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Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota and Circle of Parents® eNews
July/August 2012
Promoting Social and Emotional Foundations for Children

PyramidThe Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country. Click here to go to their website; it's full of free parenting resources.

Is Housing Insecurity Threatening Healthy Child Development?
From Prevent Child Abuse America
A new study from researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia titled "Trends in Child Physical Abuse and The Relationship with Housing Insecurity" states that increases in child abuse are tied to troubles in the housing sector as shown by rates of mortgage delinquency and foreclosure.

 

The study authors write, "An increase in housing insecurity was associated with an increase in abuse-related hospitalization: for each 1% increase in 90-day delinquency from the previous year, there was a 3% increase in the physical abuse admission rate and a 5% increase in the high-risk TBI admission rate in one year."

 

It is important to be aware of the impact the downturn of the economy has had on the overall health and stability of children in our country. This study illustrates how the stress of economic realities collides with the challenges of raising a child. Even with the best intentions, parents can be pushed to the breaking point. The best way to prevent child abuse and neglect is to provide parents with the support, skills and resources they need to be effective caregivers, particularly during this difficult time.

 

You can find the full study results here.

Estimated Annual Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect

Healthy families mean healthy children. Healthy communities. A thriving economy and strong nation. Investments in prevention support healthy child development and lower the number of children affected by abuse and neglect, and ultimately the financial cost to our nation. Child abuse and neglect affects over 1 million children every year. Child abuse and neglect costs our nation $220 million every day. For investigations. For foster care. Medical and mental health treatment. And later for special education, juvenile and adult crime, chronic health problems, and other costs across the life span. We will pay a staggering $80 BILLION to address child abuse and neglect in 2012. Child abuse and neglect affect us all. Child abuse and neglect are preventable. Gelles and Perlman's report details the terrible costs of child abuse and neglect. Our hope is to awaken the nation to the change we can make. Together we can prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children. You can view the whole report here.

ParentPower: School Supplies on a Budget

If you don't have time to plan ahead, you can wind up paying a fortune on school supplies. Here are some tips for the budget-minded consumer on how to save money while buying school supplies for your kids.

 

1. Reuse What You Can From Last Year's School Supplies

2. Buy Generic Brands of School Supplies

3. Start Shopping Early for School Supplies

4. Buy School Supplies on Sale

5. Buy School Supplies in Bulk for the Whole School Year

6. Buy Undecorated School Supplies and Style Them Yourself

7. Laminate Folders and Make Your Own Book Covers

8. Get Your Kids on the Same Page as You

9. Check with the Teacher to Make Sure None of the School Supplies are Actually Optional

 

Learn more about these tips here.
In This Issue
Promoting Emotional Health
Housing Insecurity and Child Development
Estimated Annual Cost of Child Abuse
ParentPower
Chapter News
Upcoming Training

Children's Program Training on August 7th in Alexandria.

 

Orientation and Facilitation Skills Training on August 9th and 10th in Red Lake.

 

If you are interested in attending any of these, please send an email to pmitchell@pcamn.org for more information.

 

The Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs is having their annual conference in September. Our Executive Director, Karina Forrest-Perkins, will be presenting "Trauma and the Developing Brain." Learn more here.

Chapter News
The Brainerd Circle of Parents proudly walked in the 4th of July parade in matching t-shirts. Watch for those t-shirts later this month at the county fair where the group will staff a booth. There are three very involved parent leaders, and this group received the Chapter of the Year award from Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota. 
 
parade
Some Quick Links
 
   
 

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