In Marion County, the population of children totaled 236,434, and the following are some staggering numbers about our children:

• 24% live in poverty
• Teen birth rate is 35.5 (per 1000 females) – the state rate is 22
• 4,023 child neglect cases were substantiated (increase from 1,853 in ’05)
• 604 physical child abuse cases were substantiated (increase from 466 in ’05)
• 620 sexual child abuse cases were substantiated (DECREASE from 818 in ’05)

Every statistic has increased since 2005 except for sexual child abuse.  This may have something to say about how awareness about sexual abuse against children has risen GREATLY in the past years.  It seems easy to focus on the most extreme case of child abuse, but these other situations harm the child just as much.  It may not be seen physically, but in the long-run, into the child’s adult life, these situations hold them back.

“Children who grow up poor are more likely to earn less as adults, complete fewer years of formal education, and face more health issues than children living in higher-income families.” – from the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices

Raising awareness about all of child abuse, child poverty, and even teen pregnancy can lead to better lives for all of Marion County’s youth.  It can lead to better health for the entire community, and it can lead to a better Indianapolis.  Organizations that aim at child abuse prevention are HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies (BIBs) and Healthy Families America (HF) Programs, Prevent Child Abuse America, and the Stop Abuse Campaign.  Do you have an idea to raise awareness about stopping abuse?  Do you have any more helpful resources?  Feel free to comment.

Who is blamed for childhood abuse? – Adults/caretakers in that child’s life.
Who is blamed for addiction? – The individual who can’t help themselves.

But before you click away, what if I posed an answer that said we as a community and society can also be blamed for this?

In reading an article outlining an interview with Canadian physician and best-selling author Dr. Gabor Maté, it made me think about how policies and outreach can help create a better environment for children to live and develop.

Dr. Maté’s response to whether or not genetics is linked to behaviors and dysfunctions in humans is very intriguing.  In part, genetics HAS to play a role in tendencies, but Dr. Maté poses that if we place blame on genetics for behavior and dysfunction, then it takes people off the hook.

“Well, if people’s behaviors and dysfunctions are regulated, controlled and determined by genes, we don’t have to look at child welfare policies, we don’t have to look at the kind of support that we give to pregnant women, we don’t have to look at the kind of non-support that we give to families…” – Dr. Gabor Maté

If we are taken “off the hook” so to speak, then we don’t have to worry about not providing prenatal care for at-risk mothers or support services for young families on the brink of poverty.

Children who grow up in low-income families are more likely to be abused, more likely to be neglected, and more likely to end up as addicts.  The environment that a child grows up in creates the person that child will become, and parents in these situations are subject “not [to] bad parenting, [just] extremely stressed parenting”. And, this stress affects the child.

To read the full interview of Dr. Gabor Maté, click here.  To help directly, visit HealthNet’s website and learn about our Better Indy Babies Program, or donate directly to help a low-income family in Indianapolis create a better environment for their child.

• smoking during pregnancy
• infant having two or more siblings
• Medicaid enrollee
• unmarried
• infant low-birth weight
• less than high school education
• teen mother
• short spacing (under 15 months) between pregnancy
• poor pre-natal care
• adverse outcomes in prior pregnancy

Most of these factors are situations that occur BEFORE the child is born and even before pregnancy.

“Children younger than three years of age are the most likely of all children to become involved with Child Welfare Services, and they have the highest rate of victimization of maltreatment among all age groups.”

Services for at-risk households are crucial to prevent these young children from being neglected and abused.  This report was mainly done to research the possibilities of taking care of these children after they enter Child Welfare Services.  However, there are organizations out there that provide support for families, mothers, and siblings of newborns.

Whenever I hear the word “risk factor” when talking about child abuse and neglect, I become wary.  I think that parents, families, and siblings are in tough situations where stress levels are increased, family history has taught parents in a certain way, and other factors are present.  Having the knowledge of where to find support services and resources is crucial to decreasing stress, breaking family history cycles, and helping in other ways.

Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families America are two resources provided by HealthNet throughout the Indianapolis community.  The staff here provide knowledge and support to families and parents who are pregnant or have children from age birth to 5.  You can help these two resources be of greater service to families in need.  Learn more about what tools are out there or donate directly by clicking here.

The statement above may not be new to anyone, but it is a good reminder of how critical a role that a primary caregiver has with a small child.  Now, think about if you ARE the primary caregiver, but you are a single parent or a couple that is underemployed and not making much money or a parent who has been laid off while yourself or your spouse was pregnant.  Think about the stress that was already present because of the pregnancy, and now think about MUCH  MORE stress is present because of job loss or lack of money available.

In a study done by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), 43.6 children per 1000 children received preventative services.  Preventative services are aimed at increasing the understanding of child development for the primary caregiver. This number has dropped since 2007, and the victimization rate in 2008 was the lowest it had been since 2003.  At first thought, it may seem alright that preventative services are declining; however, prevention is the key to the success of a lower victimization rate!

Help HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families programs continue to keep preventative services steady for at-risk families.  You can help ease the stress of a caregiver by simply spreading awareness about the need for prevention or by donating a quick $25 to HealthNet.

Healthy Families America is a program that is part of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA), and before Healthy Families America opened a branch in Indiana, children in our community had to be reported as being abused or neglected FIRST before a family could receive support services. Now with HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies (BIBs) and Healthy Families Programs, families are being sought out by an outreach team and offered support BEFORE abuse and neglect can happen.

According to the National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research, almost 50 out of every 1000 children were taken in by state and local Child Protection Services (CPS) in 2006.  That means almost 3.6 million children in the U.S. and Puerto Rico were alleged to be abused.  I am always wary when I hear research about “allegations;” however, when it comes to child abuse, even being alleged to having abused a child should cause some concern.

PCA invites everyone to have a HOUSE PARTY to help raise awareness and funding for this cause.  A perfect idea for a family gathering during the holidays, or a great way to add some meaning to you campus party!

Many families do some sort of gift exchange or present give-away for Christmas.  What if this year instead of saying, “oooh! you only need to spend $25 dollars on me,” you say, “what if we all donate the $25 dollars to a community program that helps prevent child abuse”?  Just like that, your family of five can raise $125 to help ONE of those 50 children gain support services BEFORE abuse or neglect happens.

What are your thoughts on this “house party” for prevention idea?  Are there other opportunities to host a party to raise funding or awareness for a cause near to your heart?

To learn more about Better Indy Babies/Healthy Families of HealthNet click here or donate directly by clicking here.  Comments welcome!

In Indiana, a child is abused or neglected every 25 minutes, and most of the time, abuse and neglect can be prevented.  HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies program uses an originally designed outreach model that consists of teams of health care workers which include social workers, registered nurses and community health workers.  These teams are charged with finding pregnant women, determining if the woman is enrolled in prenatal care, and if not, getting them into prenatal care.  The teams are also responsible for providing prenatal health education, support services and linkage to community resources.  This innovative approach is different than public health nursing.  Packaging a select group of interdisciplinary health workers, including community residents, into a team is now a model used in many organizations throughout the nation.

Better Indy Babies (BIBs) works closely with Healthy Families, a program that is part of Prevent Child Abuse America, in order to support at-risk families and provide them with more than education but a resource to lean on.  Poverty, lack of child-rearing education or experience, lack of formal education, and single-parenthood are all risk factors of both infant mortality and child abuse or neglect.

Become an advocate for programs that serve families who just need the comfort knowing that there is support.  Sometimes all it takes is knowing that there is someone there if you need them.  Maybe you can give a child in Indiana a few extra minutes by learning more about BIBs or Healthy Families, spreading awareness of organizations within your community, or donating here.