Celebrating April

During Child Abuse Prevention Month, PCAI and its Councils joined advocates across the country to raise awareness and call for action to address abuse and neglect. The message was simple. Children are our most important resource and it is up to all of us to make sure our state's children live a life free from abuse and neglect.

Throughout April, Councils hosted special events, education workshops and attended community events. In Indianapolis, Governor Mitch Daniels joined PCAI, The Villages and children from Day Nursery to kick-off Child Abuse Prevention Month and to launch a statewide "Kids Can't Wait" campaign. 1001 blue pinwheels were planted on the grounds of the State House to represent the 87,000 live births of children in Indiana.

While April is gone, the importance of helping our children stay safe is still critical. PCAI challenges every Hoosier to protect and nurture the children in their homes, neighborhoods and faith communities.

We invite you to visit www.indianakidscantwait.org. We have compiled resources for parents that need a hand and opportunities and information for people and organizations that want to help secure the future of Indiana's kids. If you have an event, activity or parenting tip you would like to share with our readers please send us an e-mail.

Thank you for Cherishing our Children!

Sharon Pierce
President & CEO, The Villages

Sandy Runkle
Program Director, PCAI

PCAI Membership

Membership support is essential in helping Prevent Child Abuse Indiana meet the growing demand for child abuse prevention, education and information. Become a PCAI member today! To learn more call 317.542.7002 or visit www.pcain.org/members.

Home Alone?

The statistics are staggering - more parents are working than ever before; quality childcare is less affordable, and more children are caring for themselves. PCAI offers a brochure to help parents know when it's ok to leave your child alone. Learn facts about after-school hours, factors to consider when making the decision to leave your child home alone and an interactive script for families to use. Order your copy today.

Be Water Wise: Supervise

The familiar phrase "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" really hits home when it comes to the preventable tragedy of childhood drowning. It only takes one inch of water for a child to drown. That's why it is critically important never to leave a child alone in or near water.

This summer, PCAI offers these safety tips in an effort to keep children safe around water:

Supervise children around any body of water, including bath tubs and wading pools.
Fence in pools and lock the gate. Pool safety covers and alarms provide added protection.
Keep ladders, patio furniture and toys away from above-ground pools. Toddlers are better climbers than you might think.
Young children should wear or use personal flotation devises, but they should not be used to replace adult supervision.
Empty baby pools immediately after use and store upside-down.
Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers near all pools.

Be water wise! Supervision is extremely effective in preventing accidental drowning of children younger than 15 years of age.

New Training Takes You From Zero to Three

Indiana was one of six states awarded a grant to participate in an in-depth training: Zero to Three. PCAI is now positioned to help strengthen child abuse and neglect prevention initiatives by involving child care in primary prevention efforts.

This new Zero to Three training can be customized to fit your needs. Topics include:

Building collaborative relationships with families
Building a healthy brain
Social-emotional development of infants, toddlers, and their families
Helping parents and providers understand temperament
The influence of culture on caregiving
Understanding and responding to abuse and neglect of infants and toddlers

This training is especially ideal for early childhood professionals. Call 317.542.7002 for details and to schedule your training.

PCAI Calendar Highlights

June 4: An Evening with Victoria Rowell
Victoria will share her personal experience of growing up in foster care and about the inspirational women who influenced her. A special private reception begins at 5:30 p.m. The program begins at 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, downtown. Cost is $15 for PCAI members, $30 for nonmembers, $10 for students. Register on-line at www.pcain.org or call 317.542.7002.

July 24: The Villages' Family Night at Victory Field Presented by BKD, LLP
The Villages is proud to announce BKD, LLP as the presenting sponsor for the 5th Annual Family Night at Victory Field. Mark your calendars now for what promises to be a great night. Tickets and additional sponsorships are available. For more information visit www.villageskids.org.

PCAI Program Profile

Nurturing Fathers

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana believs that every child deserves a NURTURING FATHER - a man who actively provides guidance, love and support to his children. PCAI proudly announces its second series of the Nurturing Fathers program - a 13-week program focused on parenting attitudes and behaviors to help strengthen their families by being active in their children's lives. Twelve fathers from the Edinburgh Correctional Facility are currently enrolled in the class.

These fathers will learn how to better communicate, how to discipline without violence, how to deal with different feelings, and how to manage anger. Research shows that participants in the program are less likely to offend again and their children are less likely to become incarcerated themselves. The men will be "graduating" from the class in June.

Spotlight on Councils

Prevention Councils are a vital component of PCAI's strategy for raising awareness about child abuse and neglect. Prevention Councils are comprised of volunteers who organize and implement a variety of primary prevention activities. Council sponsored activities include:

Exhibiting at fair and community events
Sponsoring speakers who share information about prevention
Writing articles in local newspapers about prevention
Organizing poster contests in which students create art about prevention
Sponsoring "Blue Sunday" activities at local churches

Prevention Councils can be found in more than 40 Indiana counties. PCAI welcomes the newest Council in Decatur County. Volunteers are in the process of creating a Council in Shelby County. We look forward to bringing the message of prevention to these two communities.

Congratulations and thank you to the Councils who have completed or are in the process of completing their strategic planning. This two-part initiative involves a detailed analysis of the Council's strengths and areas needing improvement, as well as setting goals for key result areas to measure progress.

For more information about Prevention Councils visit www.pcain.org.

PCAI Prevention Tip: Understanding Poison

More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the 61 Poison Control Centers across the country. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home. Test your knowledge of poison and learn how to prevent accidental poisonings from happening.

Q. Lead pencils can cause lead poisoning?
A. False - Lead pencils are made of graphite, not lead. Lead has been found in small amounts in the varnish on the pencil, but not in sufficient quantities to cause toxicity.

Q. You don't need to worry about poison ivy if you haven't had it yet.
A. False - Over 80% of people are sensitive to the oil of the poison ivy plant urushiol (you-ru-she-all). Even if you've never had poison ivy before, you may get it the first time later in life. People often become sensitized through repeated exposures.

Q. Only children with high levels of lead in their blood will be hurt by the lead.
A. False - Even relatively low levels of lead in a child's blood can cause long-term problems and permanently affect learning and behavior.

Q. Most poisonings can be safely handled at home.
A. True - In 2006, 74.4% of poisonings were handled over the phone with the assistance of staff at the Indiana Poison Center.

This information was reprinted with permission from the Indiana Poison Center Toxictrivia newsletter Spring 2008. Visit their website at www.clarian.org/poisoncontrol.

This email was sent to: kking@pcain.org

This email was sent by: The Villages of Indiana, Inc.
652 N Girls School Rd., Ste. 240 Indianapolis, IN 46214-3662 USA

We respect your right to privacy - view our policy