April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  As part of Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, the base hospital is partnering with Prevent Child Abuse America's Pinwheels for Prevention to raise awareness and educate families.

On April 1, the 366th Medical Group and other base agencies "planted" blue and silver pinwheels at the base hospital.

"The pinwheels are a reflection of the bright future children deserve," said Connie Powers, 366th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy outreach manager.

The Idaho Children Trust Fund supplied the base with 209 pinwheels, one for each child born at the base hospital in 2008.

"The big thing the pinwheels promote are the protective factors," said Ms. Powers. "Families can do a lot to prevent child abuse through the resources the base offers."

According to Ms. Powers the five protective factors to prevent abuse are nurturing and attachment, knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development, parental resilience, social connections and concrete support for parents.

Nurturing and attachment
According to PCAA, "A child's early experience of being nurtured and developing a bond with a caring adult affects all aspects of behavior and development."

Dad's Class, a class for dads taught by dads, teaches soon-to-be fathers about the joys and fears of becoming a new dad. The next class is April 17 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the dental conference room. Call 828-7520 to register.

"Base research shows if dads are more involved during pregnancy, the chances of them bonding with their child are higher," said Ms. Powers.

Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development
According to PCAA, "discipline is both more effective and more nurturing when parents know how to set and enforce limits and encourage appropriate behaviors based on the child's age and level of development."

The New Parent Support Group, run by Family Advocacy nurse Paula Cumber, allows instructors to go into the new parent's home to provide hands-on teaching. To become a part of the group, call Ms. Cumber at 828-7566.

Parenting Magic teaches parents how to handle difficult behavior, encourage good behavior and manage the testing and manipulation of children ages 2 through 12 years old. The next class takes place April 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the AFRC.

Guiding Good Choices provide information and skills to reduce risk factors for drug use in families. The group meets each Wednesday in April from 6 to 8 p.m. at an off-base location. Call 828-7143 or 828-1649 to register. This program is designed to empower parents with children ages 9 to 12.

Parental Resilience
According to the PCAA, "resilience is the ability to handle everyday stressors and recover from occasional crises."

In anger management, people learn to understand and control their responses to anger. The class runs Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at mental health. Mental health also offers stress management to help people deal with the uncertainties of life. The class runs Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at mental health.

Social connecting
According to the PCAA, "evidence links social isolation and perceived lack of support to child maltreatment."

Tot time, geared for infants up to age 5, features playtime, arts and crafts and music. The program runs Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the youth center. The cost is 50 cents per child per visit, and those up to age 1 get in free. For more information, call the youth center at 828-2501.

"Involvement with your child is the most important thing to remember," said Ms. Powers.

Concrete support for parents
According to the PCAA, "parents need basic resources such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and access to essential services that address family-specific needs to ensure the health and well-being of their children."

The base chapel provides many support groups including men, women and teen protestant groups. For more information, call the chapel at 828-6417.

The month began with the "planting" of the pinwheel garden on April 1 followed by the Easter "Eggstravaganza" at the youth center April 4. Other upcoming events include kite day at 4 p.m. April 23 at the youth center and "Celebration of Children and Families" at 10 a.m. April 25 at the Discovery Center in Boise.

"The more fun you have, the more positive a family's relationship is," said Ms. Powers.

For more information, call Family Advocacy at 828-7520 or visit www.preventchildabuse.org