Titusville Officials Support Child Abuse Prevention
By SpaceCoastDaily // April 1, 2013
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
(ABOVE VIDEO: CityOfTitusville)
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Child abuse and child neglect is 100 percent preventable.
Parents don’t wake up and say, “Today is the day I am going to abuse my children.” Abuse and neglect usually occurres when parents or caregivers are overwhelmed. Because of this, a neighborhood response is the best response.
Here are some ways you can get help prevent child abuse and neglect:
What can community members do?
• Help a friend, neighbor or relative: – Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand taking care of children so the parents can rest or spend time together. -Make dinner for a struggling family
• Get involved: -Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.
• Help develop parenting resources at your local library
• Promote programs in schools: -Teaching children, parents, and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
• Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program. For volunteer opportunities call 1-800-CHILDREN
If you have reason to believe a child has been or is being harmed, call the Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE or your local police department. The Titusville Police Department can be contacted at 321-264-7800.
What can parents do?
• Help yourself: When the big and little problems of everyday life pile up to the point where you feel overwhelmed and out of control,take a time out. Don’t take it out on a child.
• Be a nurturing parent: Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.
• If your baby cries: It can be frustrating to hear a baby cry. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby –shaking a child may cause severe injury or death.
• Monitor your children’s television, movie and internet
MOST IMPORTANTLY, REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE
If you have reason to believe a child has been or is being harmed, call the Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE or your local police department. The Titusville Police Department can be contacted at 321-264-7800.
For more information on Child Abuse Prevention log on to Ounce.org or call the Florida Abuse Prevention Hotline at 1-800-FLA-LOVE
