continuum that includes primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention.
PRIMARY PREVENTION
SECONDARY PREVENTION
TERTIARY PREVENTION
Targeted toward the whole community in order to impact families and communities prior to any allegations of abuse and neglect.
Targeted toward families that have risk factors such as substance abuse, low parental age, disabilities, single parents, and low-incomes.
Targeted toward families who have confirmed or unconfirmed child abuse reports and require intervention, or those who qualify for services under child welfare programs.
PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS
PARENT MENTOR PROGRAMS
*KIDS Center, Let’s Talk About It
that offer services to families living in low income neighborhoods
*frconline.org
with stable, non-abusive families acting as “role models” and providing support to families in crisis
FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS
that enhance a family’s ability to access existing services to support positive interactions among family members
that help deal with stresses and meet the challenges of parenting
*MountainStar Relief Nursery
that help transform negative practices and beliefs into positive parenting behaviors and attitudes
HOME VISITING PROGRAMS
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
that provide support and assistance to parents in their homes
for children and families affected by maltreatment to improve family communication and functioning
focusing on child development and age-appropriate expectations
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
that provide information about how to report suspected child abuse
*MountainStar Relief Nursery
*KIDS Center, Darkness to Light
we How can buse? child a prevent
BUI
RESPITE CARE FOR FAMILIES
provide assistance for highly stressed families who have young children
!
E C N E I L I LD RES
KIDS Center and MountainStar are partners in the Deschutes County of United Way TRACES Initiative. Trauma, Resiliency, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Visit tracesco.org to learn more.
*MountainStar Safety Net
*KIDS Center and MountainStar
* These are examples of how MountainStar and KIDS Center are working together to prevent child abuse. Visit mtstar.org or kidscenter.org to learn more.
Resilience is the ability to overcome stressful events. Science
shows that some people develop resilience while others do not. Understanding how we can build resilience informs efforts to help vulnerable children and families be safe and successful.
How is resilience built?
THROUGH PROTECTIVE FACTORS!
Thank you to the Children’s Trust of South Carolina for their information on the three tiers of prevention.
Protective Factors Child abuse/neglect is more likely to occur when the adults in that child’s life are under extreme stress. Local programs including MountainStar and KIDS Center help families in crisis. We use an approach that enhances family protective factors, thereby decreasing the risk of abuse/neglect while increasing the resilience of both parents and children.
Protective factors are attributes in
individuals, families, and communities that help people deal more effectively with stressful events.
Parental resilience is the ability to bounce back from all forms of stress and challenges.
Local programs help caregivers develop knowledge of child development, practical skills, and positive parent-child relationships.
Vulnerable families need concrete support such as basic supplies (food, diapers, clothing), home visits, and individual counseling.
Partner programs work together to link parents with community referrals, increasing social connections and each family’s problem-solving network.
Children’s social and emotional competence is key; therapeutic experiences help children learn to self-regulate and communicate their emotions.
Recognize & Report Signs of Abuse We know it takes courage to confront child abuse and make a report. You don’t have to know for certain if abuse is happening or have all the answers to report a concern of abuse. Since few children ever come forward to report abuse, make it your responsibility to recognize these signs and report any concerns or disclosures of abuse. YOU may be a child’s only hope; please do not ignore your instincts!
#KidsToo
What is child abuse? Child abuse comes in many forms: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, drug exposure, and witness to domestic violence. These types of abuse occur more often in combination than alone. Any child at any age may experience one or more types of child abuse.
8 potential Signs of Child Abuse
Some, but not all, children who have experienced abuse may exhibit physical or behavioral signs. You can better protect the children of Central Oregon by knowing these potential signs of abuse:
01 Nervousness or fear around adults or a particular adult
02
03
Unexplained bruises, cuts, burns, or marks
Inappropriate knowledge of sexual acts
04 Extreme hunger or eating disorder
05 Nightmares or bed-wetting
06 Apparent lack of supervision
07 Aggressiveness or withdrawal
08 Reluctance to go home
If you suspect that a child is being abused, call and talk to a trained professional at 911 or 541.693.2854. Anyone who makes a report in good faith, based on reasonable grounds, is protected by the law.
2018 Blue Ribbon Events Get involved. Prevent child abuse by attending an event or training at MountainStar or KIDS Center.
Darkness to Light
Let’s Talk About It
madras coffee cuppers
Adults receive tools for recognizing the signs of sexual abuse and responding to suspicions. They also learn simple ways to minimize opportunities for abuse in organizations and in our community. Sign up at kidscenter.org
Participants learn what are developmentally appropriate sexual behaviors in children two to seven years old. Adults learn how to start the conversation about body safety and how to respond to sexual behaviors in children. Sign up at kidscenter.org
Meet the MountainStar Madras team and take a tour. Explore our therapeutic classrooms, listen to a short presentation about MountainStar’s child abuse prevention work, and find out how to get involved. Coffee and pastries provided.
Bend (KIDS Center) Tues, April 10, 3-5pm
MountainStar Madras Fri, April 20 - 8-9 am
KIDS Center Tours
MountainStar TOurs
Hands can change the world
Spend one hour learning about KIDS Center during an in-depth facility tour. See it through a child’s eyes and have a chance to meet staff who evaluate and interview children. Sign up at kidscenter.org
Take a tour to learn what it takes to prevent child abuse in Central Oregon. Why do we focus on babies and toddlers? What are ACE’s? How can you get involved? Answer these questions and more! Call 541-322-6820 to sign up.
Each year community partners come together in Jefferson Co. to show their support in the prevention of child abuse and sexual harassment.
Jefferson County Health Dept. Tues, April 17, 4-7pm (Español) Thurs, April 26, 5-8pm
KIDS Center Bend Thurs, April 12, 12-1pm Wed, April 25, 5-6pm
MountainStar Madras Wed, April 11, 11:15am - 12:30pm
Madras City Hall Tues, April 10, 12-1pm
To learn more about these events and how you can take part in the effort to prevent child abuse, visit KIDS Center and MountainStar on their websites and social media. KIDS Center www.kidscenter.org @kidscenterbend
MountainStar www.mtstar.org @mtstar.bend
8th Annual Prevention Partners of the Year KIDS Center and MountainStar have partnered up and are excited to honor two community partners for their outstanding commitment to helping prevent child abuse in Jefferson County. Each has dedicated valuable resources and time to learn how to better protect children, as well as provide concrete support for families in crisis. Thank you for giving back to our community. Congratulations to the following organizations for your outstanding work in preventing child abuse:
Asamblea Apostolica de Madras
Thank you to our Sponsors
and Columbia Bank A Heartfelt THANK YOU to our many community partners and volunteers who work to prevent child abuse in Central Oregon!