Preventing Child Abuse
Each day, at least four U.S. children die as a result of child abuse in the home. Last year, 60 children in Arizona died as a result of child abuse.
This complex problem generally is caused by a combination of individual and environmental factors. While most abuse does not result in fatalities, a number of other serious problems are often caused by the maltreatment of children. In addition to physical and emotional pain, the after effects of abuse include school problems, teenage runaways, teen pregnancy, prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, juvenile delinquency, and an ongoing cycle of family violence.
Phoenix Children's is committed to reducing the risk of abuse for children in our hospital and our community by providing community outreach programs that teach prevention.
Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Child sexual abuse is a hidden but significant problem in every community in America. Experts estimate that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Less than one in 10 will tell. Why aren't adults doing a better job protecting children from sexual abuse? The main reason is they don't know how.
The Stewards of Children training program is a revolutionary child sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse and motivates them to courageous action. It is designed for organizations and corporations that serve children and youth, as well as individuals who have direct responsibility for the protection of either their own or others' children.
This three-hour training program provides tools to create individual and organizational policies and procedures that help keep children safe, and for training staff and volunteers on child protection.
Project S.A.F.E.
It can be an awkward and frustrating situation when witnessing an adult who is talking to or treating a child harshly. Onlookers who may want to intervene, aren't always sure how to defuse the situation. Or even worse, they fear that their actions will further escalate the problem and cause the adult to become even angrier with the child.
Project S.A.F.E. (Supporting a Family-Friendly Environment) is a child abuse prevention training program that teaches individuals – from health care professionals to retail workers – how to effectively model appropriate behavior and intervene in potentially abusive situations. More than 700 individuals have completed SAFE training, while another 115,000 educational pamphlets have been distributed to various organizations throughout the community.
A Child Broken Can't Learn
Child abuse prevention specialists from Phoenix Children's give teachers and school personnel the tools and information to effectively identify, respond to, and report suspected child abuse. It takes a holistic approach by training teachers to promote prevention concepts within the school and offer support to families who could be at risk.
The Shaken Baby Prevention Project
The Shaken Baby Prevention Project seeks to prevent injury and death that may occur when an infant or young child is shaken. A shaken baby can experience blindness, learning problems, seizures, brain damage, paralysis, and death.
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 (since 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.
Contact
(602) 546-3351
