Resources: Child Voices, Zero to Three Reports on Child Maltreatment and Policy

The Child Welfare League of America provides some very useful advocacy resources online, including the Children's Monitor, a very informative e-newletter.

Sign up to receive the Children's Monitor - CWLA's weekly e-newsletter containing the latest information on federal legislation and policy affecting children, youth, and families is now available only online-and it's absolutely free. Link to sign up page

For example, the May 9 edition reports on two assessments of child maltreatment statistics and policies by Child Trends and Zero to Three, looking at how maltreatment relates to very young children:

Maltreatment of Young Children: Risk and Response

Attention to the maltreatment of the youngest children was amplified over Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. In particular, two reports were released that together reveal infants and toddlers' elevated risk of maltreatment and resulting harm, as well as policies, programs, and practices to counter both.

Child Trends released Young and Vulnerable: Children Five and Under Experience High Maltreatment Rates, which makes use of data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the National Incidence Study to demonstrate youngest children's disproportionate maltreatment through an array of statistical analysis. The paper concludes with an overview of relevant federal policies.

Additionally, Zero To Three and policy partners, including CWLA's Linda Spears, Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs, published A Call to Action on Behalf of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers. This report represents a collective vision of important policy, program, and practice steps to better address the developmental needs of infants and toddlers who come to the attention of the child welfare system. It is intended to provide a starting point for federal, state, and local policymakers and administrators to assess and identify where and how they can revise or institute policies and practices that protect the development and safety of infants and toddlers.

SBS Prevention Education: in Iowa, all it takes is a sixth-grader...

As the WCF Courier reports, there are some remarkable sixth-graders in Waterloo, Iowa: they educated a high school class at Columbus High School about the danger of shaking a young child. Link to article

Kudos to students Kaleb Boleyn, Luke Pranger and Jaime Mayerand their teacher, Nancy Hank, of St. Edward School!

St. Edward's class educates fellow students

By ANDREW WIND, andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com Saturday, April 30, 2011

St. Edwards School sixth-grader Kaleb Boleyn shows the proper way to hold and burp a baby with classmates Luke Pranger and Jaime Mayer looking on as they made a presentation to a class at Columbus High School in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, April 28, 2011. (RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer)

WATERLOO, Iowa --- Emily Gilstrap ignored her instincts when handed the crying baby doll.

Instead, the Columbus High School senior began shaking the doll, which fell silent within seconds. Designed to cry regularly to simulate an infant's behavior, the doll also features a transparent head that showcases its brain.

As the crying stopped, several red lights were activated in the front and back of the brain. Gilstrap's class had just learned those areas control emotions, problem solving and eyesight. If it had been a real baby, the amount of force from the shaking would have caused brain damage.

"It wasn't a very comfortable feeling," Gilstrap said, voicing surprise at how quickly the doll indicated brain damage.

Her child development class got a lesson Thursday on shaken baby syndrome from an unlikely source. Four sixth-graders in Karen Nank's St. Edward School class made a presentation on the topic as part of a service learning project.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The St. Edward students narrowed down their project to shaken baby syndrome once they decided to focus on child abuse issues.

"After we got the facts, we thought it was the issue that needed the most attention," said sixth-grader Brian Knapp. Members of the class, making more presentations today at St. Edward, use the doll on loan from the Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County to help emphasize their message.

The sixth-graders --- who also include Jaime Mayer, Kaleb Boleyn and Luke Pranger --- told the Columbus class that a child up to 5 years old could suffer brain damage after being shaken for as little as five to 20 seconds. Mayer said that babies typically are shaken by a care giver who is feeling stressed.

"Almost all cases are caused by a baby crying," she said. "A baby would have to fall from a two-story building to get the effect of a shaken baby."

A Black Hawk County prosecutor told the students that someone who causes brain damage by shaking a baby could be charged with child endangerment, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. A quarter of all shaken baby cases result in death, for which the perpetrator could be charged with first degree murder and receive life in prison if convicted in Iowa.

* * *

Members of the St. Edward's class created a brochure with tips on alternate ways to deal with a crying child that will be handed out by the Family & Children's Council.

Boise Idaho: Radio Block for SBS Awareness

Hats off to Boise radio stations!

They'll be hosting a radio block to increase awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Link

Kudos to Boise advocates who helped get it organized, and hat tips to others who've done one: 2009 post, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Michigan

Want to hear how it works? Tune in today at 5:30 (Mountain Daylight Time) via Internet radio. Link to list of stations (the article mentions 107.1 KTHI).

Anyone else doing radio blocks out there? Leave a comment...

Treasure Valley Radio Stations form Radio Roadblock against Shaken Baby Syndrome

Disc jockey KJ Mac's been on the radio a long time.

"Longer than you've been alive," he said

But he's usually spinning the discs of the Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks and Journey. Only once before has Mac passed on rock and roll to play a minute of baby-screaming.

That track's enough to make any DJ swear: "Never again."

But it's for a good cause: to raise awareness for Shaken Baby Syndrome. And so, once again, for only the second time in his career, Mac and more than 20 other local DJs will bump the shrieks and wails of a baby at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

It's called a radio roadblock. And the last time it happened, phones at 107.1 K-Hits rang for hours.

"What's going on with the babies?" Mac mimicked. "Everywhere I go, every station I am listening to babies are crying."

And that says social worker and roadblock organizer Marcia Brothers is exactly the idea.

"If you're having a road-block," she said, "people will try to escape your message by changing the station."

But with 20 different Treasure Valley stations all playing the same thing, there's no way to escape the message.

"I don't think people realize that it just takes one little shake," Brothers said. One little shake, just one time could leave parents holding a dead kid.

Thankfully, Shaken Baby Syndrome's 100 percent preventable. To get that message out there, stations like K-Hits will break from the vocals of guys like Mick Jagger in favor of 50 seconds of very unhappy baby noise.

"It seems like three hours," Brothers said.

"It'll be interesting to see what kind of reaction we get," Mac said.

After those 50 seconds of wailing, listeners will hear a message: "No matter how much she cries. No matter how tired you are. No matter how frustrated you may become, never ever Shake a baby."

Perspective: Child Abuse Prevention Month 2011 - Who is Caring?

As it has been since 1979, a presidential proclamation was issued designating April as "Child Abuse Prevention Month." Link to 2011, 2010, 2009

This is the Wordle view of the 2011 Proclamation :



And the Wordle view of the first Proclamation of Child Abuse Prevention Month in November, 1979 . Note that it seems to show a subtle shift in emphasis from children to abuse.



Google News found 437 articles today that mention "child abuse prevention" and 259 that mention "child abuse prevention month." In comparison, 12,497 mention Charlie Sheen, 2,923 mention Paris Hilton, and 10,333 mention "March Madness."

The Google Trends chart above shows how "child abuse" fares as a Google search term in comparison ("Child Abuse Prevention Month" doesn't even make the chart).

What's the lesson: push vs. pull. Most folks just don't have any interest in pulling information about CAP Month (or child abuse prevention, in general). Consequently, most media don't attend to it.

NB. The Journalistics blog has a good post on getting your message out via "pull" tools. Link

Try a Twitter search to see what's happening with CAP Month: I used
"child abuse prevention month" since:2011-01-01

Twitter hashtags #CAP2011, #Pinwheels

It's interesting to search Twitter: it seems that the hashtag #childabuse doesn't occur at all with #earlychildhood #ece (early childhood education), #homevisiting, #nfp (nurse family partnership).

This would be a good time to start breaking down the silo walls...

Prevention: NY Legislature Moves to Restore Home Visiting Funds

Last month, we were dismayed to learn that the Governor's proposed budget stripped funding for home visiting programs. Link

This month, we are delighted to learn that the Legislature intends to keep that funding in their budget bills.

Now, the challenge is to educate the Governor about the salutary benefit of home visiting services on the bottom line, and the consequences when those services are lost.

Prevent Child Abuse NY reports, and provides this sample letter. You can help by using this convenient PCANY site - Link:

I have good news! Both the Senate and Assembly restored funding to Healthy Families New York (HFNY) and other home visiting programs. We applaud the Legislature's commitment to New York's most effective prevention programs. And we thank you. This victory couldn't have been possible without the hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from child abuse prevention advocates around the state.

Our work is not over.

Our next task is to ensure the Governor supports the legislative budget proposal. We can't do this without you.

Please email this letter asking the Governor to restore funding for Healthy Families New York.

You can also mail a letter. Below is a sample that you can copy, paste and edit.

The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

I am writing to urge you to fully restore funding for Healthy Families New York and other home visiting programs. Home visiting prevents child abuse, increases school readiness, and saves the state millions of dollars in Medicaid because it prevents low-weight births that require costly medical services.

As you know, vulnerable families that go unserved in the earliest years often need costly remediation services later on. Home visiting helps provide better outcomes for children and families. Full funding for Healthy Families New York will also allow New York to draw down millions in federal home visiting dollars to expand and strengthen our system.

Please restore funding for these critical programs.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]

It is critically important that Governor Cuomo hear from all corners of the state that HFNY and other home visiting programs prevent child abuse, increase school readiness, and save the state millions in Medicaid costs.

Please contact the Governor today.

Thank you.

Christine Deyss
Executive Director

Simple Appearances

We're trying a new Blogger template (Simple).

Let us know if you like it, particularly if you've visited before and notice a difference (for better or for worse)...

Resource: Educating Policy Makers Influences Policy

While it should come as no surprise that educating policy makers about early childhood development results in more informed policy, it hasn't always been recognized by advocates that "telling ain't teaching."

Prevention Action (itself an interesting blog in the UK) reports on an important article in the February issue of Child Development by Jack Shonkoff and Susan Nall Bales: ‘Science does not speak for itself: Translating child development research for the public and its policy makers’ Link to PDF

It touches upon a couple of the paradoxes of sustainable advocacy: that every stage of parenthood is transient, and thus one important part of the constituency for early childhood programs (parents) are not only learning their new role as they go, but constantly going onwards to the challenges of the next stage of development, and that sustained advocacy therefore often devolves to institutional stakeholders, and those institutions require resources to sustain themselves.

Stated simply, the aim of this exercise is to communicate complex scientific principles simply but accurately, using techniques of investigation from the cognitive and social sciences in order to achieve that objective.

The lessons of this initiative so far are that child development researchers can influence the thinking and actions of the target group – comprising the professionals, policy makers, elected officials and interested parties mentioned earlier - if they focus on teaching about science and less on preaching about which policies and services should be supported. The authority of the ‘core story’ in terms of its scientific underpinning is essential for this. Second, the most effective dissemination occurs when scientists present their ideas directly to the target audiences but do so with advice and support from communication experts.

The benefit of this approach is that sound scientific knowledge is presented without being dumbed down and in a way that policy makers can understand, apply and pass on to colleagues.

The study offers some interesting lessons to those seeking to influence policy.

So what is special about this model? First, its intention is to convey a body of knowledge, in this case the theory of child brain development. Many disseminations exercise focus on one study and stop at summarising the findings and drawing out policy and practice implications. This exercise has a much wider educational brief affecting a whole way of thinking about the nature, cause and consequences of a social problem and the relevance of a whole area of child development to it.

Secondly, it seeks to present extremely complex theories and concepts in a new way without being selective or over-simplifying. The core story is a robust summary of current knowledge and not a list of findings presented as open to different interpretations.

Thirdly, the consultation and dissemination processes involve a lot of repetition as testing reveals failures, but it is ultimately cumulative as understanding grows.

Fourth, the need to link abstract ideas with policy and practice must always be in the mind of those seeking to explain.

The core story of brain development:

1. Child development is a foundation for community development and economic development, as capable children become the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society.

2. Brain architecture is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood. As it emerges, the quality of that architecture establishes either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for all the capabilities and behaviour that follow.

3. Skill begets skill as brains are built in a hierarchical fashion, from the bottom up. Increasingly complex circuits and skills build on simpler circuits and skills over time.

4. The interaction of genes and experience shapes the circuitry of the developing brain. Young children serve up frequent invitations to engage with adults, who are either responsive or unresponsive to their needs. This ‘serve and return’ process (what developmental researchers call contingent reciprocity) is fundamental to the wiring of the brain, especially in the early years.

5. Cognitive, emotional and social capabilities are inextricably intertwined and learning, behaviour, and both physical and mental health are highly interrelated over the life course. You cannot address one domain without affecting the others.

6. Although manageable levels of stress are normative and growth promoting toxic stress in the early years (e.g. from severe poverty, serious parental mental health impairment, such as maternal depression, child maltreatment and/or family violence) can damage developing brain architecture and lead to problems in learning and behaviour, as well as increased susceptibility to physical and metal illness.

7. Brain plasticity and the ability to change behaviour decrease over time. Consequently, getting it right early leads to better outcomes and is less costly, to society and to individuals, than trying to fix it later. We can pay now or we will pay more later for society’s failure to promote healthy development in the earliest years of life.

8. Effectiveness factors make the difference between early childhood intervention programmes that work and those that do not work to support children’s healthy development. These factors can be measured and can inform wise investments in effective policies and programmes.

Link to Prevention Action postResource: Jack P Shonkoff and Susan Nall Bales, ‘Science does not speak for itself: Translating child development research for the public and its policy makers’, Child Development, 82:1, February 2011, pp. 17-32 Link

Resource: Shonkoff, Investment in Early Childhood Education Lays The Foundation of a Prosperous Society, Early Childhood Encyclopedia (2009) Link

Resource: Child Development Homepage Link

Resource: Society for Research in Child Development Link

The Society is a multidisciplinary, not-for-profit, professional association with a membership of approximately 5,500 researchers, practitioners, and human development professionals from over 50 countries.

The purposes of the Society are to promote multidisciplinary research in the field of human development, to foster the exchange of information among scientists and other professionals of various disciplines, and to encourage applications of research findings. Our goals are pursued through a variety of programs with the cooperation and service of our governing council, standing committees, and members.

Resources: Gender Differences in AHT/SBS - Pediatrics

A study in the current issue of Pediatrics examines the outcomes of AHT/SBS cases involving males and female perpetrators. Link to Pediatrics.

Abusive Head Trauma in Children: A Comparison of Male and Female Perpetrators:

Several studies have examined the relationship between perpetrators of abusive head trauma and their victims. However, no study has evaluated the effect of perpetrator gender on victim presentation, victim clinical outcomes, and perpetrator egal outcomes.

This study reports significant gender differences in perpetrators of abusive head trauma in children. Male perpetrators were younger and more likely to confess and be convicted. Victims of male perpetrators had more serious acute presentations and neurosurgical intervention and suffered worse clinical outcomes.

US News and World Report HealthDay summarizes the study's findings:

The tiny victims of shaken baby syndrome are equally likely to be injured by a man or a woman, although women are less likely to be convicted of the crime, according to a new study.

Perhaps because of men's sheer strength, the babies are also more likely to suffer graver harm if their abuser is male, and male perpetrators are more likely to confess to the crime and be convicted, the researchers found.

In data collected over 10 years on 34 cases of abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants, researchers found that abusers' gender was evenly split and that female abusers were typically significantly older than males.

And, as the MSNBC coverage notes:

... the researchers expressed concern that many cases of child abuse may go unreported. They cited research from the University of North Carolina showing that more than 2 percent of mothers admit to shaking children as a form of discipline on surveys -- likely a low estimate. [Link to UNC article]

Resource: Child Maltreatment Prevention as a Public Health Priority

Via the Doris Duke Foundation, CDC's 2009 presentation on "Child Maltreatment Prevention as a Public Health Priority" featuring Jack Shonkoff and James Mercy.

Did you know some of the worst adult health problems in the nation can be linked to the toxic stress resulting from adverse experiences in childhood?

Population health priorities, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are associated with harmful childhood experiences such as abuse or neglect.

The goals of this webinar are to develop a shared understanding of how the prevention of child maltreatment not only promotes optimal development but also reduces disparities in health and explore the important role public health agencies play in improving the health of children and families by preventing childhood abuse and neglect.

Powerpoint presentations from the webinar are available here, although the webinar itself is not.
Instead, please listen to this excellent thought piece, sponsored by the Cambridge Trust Company: Early Childhood Development and Public Policy: Closing the gap between what we know and what we do. downloadable .MP3 file

Jack Shonkoff, the director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University talks about the impact of early experience on brain development and the policy and practice implications of new research.

Doris Duke/Chapin Hall Fellowships: Child Abuse Prevention

Good news from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago...

Chapin Hall and the Doris Duke Foundation are collaborating to create 30 Child Abuse Prevention fellowships. Link to announcement

The fellowships sound encouraging: they're intended to identify and develop a new generation of leaders who will use diverse research methods and a "look over the fence" to improve child abuse prevention policy and practice.

Chapin Hall is seeking individuals with the skills, passion, and institutional support necessary for sustaining long-term professional involvement in child abuse prevention.

“We’re looking for applicants who demonstrate initiative to look over the fence and learn what is new in other domains,” said Daro. “We’re looking for those who actively engage in disseminating their findings and work to increase visibility of child abuse and neglect prevention within broader professional associations, and those who understand that research initiatives need to be developed with an eye toward influencing how program managers and policy makers do their work.”

“We hope that with its national reach and multidisciplinary approach, the Doris Duke Fellowships program will foster unique contributions that address the many opportunities and needs in child abuse prevention, a field that is gaining momentum across the country,” said Francie Zimmerman, program officer for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Child Abuse Prevention Program. “Fellows will benefit from Chapin Hall’s expertise as they participate in this robust learning experience.”

Link to Chapin Hall video of Research Fellow Deborah Daro, chair of the Doris Duke Fellowships for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, talking with Anne Cohn Donnelly, Senior Lecturer at Northwestern University, about opportunities provided by the fellowships.

The next application period will open August 2011 through December 2011.

Daro is the author of an interesting 2010 issue brief "Child Abuse Prevention: A Job Half Done." Link

And Chapin Hall researchers have developed and evaluated a diverse set of programs aimed at reducing risks for maltreatment and strengthening parental capacity.

One such example is Chapin Hall’s evaluation of the Community Partnerships for Protecting Children initiative as implemented in four urban communities. You can find this and more research—including a systems approach, an epidemiological perspective, and perspectives on early childhood home visitation—in the Home Visitation and Maltreatment Prevention tab. Link

Some other Chapin Hall resources:

Progress Toward a Prevention Perspective (2009)

Epidemiological Perspectives on Maltreatment Prevention (2009)

Evidence-Based Systems of Home Visitation: Opportunities for Replication and State Innovation (2009)

MIchigan: Educating Teen Parents

WJRT in Flint, Michigan reports on a spike in SBS cases, and the efforts of a local pediatrician and hospital staff to reach out to teen fathers at local high schools and educate them not only about what not to do - but what to do - when caring for an infant. Link (video below)

FLINT (WJRT) -- (02/26/11) -- Doctors at Hurley Medical Center are reporting that Shaken Baby Syndrome is a rising problem in Flint.

After two shaken baby cases in Flint last month, a new awareness effort is underway in Mid-Michigan involving doctors reaching out to teens to put an end to the crime.

DeAngelo Henderson and Corey Yeager are the two young fathers who critically shook their month-old babies in January. Henderson's daughter died after the violent shaking. Yeager's daughter was last reported in critical condition. Both men could face more than 15 years in prison.

Preventing these cases is Dr. Faisal Mawri's passion. Mawri, a pediatrician, says he's seen one too many shaken baby cases at Hurley Medical Center. "Absolutely I care about it because shaken baby syndrome is 100 percent preventable," Mawri said.

Now, Mawri and his team are holding seminars at five Genesee County high schools to prevent the crime. The effort is part of a fellowship project funded by a $12,000 grant.

"We came in here today, handed them the baby and showed them what they shouldn't do with the baby," said Pediatric Emergency Physician Rachel Stanley. Following the seminar, the students were surveyed on the facts, tested two months later for retention, and then rewarded.

"I'm going to find all these kids again. I'm going to give them that survey and once they complete that survey, I'm going to give them a $10 gift card," said Hurley Medical Center pediatric researcher Beth Grundman. "Bringing in these babies brings a sense of reality to the whole educational department."

Arkansas: 2011 May Bring Hospital-Based Shaken Baby Education

2011 could be a good year for children in Arkansas.

State Senator Percy Malone has introduced SB 328: it would provide new parents with the opportunity to learn how they can help keep their child safe from inflicted head injury. Link to bill.

Prevention: Changing Awareness Doesn't Mean Changing Behavior

ScienceDaily brings word of an interesting study that examines the difference between awareness and action, and suggests more effective interventions.

Two things are pretty clear: people "know" exercise is important to maintain and improve health, and sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates are so high that they've become major national issues.

The parallel with child abuse is obvious. Increased awareness is necessary, but not sufficient, for prevention. This policy memo from Prevention Child Abuse America discusses the expanding gap between awareness and action, noting that the public's very high awareness of child abuse is not translating to action. So, PCAA solicited thought from Frameworks Institute on what to do. Link to Frameworks memo Link to Frameworks memo on child abuse and child development strategy

Back to the study.

The University of Missouri researchers found that healthy adults who received interventions focused on behavior-changing strategies significantly increased their physical activity levels. Conversely, interventions based on cognitive approaches, which try to change knowledge and attitudes, did not improve physical activity.

"The focus needs to shift from increasing knowledge about the benefits of exercise to discussing strategies to change behaviors and increase activity levels," said Vicki Conn, associate dean for research and Potter-Brinton professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. "The common approach is to try and change people's attitudes or beliefs about exercise and why it's important, but that information isn't motivating. We can't 'think' ourselves into being more active."

Behavior strategies include feedback, goal setting, self-monitoring, exercise prescription and stimulus or cues. Self-monitoring, any method where participants record and track their activity over time, appears to significantly increase awareness and provide motivation for improvement, Conn said.

[Which reminds me of a story told in 2005...a researcher monitoring at risk parents gave them a cell phone, so she could call them and ask what their child was doing. As the study went on, she realized that the reports were changing because the parents were observing their child more closely, so they would have more interesting stories to tell. Link]

"Health care providers should ask patients about their exercise habits and help them set specific, manageable goals," Conn said. "Ask them to try different strategies, such as tracking their progress, scheduling exercise on their phones or calendars, or placing their pedometers by their clothes. Discuss rewards for accomplishing goals."

The study, featured in the American Journal of Public Health, incorporated data from 358 reports and 99,011 participants. Link to abstract

The study identified behavioral strategies that were most effective in increasing physical activity among healthy adults. Successful interventions were delivered face-to-face instead of mediated (i.e. via telephone, mail, etc.) and targeted individuals instead of communities.

[...which suggests that SBS prevention efforts that rely on brochures and community awareness initiatives may not be very effective. Conversely, what better place than face to face intervention by nurses in the hospital?]

Interventions were similarly effective regardless of gender, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

[Another recent study shows awareness doesn't translate to action: calorie labels on food increased awareness of calories, but did not alter food choices by teens or adults. Link]

Silo Hopping: Doris Duke, Child Abuse Prevention, Pew Trust, Home Visiting

Let's do a bit of silo hopping today...

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation does quite a bit of child abuse prevention funding.

For example, they helped fund the special Future of Children issue on Preventing Child Maltreatment. They also helped the Urban Institute look at ways to improve services to new parents with depression.

And they help give policy perspectives. For example, Dr. Jack Shonkoff laid out the long term public health consequences of child abuse in his presentation at the CDC webinar on Child Maltreatment Prevention as a Public Health Priority.

In concert with the Pew Trust, DDCF has began to look at the advantages brought by home visiting programs, including reductions in child abuse. For example, the U.S. Triple P System Population Trial found lower rates of substantiated abuse cases, child out-of-home placements, and reductions in hospitalizations and emergency room visits [Medicaid cost cutting, anyone?] for child injuries in nine study counties in South Carolina where parenting interventions were implemented.

The need to identify and disseminate effective home visiting programs has gained speed now that significant federal funding is available. Link to webinar on Federal Home Visiting Funding.

Resources on home visiting:

Pew Trust issue brief that overviews the issues and makes the case for home visiting.

Pew Trust Campaign for Home Visiting

Pew Trust National Summit on Home Visiting

National Summit on Quality in Home Visiting Programs, an interactive forum for home visiting researchers, program leaders, and policy makers concerned about improving home visiting system quality and family outcomes.
Feb. 16-17, 2011
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C

Press release about the Summit.

Pew Trust National Overview on Home Visiting in the States

The Pew Center on the States surveyed state agency leaders in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and inventoried their state home visiting programs, models, funding and polices for fiscal year 2009-2010. The following findings emerged:

State home visiting programs: 46 states and the District of Columbia have some level of investment in home visiting;
Funding strategies: states made available $1.36 billion to home visiting programs via two primary funding strategies: categorical funds for home visiting only; and broad-based prevention funds that could be used for home visiting (although most states could not verify whether or how much funding was directed for this purpose);
Sources of state support: state general funds were the largest source of support for home visiting programs; and
Investment in national home visiting models: 34 states invested $277 million in national home visiting models.

Interview: how home visiting helps reduce child abuse...

Links to Home Visiting Programs

Nurse-Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) helps change the lives of vulnerable first-time moms and their babies through ongoing home visits from registered nurses. This evidence-based community health program has proven results including long-term family improvements in health, education and economic self-sufficiency.

Triple P-Positive Parenting Program®
The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program® is a multi-level, parenting and family support strategy. Triple P aims to prevent behavioral, emotional and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills and confidence of parents (from the Triple-P website)

Good SBS Prevention Resources (2011)

We'll be expanding this page to provide more links to websites that offer prevention resources, but for now:

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome

>http://www.dontshake.org/

Kempe Children's Hospital Center "Calm A Crying Baby" site

>http://www.calmacryingbaby.com/

The Upstate New York SBS Prevention Project

>http://www.wchob.org/shakenbaby/

Downloadable Infant Comforting Cards from the Ontario SBS Prevention Project (19 languages)

> Tiny URL link: http://tinyurl.com/4llr8p6

Downloadable resources from the Alberta SBS Prevention Project

> Tiny URL link: http://tinyurl.com/4ehv49y

If we're overlooking a good resource (and since this is only the beginning, I know we are), please use the comment feature below to let us know...

Economic Conditions Affect Incidence of SBS

Articles in US News and World Report, USA Today and TIME cover a new study showing a significant correlation between abuse head injuries, such as Shaken Baby Syndrome, and the economy...

From the TIME article...

Presenting May 1 at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Vancouver, a team of researchers led by child abuse expert Dr. Rachel Berger at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh reported a significant increase in cases of shaken baby syndrome, in which youngsters are shaken violently by an adult, since the start of the current recession. Researchers analyzed data on 512 cases of head trauma in the children's centers of four hospitals in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Columbus and Seattle, and found that the number of cases had increased to 9.3 cases per month since Dec. 1, 2007, compared with 6 cases per month prior to that date — a rate that had held steady since 2004.

Survivors: Adam Carbajal, Part II

Three First Five counties joined to bring the story of Adam Carbajal, and the remarkable campaign of his grandparents for legislation that creates serious consequences for those who inflict injuries on young children, to video - via YouTube...

More on Adam's story.

More on the effort to enact Adam's Law, sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Villines:

Adam's Law: Shake, Hit or Hurt a Child Severely = 15 Years-to-Life

In November of 2004, a young resident of our Fresno community, Adam Carbajal, became a victim of devastating child abuse by being subjected to shaken baby syndrome resulting in severe head trauma. Although Adam was initially given only a five percent chance of survival, he lives today with permanent brain damage and is paralyzed on the right side. Adam cannot walk, talk or do anything most little boys his age can do.

Adam's perpetrator was charged with two counts – corporal injury to a child and willful cruelty to a child under the age of five. After skipping bail and being on the run for months, then harassing Adam's family and insisting he fell on his own, only to later plead guilty, Adam's assailant will only serve seven and a half years in prison.This is because current California law does not take into consideration the consequences or the end result of an incident of child abuse when determining the sentence for the crime. Even if Adam's injuries only resulted in a broken arm or leg, the child abuser's punishment would remain the same.

When I heard about this family's story from Adam's concerned and loving grandparents, I knew action needed to be taken to correct this glaring deficiency in the law. To put an end to this, next year I will be authoring ''Adam's Law'', a measure that will result in longer prison sentences for perpetrators who cause severe and permanent damage to children.

If the child abuser shakes, hits or hurts a child severely, the punishment would be 15 years-to-life. I believe we should stop at nothing to protect our children from harmful and dangerous abusers like Adam's assailant.

I'm proud to stand by Adam's family and work with the Legislature to correct this loophole in our system, bringing justice to more families and most importantly, preventing this from happening to any more children.

To find out more information about Adam Carbajal and learn how you can help the efforts of his family, send an email to justiceforadam@yahoo.com.

SBS Awareness Week 2010 - Senate Resolution

Another bit of good news from Congress: despite all that's going on (or not) with financial reform, Senator Dodd again sponsored a Senate resolution recognizing SBS Awareness Week 2010.

April 22, 2010

SENATE PASSES DODD RESOLUTION DESIGNATING NATIONAL SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) designating the third week of April 2010 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) joined Dodd in authoring and introducing the resolution.

Last year, nearly 95,000 children under the age of 1 were victims of abuse and neglect, said Dodd. One form of this abuse is Shaken Baby Syndrome, which often results in severe injury, lifelong disability, and even death. By proclaiming the third week of April to be National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week, the Senate is doing its part to raise public awareness about this preventable and devastating form of child maltreatment.

In recognition of the need to eliminate child abuse and to raise awareness about the issue, the month of April has been designated National Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter.

In February, Dodd, along with Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) in the House of Representatives, introduced the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act, which would establish a national public health campaign to raise awareness about Shaken Baby Syndrome, encourage prevention programs, provide support to both families affected by abusive head trauma incidents as well as preventative support for parents and caregivers, and review data collection on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

The SBS Prevention Act of 2010

S.3003: A bill to enhance Federal efforts focused on public awareness and education about the risks and dangers associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome. [link to bill]

Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 2/4/2010)
Cosponsors: (4) Sen Bayh, Evan [IN], Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH], Sen Cochran, Thad [MS], Sen Johnson, Tim [SD]
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 2/4/2010 Referred to Senate committee.
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.4642: Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2010 [link to bill]

Sponsor: Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] (introduced 2/22/2010)
Cosponsors: (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/22/2010 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Pepsi Refresh Project: Fund Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

Good News: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is still in the running for Pespi funding of a statewide SBS prevention initiative.

Not So Good News: PCA Iowa is still ranked #45. What better way to celebrate SBS Awareness Week than voting - and you can vote once a day, until April 30.

Link to PCA Page - http://www.refresheverything.com/pcaiowa

Ohio Reflections: Jada Ruiz, Aiden Stein and Bill Spicer

The Akron Beacon Journal reports on Jada Ruiz, a six month old girl in intensive care at Akron's Children's Hospital.

Her injuries are so severe that her mother wants to release her from life support, but her father, who is accused of inflicting the injuries, is battling to keep Jada on life support.

A sad story, and one that brought to mind the case of Aiden Stein, and the legal battle about whether he should be allowed to remain on life support. When the petition to remove life support is heard by Judge Bill Spicer, it will undoubtedly remind him of Aiden Stein: he was also the judge in that case.

Despite dire predictions, he survived. In 2009, a follow up story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported he was alive and responsive to stimuli. There are no good consequences when a child is shaken: cases such as these simply emphasize the importance of prevention.

Whatever happened to Aiden Stein, who was in a coma in Akron after being assaulted by his father?

The Mansfield boy will celebrate his sixth birthday Oct. 27.

Aiden was supposed to be deaf, blind and in a permanent vegetative state after his father severely shook and abused him in 2004 when he was 5 months old. Experts thought he would require life support -- including breathing tubes -- for the rest of his life. And they thought he wouldn't live long.

"This is the kid experts said was deaf, blind and would remain in a permanent vegetative state," said Dale Musilli, the child's court-appointed lawyer. "He responds to sound, he responds to light."

(AP file Aiden Stein)

"This kid has had some serious medical episodes. He's a tough little guy and has pulled back each time," Musilli said.