Titus 2 Men And Women

Reduce Stress to Prevent Child Abuse During Holidays; Neighbors can help by reporting suspected abuse

http://chfs.ky.gov/news/Reduce+Stress+to+Prevent+Child+Abuse+During+Holidays.htm

Even in very loving families, stresses can increase during the holidays.

With kids home from school, travel and seasonal shopping and its expenses, parents can get frazzled more easily than usual. What is usually a fun and happy time for children can become devastating when parents or caregivers cope by becoming abusive.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), the state agency charged with child and adult welfare, reminds adults to keep their cool this winter when it comes to disciplining kids.

“Parents enjoy spending time with their children, but frustration can escalate during times of high stress,” said Jim Grace, assistant director of the Division of Protection and Permanency in the CHFS Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). “It’s never OK to hit a child.”

When parents are upset with a child’s behavior, a tried-and-true method to regain composure is leaving the room and counting to 10, Grace said.

“Once you return to your child, stay composed and speak in a calm voice,” he said. “Keep a clear head so you can appropriately discipline for unacceptable behavior.”

Teach children how to communicate, Grace said. Ask them to talk about what’s bothering them rather than reacting by hitting or yelling. Model this behavior, and ask other adults around your children to do the same.

“Children are usually better behaved when their parents and caregivers are happier and more relaxed,” Grace said

If you’re under stress, talk to someone. Give other parents a break by offering to listen. Sometimes just being able to express anger and frustration helps ease tension.

Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAK), one of the cabinet’s community partners, is a statewide nonprofit agency whose mission is to prevent the abuse and neglect of Kentucky's children through its outreach.

“Abuse and neglect are associated with short- and long-term consequences that affect not only the child and family, but also society as a whole,”….Grace said it takes effort from all members of a community to stop abuse and neglect. Kentuckians (and citizens of every state) should remember that if they even suspect child abuse or neglect, they must report it. “It’s the law,” he said.

Call your local police to report. Callers will remain anonymous.

www.texascasa.org

The holidays are a time for family togetherness but some Rio Grande Valley groups told Action 4 News that it's also the season for child abuse.

Experts said that stress from the holidays can lead to tempers flaring and sometimes acts of phsyical abuse in some families.

The holidays also bring out reports of sexual abuse from children abused by family members.

Authorities are asking Valley residents to consider the possibility of sexual abuse, when a child:

• Has difficulty walking or sitting
• Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
• Reports nightmares or bedwetting
• Experiences a sudden change in appetite
• Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
• Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
• Runs away from home
• Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver or sibling

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