Blue Ribbon Newsletter - Deschutes

THE POWER OF

PREVENTION DESCHUTES COUNTY’S 2020 BLUE RIBBON CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE

SPEAK UP, SAVE A CHILD!

10 ANNUAL PREVENTION PARTNERS OF THE YEAR

In 1989, when Bonnie Finney’s three-year-old grandson was killed by her daughter’s boyfriend, Bonnie began to tie blue ribbons to her car representing the bruises on her grandson. Her community joined in support of Bonnie and her family creating the Blue Ribbon Campaign. Over the past 30 years, the Blue Ribbon Campaign has grown into a nationwide event, bringing communities together to protect children.

KIDS Center and MountainStar are excited to honor two community partners for their outstanding commitment to preventing child abuse in Central Oregon. Each organization has dedicated valuable resources and time to learn how to better protect children, as well as provide concrete support for families in crisis. Thank you for giving back to our community!

About the Blue Ribbon Campaign

In Partnership:

Congratulations to the following organizations for your outstanding collaboration in preventing child abuse:

PREVENTION DAY

BY DAY How can prevention and education change the trajectory of a child’s life? Sometimes child abuse prevention looks like raising awareness around the prevalence and heartbreaking impact of abuse. Sometimes it looks like new policies or laws that aim to create safer environments for children and justice for those who have experienced abuse. Often though, effective prevention can be as simple as family involvement in community activities or helping a child build healthy relationships. All of these can make a difference for a child experiencing adversity.

MountainStar and KIDS Center passionately support children and families experiencing traumatic situations. We strive to promote resources and education that can help families build their resiliency – managing extreme stress, increasing family function, and keeping children safe. This is achieved through Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs). PACEs buffer the effects of extreme trauma by increasing an individual’s resiliency through positive experiences with their family and community. This can be seen in this story of a typical afternoon with Angela* and her family.

“Good work today, Angela! Remember, math quiz tomorrow,” calls Mr. Daniel.

“Yup!” exclaims Angela. “I’m going to study with Perla today.” Angela rushes out of the classroom to the school bus line. On the bus, Angela and her best friend sit up front and chat with Ryan, the bus driver.

“This is your stop, Angela.”

“Thanks, Ryan!”

Several kids hop off the bus and bounce over to where Perla is waiting to greet them in front of Boys and Girls Club.

“Ms. Perla, I have to study for my math quiz,” Angela blurts.

“Hello to you too, Angela,” Perla smiles back.

During homework club, Perla passes out construction paper and markers to make colorful flashcards for the math quiz tomorrow.

Angela and her classmates take turns quizzing each other.

Perla hands Mom a clipboard to sign Angela out of the program for the day. Perla shares what Angela had for snack and tells Mom about the breathing exercise Angela used to ground herself when she got frustrated during homework club. Angela says she learned this trick from Mom. Once they arrive home, Angela kicks off her shoes and hangs her coat by the front door. First, she needs to check Max’s food and water bowls.

Mom says that being a family means taking care of each other and since it’s just the two of them now, taking care of their dog Max is Angela’s responsibility.

While waiting for dinner, Angela sits at the table eagerly telling Mom about her day.

This story could have been different in many ways, but because of an incident in Angela’s early childhood years, Angela’s mom ended up engaging in therapeutic services through MountainStar.

She strengthened her parenting skills and developed strategies for addressing behavioral issues with Angela. Another parent at MountainStar invited Mom to attend several prevention trainings offered at KIDS Center where she learned how to communicate with her daughter about sensitive topics. Sometimes this is precisely what child abuse prevention looks like.

MountainStar and KIDS Center support children and families who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Our goal is always to add to a family’s “tool box” and increase their ability to engage in protective factors, such as children having more than one safe adult, or caregivers being taught how to parent in stressful situations. Together with families and other community organizations, we’re working to create an environment where children grow up healthy and supported. *Names and situations have been altered to protect identities.

TRACEs

KIDS Center and MountainStar are partners in the United Way of Deschutes County’s TRACEs Initiative with a shared commitment to make our region a place where every individual has the strength, social connections, and community support they need to be resilient and thrive in the face of adversity. For more information visit tracesco.org.

PROTECTIVE AND COMPENSATORY EXPERIENCES (PACES) FACTORS THAT CAN LESSEN OR BUFFER THE EFFECTS OF RISK, STRESS, OR TRAUMA. - Caregiver who loves unconditionally - Having one best friend they trust and have fun with - Regular opportunities to help others - Involvement in organized sports or other physical activity - Active membership in a social group i.e. scouts, youth group, club - Engaging hobby that is artistic or intellectual in nature - Adults they can trust - Home that is clean, safe, and provides basic needs - School environment that provides resources and academic experiences needed to learn Adapted from Morris, Hays-Grudo, et al. (2014).Protecting parents and children from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

CHANGE THE STORY CASE STUDY #1

Andrea* has been noticeably distant from her friends and family and has become increasingly preoccupied with her phone and spending time online. Andrea’s mom has asked her repeatedly about this change in her behavior, in response to her daughter’s distance. Andrea finally opens up to her mom, admitting that she shared an explicit photo of herself with a friend she met online who has now asked for more photos and threatened to send the original photo to Andrea’s friends and family.

PREVENTION ACTION

Talking about online engagement and internet safety is a key component of abuse prevention for children and teens. Discussions should include about “friending” only those friends we know in real life, about the real life consequences of sending explicit photos even to those you know, and the need to have balance between screen time and offline time. Sign up for a SafetyNet® training to learn more about how to help your child safely navigate the online world.

CASE STUDY #2

Sara* noticed her two-year old daughter was unusually quiet and withdrawn around Sara’s new boyfriend. Sara thought they would warm up to each other since he was helping with childcare while she was at work. A few months later, her daughter was still afraid, cautious and easily startled. One day, Sara saw bruises on her daughter that didn’t make sense and knew she needed to act.

PREVENTION ACTION

Children communicate a lot through their moods and behavior.

Parents are encouraged to be actively curious when they see significant changes in their children. Ask friends or neighbors what they see and carefully consider all the possible causes. Medical, mental health, and social service professionals can help you address the changes you see in your child and get the support your family needs. Your child is depending on you to understand their “message.”

IF YOU SUSPECT THAT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED, CALL AND TALK TO A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL AT 911 OR THE OREGON REPORTING HOTLINE AT 855-503-SAFE. ANYONE WHO MAKES A REPORT IN GOOD FAITH, BASED ON REASONABLE GROUNDS, IS PROTECTED BY THE LAW.

PREVENTION IS CLOSE AT HAND Prevention organizations are located throughout Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Look for support from your after-school programs, school-based health clinics, health departments, home visiting nurses, mental and behavioral health programs, faith-based programs, and law enforcement agencies. Below is a list of organizations that are Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary prevention resources. Remember, there is a supportive community around you. Let’s strengthen families and keep kids safe together!

PRIMARY PREVENTION

KIDS Center: Prevention Education* • After-School Programs • Bend Parks & Rec* • Child Care Programs • Deschutes Children’s Foundation • Faith Based Programs • Family Resource Center: Parent Skill Training* • Oregon Child Development Coalition - Madras • Primary Health Care Providers and Clinics* • Saving Grace: DV Education • School Based Health Centers • Schools K-12 • TRACEs

1

approaches for the community at large; seeking to eliminate the root causes of abuse MountainStar Family Relief Nursery* • J Bar J (multiple organizations) • Boys & Girls Club* • Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth • Early Childhood Special Education • Family Access Network* • Juvenile Community Justice* • HeadStart* • Family Resource Center* • County Health Programs: Home Visiting Nurses • Healthy Beginnings • Bend - La Pine Teen Parent Program • Circle of Friends - Sisters • Friends of the Children • Every Child Oregon* • Human Dignity Coalition • Mary’s Place* • Saving Grace* • Healthy Families of the High Desert • Deschutes County Behavioral Health* • Oregon Family Support Network*

3 TERTIARY PREVENTION

KIDS Center* • MountainStar* • CASA • County Behavioral Health* • DHS - Child Welfare* • Victims Assistance* • Foster Care Programs • Family/Drug Court*

aims to reduce further harm to those who have already experienced abuse

SPONSORS

2 SECONDARY PREVENTION focus on at-risk groups or families; use of selective interventions for abuse

*Servicios disponibles en español

THANK YOU A heartfelt thank you to our many community partners and volunteers who work to prevent child abuse in Central Oregon!