Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
Let’s Face it – parenting is the toughest job in the world!
As with everything you want to do well, parenting requires learning ways to do the job effectively. Try some of these ideas for managing stress in order to make the most of your potential as a parent.
- Take deep breaths, go for a walk, or close your eyes and imagine yourself relaxing on a beautiful beach with warm sun and a soft breeze — simply remove yourself from the situation. Taking a brief mental vacation can be just the ticket to face the stress with a new perspective.
- Draw strength from family and friends. Call on people who make you feel good about yourself, feel hopeful, or feel loved. Try to avoid people who make you feel angry or sad — anger makes stress worse.
- Keep yourself strong. Eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise and concentrate on your physical well-being. This may mean relying on family or friends for childcare — but it is important to keep your body up to the challenge of parenting.
- Make a list of things you love to do. Pick a few items and find time for them. Ask family and friends to help you out. Adding things you love to your life is a wonderful way to relieve stress.
- Be flexible enough to admit that you are not perfect. All people fall behind schedule sometimes. So, know that there will be times when something falls through the cracks. That’s life– go with the flow.
- Anticipate problems and solve them. If your toddler loves to play with the stereo, and that bothers you, then move the stereo. Replace it with interesting and safe toys. By creating a special play area for your child, you prevent troubles that drive you crazy.
- Talk with a counselor or a trusted advisor about your stress. Sometimes it helps just to get things off your chest.
Stress-free parenting is a myth — but you can find ways to make your days less stressful so that you can do a more effective job of parenting.
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Prevent Child Abuse Indiana is a vital resource to our community and is working diligently to protect and serve the children of our state. Amid the COVID-19 virus, this work is more important now than ever before. This vulnerable time is causing families to become unemployed, leading to lack of resources for food and shelter. We know that vulnerable conditions such as these can lead to increased cases of child abuse, which is why we need your help.
It is possible that small, discreet actions can make a difference in a child’s life. Please join us at this virtual event to see how you can make a difference during Child Abuse Prevention month.
“April is a time to help people across the country understand the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments are necessary to ensure that children grow up happy and healthy,” says Sandy Runkle, Director of Programs for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.
Our mission is simple: To be the voice in Indiana for preventing child abuse in all its forms. We practice this mission by raising awareness, serving as a resource for the community, advocating for preventive policies and programs, and fostering a statewide network committed to child abuse prevention. Together with the support of our dedicated volunteers, we’re working to stop child abuse before it begins.
We do not take abuse or neglect reports.
Please contact the
Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at
1-800-800-5556
to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Please do not contact PCAIN regarding concerns or complaints pertaining to DCS. Indiana has a Bureau of the Ombudsman, and they have “…the authority to receive, investigate and attempt to resolve complaints concerning the actions of the Department of Child Services (DCS) and to make recommendations to improve the child welfare system. The Bureau operates independently of DCS and is housed in the Department of Administration.” Contact information is below.
DCS Ombudsman Information Line
877-682-0101 – Toll Free
317-232-3154 – Fax
DCSOmbudsman@idoa.in.gov
