The first week of Child Abuse Prevention Month 2012 has New Jersey off to a great start! Pictures, events, and stories are pouring in to us, so we wanted to share back some of what you all are doing out there along with us.

The Kappa Delta Sorority at TCNJ held their Shamrock ‘N Run 5k back on March 24th at Mercer County Park once again this year. We hope to have some video up from the event soon, but in the meantime, here are the runners about to take off!

This past Wednesday, April 4th, was the National Day of Hope in honor of victims of child abuse. Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital held a candlelight ceremony at the Magic Fountain (located outside the hospital) at noon with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital family. Check out their Facebook post for even more pictures and additional information about the day and event.

Finally, North Elementary located in Newport, MI sent along a great batch of photos for our annual pinwheel photo contest! Here is one with a pinwheel garden and their principal:

We can’t wait to get your pictures and stories! Drop us a line at pinwheels@preventchildabusenj.org so we can promote all the great things happening throughout the state. Any picture you send also gets you entered into our “Pinwheel Contest” — you can win a coffee & donut breakfast as well as a $100 gift certificate toward next year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month materials!

Berndt was fired in January 2011, a year prior to his arrest, after a CVS photo technician brought sickening photographs taken by Berndt to the Redondo Beach police department. The school’s parents, however, were never informed as to why Berndt was suddenly fired.  It was not until Berndt’s January 30, 2012 arrest that the parents finally learned of Berndt’s shocking and disgusting actions.  According to the Huffington Post, on Wednesday, February 1, parents, outraged at being kept in the dark for 13 months, met with administrators, police officials and Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, John Deasy.  Deasy defended the actions of not informing the parents, claiming the authorities needed time to build their case.  In those lost 13 months, students did not receive counseling nor were they tested for sexually transmitted diseases, which authorities are now recommending.

Deasy told MSNBC that Mark Berndt’s 30-year school record was clean.  “Not so much as a single complaint.”  At the Miramonte Elementary School parent forum, Deasy asked, “How do I make sense out of the fact that this took place over a number of years ago and no one seemed to know about that?”

Ah, but they did.

During the 1990-91 school year, Marlene Trujillo, then a student of Berndt’s, was interviewed by a school counselor after Berndt was accused of masturbating behind his desk.  The LA Times reported Trujillo as saying the school counselor told her, “…it’s not very good to make stories up.  She said it was our imagination.  It was never talked about again.”

According to the LA Times, in 1994 a 10 year old student reported Berndt tried touching her genitals while she was taking a test in his class.  Although school officials notified the sheriff’s department, no charges were filed against Berndt due to insufficient evidence.

In both of these cases, the allegations were never documented in Berndt’s permanent employment record as the claims were found to be without merit.  Los Angeles District laws on reporting potential abuse safeguard the employee against false accusations; therefore, any unfounded accusations are permanently expunged from all files. During Berndt’s 30 year tenure, how many other students came forward with claims of abuse and were turned away, leaving Berndt’s record impeccable?

While the topic of child sexual abuse has certainly gained attention in the past months and more cases are being reported, it is still a taboo subject and most cases are not reported. The Pepperdine Law Review cites the failure to report incidents of child sexual abuse to authorities is due to incapacity, fear and embarrassment.  Add adults not taking accusations by children seriously, and the epidemic of child sexual abuse continues.

At Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, we believe the best weapon against child sexual abuse and all child abuse is education. Our high quality training and workshops educate parents, teachers, students, school administrators, clergy and other members of the community whereby providing the necessary tools needed to spot the warning signs of abuse.  Through education, we can remove the veil of shame associated with child sexual abuse to encourage children to speak up and adults to believe them.  With the proper tools and knowledge, 18 years ago Mark Berndt would have been removed from the classroom, saving scores of children pain and suffering.

Daniel Ochoa, whose 9-year-old daughter was Berndt’s student last year, was quoted in L.A. Now as saying, “As parents, we should have been more involved. As a father, I feel terrible because it’s too late to do anything now.”  It is not too late!  With the proper education, we can stop child sexual abuse and prevent it from ever happening.

Find out what you can do to prevent child sexual abuse by contacting us at 1-800-CHILDREN, or visit us online at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

For the past year, the staff at PCA-NJ and our home visiting programs have been working to create the new website that would be both useful and informative for parents, professionals, and communities statewide. That revamped website is available today at www.healthyfamiliesnj.org:

Our new PSA is a 30-second spot that speaks of the value of home visiting. Please share the video with all of your colleagues!

What makes this tragedy different from the incident at Penn State is that while Joe Paterno and other Penn State staff chose to turn a blind eye, those close to Fine at Syracuse claim no knowledge of any misconduct whatsoever. Jim Boeheim, head basketball coach at Syracuse, has known Fine since 1966 when they were both students attending Syracuse. When the news of Fine’s alleged crimes surfaced, Boeheim stood by his assistant of the past 35 years. “I’ve known Bernie for 45 years, and there’s absolutely no way that I believe any of this could possibly have happened…That’s the bottom line.”

Former players quickly came to Fine’s defense, publicly vouching for his character. Rony Seikaly, the star center for Syracuse from 1984-1987 said in a phone interview, “…You won’t find one person who would voice anything other than Bernie’s a good guy.” Derrick Coleman, an All-American and No. 1 draft pick in the 1990 NBA draft, posted on his Facebook page, “…I support Coach Fine 100%. In my time at SU and still to this day I’ve never seen any indication of what he’s being accused of.” George Hicker, who played from 1964-1968 and is currently a member of the SU Board of Trustees told the Syracuse Daily Orange, stated “…there is no chance these allegations are right.”

However, Fine’s cheering section was immediately extinguished on Sunday, November 27, when ESPN aired a horrifying taped phone conversation between Fine’s wife, Laurie and the victim. During this conversation, ESPN says Laurie Fine can be heard saying, “I know everything that went on with him… Bernie has issues, maybe that he’s not aware of, but he has issues… and you trusted someone you shouldn’t have.” At that point, Jim Boeheim recanted his vehement support for his assistant.

But this scenario begs the question: how is it possible for abuse to take place for so many years while the people closest to the attacker remained clueless? Surely, there had to be some signs of impropriety? My guess is there were; however, without proper education they went unnoticed.

It’s a fact: predators come in all sizes, shapes, colors and genders. They come from all walks of life from strangers, to relatives, to trusted neighbors, clergy and coaches. Someone you sat next to for 35 years. The greatest, most respected person you know. Since there is not one cookie cutter model in which abusers fall under, our best defense at stopping child sexual abuse and protecting our children is with education. Giving parents and other adults within the community knowledge and tools to combat this epidemic will lead to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

At Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, our mission is to prevent child abuse in all its forms. By working in conjunction with leaders throughout New Jersey, and through education, technical assistance and training of parents and teachers, we are taking steps in preventing child abuse before it ever happens. It is imperative we spread our knowledge and expertise to everyone within the community to end child abuse forever.

Find out what you can do to prevent child sexual abuse by contacting us at 1-800-CHILDREN, or visit us online at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

Unfortunately, this case of child sexual abuse underscores the failure of our society and its leaders to confront this horrific crime and take strong steps to prevent any child from being a victim in the future. Protecting our children from harm is an adult responsibility, and perhaps the single most important job – not just for parents but for all adults in our society. In this case, many adults at Penn State failed horribly in that most fundamental responsibility. Tragically, their fear and inability to act resulted in more children being abused.

Child sexual abuse can be prevented – by educating parents and other adults in the community about the true facts and giving them the tools they need to protect our children. At Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, we are working in partnership with leaders from every part of the State to develop stronger strategies to prevent child sexual abuse before it ever happens. We are working with broad coalitions from three New Jersey communities to spread the word about effective prevention policies and practices and engage as many citizens as possible in the cause of prevention. We have seen ENOUGH ABUSE and it is time we take the steps NOW to stop it.

Find out what you can do to prevent child sexual abuse by contacting us at 1-800-CHILDREN, or visit us online at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

On Saturday, September 25, 2011, on-air broadcasting will stop at Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, TeenNick, and Nick Jr., as well as online at Nick.com, Nicktoons.com, TeenNick.com, and NickJr.com. Nickelodeon and its networks are creating this “blackout” in an effort to support Worldwide Day of Play (WWDP). Children require 60 minutes of physical activity every day, and Worldwide Day of Play encourages children and their families to participate in physical activity rather than sit in front of a television or computer screen.

One in three children in the United States is overweight or obese. Increasing physical activity during childhood decreases the risk for overweight and obesity, as well as weight-related health problems later in life. In addition to providing an opportunity to be active, limiting screen time cuts down on the number of advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages that children view. This reduction in exposure to food advertisements may protect children against marketing schemes and play a role in improving their diets.

With overweight and obesity rates increasing in the United States, Worldwide Day of Play is taking a step toward obesity prevention. Families can spend the day being active together, and parents can model and promote physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Outdoor Activities

• Basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball/t-ball – These organized sports teach children the importance of team work, while offering a fun opportunity to exercise outside.
• Take a trip to the park – Parks offer numerous ways to be active; swing across the monkey bars, run around, or push each other on the swings.
• Obstacle course – Parents and children can set up an outdoor obstacle course in their own backyards. Stations may include dribbling a ball around cones, jumping through hula hoops on the ground, playing horseshoes, and sack races.
• Go for a bike ride – Biking is a great cardio activity that also helps improve balance. Make sure that everyone wears a helmet for safety.
• Walk after meals – Walking around the block after breakfast, lunch, or dinner encourages both family togetherness and physical activity.

Indoor Activities

• Jump rope – Jumping rope is a great cardio workout, can be done inside, and is fun!
• Hula hoop – Have a hula hoop contest; whoever can keep the hoop up longest wins.
• Take the stairs – Avoid using elevators and escalators while out and about during the day. Use the stairs for an extra physical activity opportunity.
• Follow the leader – Family members take turns being the leader while the rest of the family follows. The leader can perform different fun and silly actions (jumping jacks, skipping, etc.) while moving around the house.
• Dance – Turn on some music and get moving!

Encourage your family to participate in Worldwide Day of Play. Keep a tally of your different activities during the day, and see how many different ways you can be active!

Spending time with your family away from the television is not only good for your physical health, but it helps strengthen the emotional health of your family as well. The bonds that form when parents and children play together help protect families during stressful times when child abuse is more likely to occur. Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey commends initiatives like Worldwide Day of Play that promote valuable family togetherness time, and we encourage you to set aside time every day to play with your children.

The World Health Organization published a new report that compares the rates of infant mortality internationally. The United States ranked 41st among all countries, and was outranked by Cuba, Poland, Malaysia, Lithuania and South Korea. One of the difficult challenges related to infant mortality in the U.S. is the high rate of pre-term delivery — research shows that families living in poverty face an increased risk for pre-term delivery and that their access to high quality health care to deal with a high-risk birth is restricted.

The second headline, based on a new report from Rutgers University, states: “More unemployed people have given up”. The report finds that many unemployed are feeling desperate and helpless in their search for a job. A co-author of the report states: “The sense of desperation and feeling of helplessness in our respondents are almost palpable… Many are watching the erosion of what it took a lifetime to build. They are out of work and almost out of hope for themselves and the nation’s economy”.

A third headline, from USA Today last year, reads: “Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950″. The article begins: “Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman’s presidency”. The story continues that the current rate of 9.2% of all personal income “is far below the historic average of 12% for the last half-century”.

These stories come during a time when many leaders are demanding even deeper and more dramatic cuts in health care and all government programs. They insist we cannot afford these programs and that individuals in the US should be on their own to buy health insurance… which, unfortunately, is unaffordable for most. The new cuts would certainly target Medicaid, making it even more difficult than it is today for the most vulnerable families to get the basic health services they need, including prenatal care and pediatric services for their children.

The call for cuts in basic support for families underscores the feeling that many of our nation’s leaders seem to have lost the sense of compassion that lies at the heart of the country’s founding, and which has been reflected in many of its greatest achievements, including civil rights, Medicare, social security and recoveries from natural disasters.

All of these proposed cuts would increase the stress faced by moms, dads and children living in neighborhoods in nearly every community in the U.S. Long-term unemployment has been shown to lead to anger, frustration, and depression — all circumstances that harm children and increase the risk for child abuse or neglect. Further cuts in basic health care will make it harder for parents to get medical care for their children when they are sick and weaken an already weak safety net for health care. The rate of infant mortality will only increase.

Ghandi once stated: “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members,” and all of these headlines raise fundamental questions about how the U.S. cares for its children.

A number of national organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, The Child Welfare League, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the Humane Association, are calling for a new “movement”, one that asks that basic question about how we care, as a society, for our children. The movement recognizes that children do not vote, are not represented by powerful lobbyists and do not contribute millions of dollars for election campaigns… and thus, they often get lost in the debate. The new campaign asks the question: “What does our country need to do to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity for healthy growth and development?” The goal is to increase the public dialogue about where children fit into the policy decisions being made in Washington and in our state capitals, and to build greater accountability into the decisions made by policymakers are we go forward. Maybe even more than that, it can restore just a bit of that basic compassion that seems to have been lost. For more information about the Movement or to sign a pledge to join, go to: www.movementforchildren.org.

The Journal of the American Medical Association this month published a controversial article regarding the status of the approximately 2 million super-obese children in this country (“State intervention in life-threatening childhood obesity”).

Citing the urgency of the severe medical complications facing these children at or exceeding the 99th percentile for Body Mass Index, the authors advocate for the state to intervene in order to correct neglectful or irresponsible parenting.

While interventions such as in-home support and parent training are preferred, the authors conclude that some cases will warrant more severe action, specifically gastric bypass surgery or foster care. It is a sad state of affairs when we find ourselves weighing the pros and cons of these two options for our nation’s children.

Although both of these options are unpleasant, the authors opt for foster care as the less-invasive option. The authors of the article caution against the unknown risks of surgery and the ethical considerations of putting children through “irreversible and invasive” surgery.

Option B is no better. Even under the most justified circumstances, removing a child from his or her family causes devastating and inevitable emotional trauma. There is no action more invasive than to uproot a child from his home, separating him from his attachment figure for an unknown length of time. Removal of a child should be reserved for the most extreme cases of child safety, only after all other efforts have been exhausted.

Unfortunately, the dangers of childhood obesity are very real, and there may be cases in which one of these crucial options will be selected. Sadly, if we don’t do something to prevent obesity, cases like these will no longer be rare.

With the number of severely obese children continuing to increase, the solution cannot be to increase the capacity of foster care or to open new hospitals to operate on our kids. These options are too costly, in more ways than one. Instead, we need to focus on ways to prevent childhood obesity, to save children from suffering either of these traumatic experiences.

We must implement a new nutrition agenda, going beyond diet and physical activity to decrease childhood obesity and focus on prevention. The best approach is one that is multidisciplinary with successful linkages among the private and public sectors, the entertainment industry, agriculture, nutrition and health. Proactive strategies are necessary to prevent obesity.

Research has shown that the risk for childhood obesity begins in the womb. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from conception to 2 years of age, are a critical developmental period. It is within this time span that first steps to prevent childhood obesity can and should be taken. In fact, the mother’s diet both before and during pregnancy can have a lifelong impact on her child’s health. Therefore, interventions that begin during pregnancy can shape the earliest childhood experiences and place children on a trajectory for improved health outcomes.

Twenty-five years of research supports successful and creative programs that include parents in the solution. There currently are many programs in New Jersey that support children and families, recognizing that children need their parents and caregivers and that parents and caregivers also need support.

Parents generally want the best for their children, and, when properly nurtured and supported, will act in their children’s best interests. Just as parents play a role in the negative behaviors that lead to obesity, parents must be at the center of efforts to prevent childhood obesity.

Through home visiting, parent support, and parent education programs that target pregnant women and families with very young children, we can equip parents with the information and linkages they need to properly nourish their children and set them on a path for improved health outcomes.

Investment in prevention efforts, in programs that educate parents long before obesity becomes a problem, is the most effective, ethical, and respectful approach. Prevention programming can keep kids healthy and keep families together. This is the only option we should be considering for our nation’s children.

If you are a father who believes you can be doing more for your children or wish to strengthen the bond you share with your children and their mothers, here are 10 great tips for fathers of all backgrounds. If you are already doing these things, please share this information with fathers you know.

1. Play with your child

Children love it when you play with them. Especially boys. It can be playing board games or playing sports. Or as simple as chasing around the yard. The important thing is that you are giving them your time, and that is what a child wants.

2. Read with your child

Children love to learn. And books are a great way to learn. Read with your child, and they will grow up loving to read. Your child may try and just read certain types of books, but try and find a variety of books. Some, your child won’t like. Some they will. The point is to expose them to the many different types of books as early and as often as you can.

3. Change your child’s diapers

I don’t know why men are afraid of this one. I’ve been involved with changing my children’s diapers ever since the first one was born. Yes, it can be smelly. Yes, it can be messy. You will survive. And your wife will appreciate you helping out.

4. Be firm, but gentle

From time to time, your child will need to be disciplined. This should start early and ideally be done by both parents, not just one. Parents need to agree on what should be disciplined and how. When your child needs to be disciplined, it is important to be firm. Your child, especially as they get older, may try to test you. If you don’t remain firm, your child will not learn to obey you.

5. Listen to all sides

Disagreements will arise between your child and others, whether they are siblings or cousins, or other children. It is important that before you decide what you should do, you need to listen to both sides. You may not know everything that led up to the disagreement, so this is important in deciding what to do.

6. Be fair

Sometimes, when you discipline one, you must discipline another as well. That is part of why you must listen to both sides. But being fair extends to more than just discipline. Being fair when you have multiple children is that you make sure you do things for both. There may be times when you have to pay more attention to one than the other, like when one is an infant and the other can fend at least partially for themselves. But you must not do this to the exclusion of the other. As they grow older, it can be important that you find time to do things with each of them. Just remember to be fair in the time you spend with all of your children.

7. Cook (and not just on the grill)

Some men disdain the kitchen. They will go out of their way to prove they don’t know how to cook. Or if they do cook, will only do so on the grill. Cooking in the kitchen not only gives your wife a break, but also shows your children that men can cook.

8. Help with the housework.

The only thing some men disdain more than cooking, it is helping with the cleaning of the house. You don’t have to maintain a spotless household, but helping to keep the house clean and orderly helps keep the environment safe for your children. With you helping to do the housework, your wife will be able to relax and have more time to spend with you as well. Just because certain roles are “given” by society to men and others to women does not mean that the other can’t do the work.

9. Be available and present

You don’t have to spend every moment you are around with your children. However, there are times when your child needs your attention. Make yourself available to your child. But you must also remember to be present. Just being physically present when your child needs you may not be enough if you are busy on the computer, watching television, or on the phone. Look your child in the eye and listen to what they need so you can better help them with what they need.

10. Remember to teach.

As a parent, you are a role model, Even if your child is in school, there are things you can teach your child that schoolteachers can’t teach. Be involved in what your child is learning. You may not be able to help with everything. Help with what you can. Remember, the most important thing you can teach your child is how to interact with others, and you do that with how you interact with your child and with others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1390408

As you celebrate fathers with your families this weekend, consider a donation to Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey in their honor. We know that when parents — mothers, fathers, and all caregivers alike — are actively involved with their children’s lives, they are bound for future success. Decades of research show that when parents are involved, children have higher test scores, better attendance in school, better self-esteem, decreased usage of drugs and alcohol… the list goes on and on. Every father can make this difference for their children.

The time I have spent at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey was most certainly educational; I had absolutely no idea how expansive the organization’s efforts truly are. Throughout my four weeks at PCA-NJ, I was able to divide my time relatively equally amongst the programs the organization offers, allowing myself to delve into the massive world within a nonprofit. From making hundreds of copies to participating in a federal grant review meeting, my time at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey has been diverse to say the least.

Before my internship, I did not realize what it was exactly that Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey did; my imagination created a stuffy office building with countless field workers doing nothing but paperwork and on site visits and I do not think I could have been more wrong. Not only is the office welcoming, with wonderful people who legitimately enjoy their jobs working here, but there was a major business aspect to organization I was not expecting. Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey offers special training sessions to child care takers and family workers for a fee as a way to both financially and socially support their mission of protecting every child’s well deserved happy, safe, and healthy childhood.

The diversity of programs and departments within PCA-NJ was also facilitating; from the Parent Linking Program for teen moms still in high school, to the Parents As Teachers initiative to help support at risk families, to the Parent Information and Resource Center which offers tools schools can use to increase parent involvement in the school, community, and an individual student’s life. Seeing how such different programs can come together and all work to benefit a common goal was truly interesting to learn about, and it also made me realize just how expansive Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey’s efforts are.

Although the time I had at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey was a wonderful learning experience, I did notice some rather disheartening obstacles nonprofits such as Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey face. Bureaucratic red tape is constantly faced, making it extremely difficult to do the jobs those working directly in the community wish to do as to best meet the needs of the client. Additionally, as state and federal funding is decreased, the government expects to see more from agencies such as this while providing fewer resources to facilitate the completion of any given task. It is a constant battle that has to be resolved, or else efforts such as those being made by Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, as well as countless other nonprofits throughout the country, will never be 100% successful.

Overall I have learned that Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey is a fantastic organization that rises above and beyond its duty; it is no wonder why they are one of the most successful Prevent Child Abuse America chapters in the country. The programs and trainings are incredibly interesting, and very successful in completing their mission. As Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey continues to grow, I am certain that our state will one day be free of the horrid crime of child abuse; we all, as a common people, however, have to come together and support one another until that day is here. It takes a village to raise a child.