SUPPORTING
FAMILIES: PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE
Most parents share a desire to provide the best for their children. But
raising healthy, confident children can be difficult, especially when parents
are frustrated, inexperienced, have serious mental health problems, or are
facing stressful conditions such as relationship difficulties or financial
crises.
WHY
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IS CRITICAL
Research has shown that parents and other caretakers who have resources and
support are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes for their children.
Specifically, parents need a network of supportive personal relationships and
other resources for coping with stress, knowledge and understanding of
critical child development issues, and financial and other concrete supports
such as shelter, food, and childcare. A lack of these critical supports, on
the other hand, can cause otherwise well-intentioned parents to make poor
decisions that can lead to neglect or abuse. As we learn more about why child
abuse and neglect occur, more organizations, agencies, and tribal communities
are recognizing the best way to promote prevention is to provide parents with
the skills and resources they need to understand and meet their children's
emotional, physical, and developmental needs and protect their children from
harm.
HOW
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES CAN HELP
Parenting is one of the toughest and most important jobs in America, and we
all have a stake in ensuring that parents have access to the tools and
support they need to be successful. With the help of family support
activities, many families are able to find the strength and resources they
need to raise safe, healthy, and productive children. For example, local
schools or family service centers can provide a place for parents to gather,
socialize, and learn more about their children's growth and development.
Faith communities offer parents additional opportunities for friendship and
support. Pediatricians help parents by responding to questions, concerns, or
frustrations about their children's behavior. Family support programs such as
parent education, home visitation, respite care, and support groups help
parents develop parenting skills, understand the benefits of positive
discipline techniques, and meet their children's needs. Family support
programs also offer assistance with other significant challenges facing
caretakers, such as adequate housing and affordable childcare.
Through these and other family support activities, parents develop
resources, knowledge, and skills to:
-
Understand what is typical behavior for children at
different age.
-
Identify, respond to, and advocate for their
children's needs
-
Communicate calmly and clearly with children
-
Set clear and realistic boundaries for children
-
Correct and redirect children without losing control
-
Handle stress in positive ways, including reaching
out to friends, family, and community resources for support
-
Develop positive bonds with their children and enjoy
spending time together
-
Have confidence in their own abilities as parents*
* Adapted from FRIENDS National Resource
Center for CBFRS Programs, Outcome Accountability Initiative Field Test:
Phase I Final Report, Attachment I: Sample "Common" Outcome
Evaluation Tool. For more information, go to www.friendsnrc.org
The above is an excerpt from
Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared
Responsibility:
2006 Community Resource Packet
