Child Abuse Prevention
At least four U.S. children die because of child abuse in the home each day. According to the Arizona Department of Health, 50 Arizona children died because of maltreatment in 2005 – the overwhelming majority of them are under the age of 5.
Phoenix Children's is committed to reducing the risk of abuse for children in our community. Learn more about our programs:
The Shaken Baby Prevention Project
Project SAFE
Stewards of Arizona’s Children
Pediatric Forensic Program
Teen/Tot Clinic
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Reaching 20,000 parents each year, the Shaken Baby Prevention Project provides new and expectant parents, the general public and healthcare providers with information about the dangers of shaking babies, including tips for calming a crying baby (most shaking incidents are precipitated by inconsolable crying) and ways to cope with parental stress. Information is distributed to parents through birthing hospitals, community physicians, childbirth educators, and community organizations serving children and families.
Witnessing an adult talking to or treating a child harshly can create an awkward and frustrating situation for other adults. Onlookers may want to intervene, but aren’t always sure how to do so safely and effectively. Project SAFE (Supporting a Family Friendly Environment) is a child abuse prevention training program that teaches individuals – from healthcare professionals to retail workers – how to effectively model appropriate behavior and intervene in potentially abusive situations. More than 800 individuals have completed SAFE training, while another 120,000 educational pamphlets have been distributed to various organizations throughout the community.
One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Fewer than one in 10 will ever tell. Stewards of Arizona’s Children is an innovative child sexual abuse prevention training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Designed for organizations and corporations that serve children and youth, and for individuals who have direct responsibility for the protection of their own or other’s children, this three-hour training program provides tools to create policies and procedures that help keep children safe, and for training staff and volunteers on child protection.
In the first year of the program, more than 325 individuals participated. Additionally, 17 facilitators were trained, allowing them to implement training in their local communities.
Phoenix Children's recently added an in-house Forensic Pediatrics program to help fight Child Abuse. The multi-disciplinary team, including five in-house physicians and one nurse practitioner, have specialized training, have seen hundreds of cases, have testified in court, and have extensive, previous involvement in state-of-the art Forensic Pediatric programs.
This highly skilled and motivated team has expertise in evaluating and treating abused children. Any Phoenix Children's healthcare employee is able to call for a forensic consult at any time (24/7), allowing every child to be seen as quickly as possible. The program also improves communication with other community groups and agencies involved in child maltreatment cases. The group meets every Friday for group case review meetings that include county attorneys, social workers, other law enforcement officials and representatives from the state's Child Protective Services.
The Teen/Tot Clinic provides primary medical care to teen parents (up to age 21) and their children, as well resources and support for the parent to go back to school and work. The clinic team includes doctors Michelle Huddleston, MD, and Sarah Beaumont, MD, Healthy Steps coordinators, and a social worker. Healthy Steps provides information on child/brain development, parenting strategies, home visits, and support to the family. The social worker provides referrals and assistance with social issues such as graduating high school and/or getting a job.
Parent-Provider Partnership in Child Care (PCAN) Research has shown early childhood programs can serve as an effective "early warning system" to detect risky situations that could lead to infant or child abuse. And with approximately 50 percent of infants, 69 percent of 3 year olds, and 84% of 5 year olds in some form of child care while their parent(s) work, it's essential child care providers know how to read those early warning signs. PCAN trains child care professionals to use their every day relationships with parents - as well as current research and information - to support and strengthen families in the effort to prevent child abuse.
Contact us:
(602) 546-3351
