Child Abuse Prevention Month is wrapping up and we wanted to share some thoughts from one of our Coalition Members - Paul Normann from the Neighbor Place of Puna
________________________________________________________________________
“We shall never know all the
good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa
Since 2011 Neighborhood Place
of Puna, as part of the East Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
(EHCAN), has been reaching out to and forming relationships with local
businesses and groups. We believe that preventing child abuse and neglect
involves the whole community: Businesses, Churches, Social Clubs, Community
Groups, and individual community members.
The whole community must be educated about Child Abuse and Neglect, what
it looks like and how to respond. Most importantly, the community must be
empowered to take an active role in preventing Child Abuse and Neglect.
The launch of this year’s
educational campaign began with the Mayor’s Proclamation that April is Child
Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. The
event was attended by 84 individuals representing 16 local businesses, the
police and fire departments, concerned citizens, as well as representatives
from agencies that work with children and families. In addition to the reading
of the proclamation and a wonderful continental breakfast, we ran a short 20
minute interactive exercise to demonstrate, in a very real way, the importance of
social connections in preventing child abuse and neglect.
Social Connectivity is the key.
Each of us can play an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect if
we are willing to take some personal responsibility for the people around us.
It begins by getting to know our neighbors. It begins by breaking through the
isolation and separation that seems so prevalent in our society. It begins by
saying, “Hello”, and, “How are you?”
Raising children is hard,
especially in tough economic times. There
are very real and concrete things families need to be successful: Enough Food,
Stable Housing, Security, Clean Clothes, etc. Parents also need to understand
the importance of creating a nurturing and caring in environment for their
children. They must understand their child’s development, what is normal and
what is not. Parents also need to have
the resiliency and skills to deal with the stresses of life and of being a
parent.
By saying, “Hello”, by
offering kind words, or a kind act, or a few minutes of friendship we remind
parents and families that they are not alone. It is something we can all
do. It does not take money or special
training, just willingness to reach outside of ourselves and reassure the
person across from us that they are not struggling alone.
Maybe that will be
enough. Or, perhaps, it will be an
opportunity to find some little thing that you can offer to make their life
slightly easier. Maybe it will be a chance to learn about their life, its
struggles and joys. Maybe it will be the beginning of a friendship. Most likely
we will never know what impact our kind words or actions will have.
What we do know is that
families that are isolated and alone have a higher risk for child abuse and
neglect. The work that we are doing with
local businesses and groups is educating them about local resources that can
help struggling parents that are: employees, co-workers, customers, and
acquaintances.
We are striving to empower our
local community to take responsibility for the health and safety of all of our
keiki. Child Abuse and Neglect, for the most part, can be prevented. However it
will take our entire community’s personal investment in the safety of our
children and the health of our families.
It all begins with, “Hello”,
and, “How are you?”
Paul Normann, Executive
Director
Neighborhood Place of Puna
http://www.neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment