Missouri Children's Trust Fund

Summit to Focus on Child Abuse Prevention

Make plans to attend the Second Annual Child Abuse Prevention Summit hosted by Missouri KidsFirst.  The event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. August 20, 2009 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Columbia.  Registration is $30 per person. Jay Wood, MO KidsFirst Executive Director, encourages anyone engaged in child abuse prevention to participate.

"We want to provide an opportunity for child abuse prevention leaders at the community level to come together in a collaborative environment to discuss pressing issues regarding the safety and well being of children and families.  This dialogue began last year and there's much work to be done."

Last year the inaugural summit drew nearly 100 child advocates from around the state.  Registration information is available at Missouri KidsFirst or by calling (573)632-4600.  Individuals are asked to register by August 14.

Kids + Cars >> Safety

As summer temperatures heat up in Missouri, the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) reminds all parents and caretakers to never leave a child unattended in or around a vehicle. The interior of a vehicle can heat up to temperatures well over 100 degrees in just a few short minutes.  But regardless of the temperature, children should NEVER be left alone in a vehicle because of other dangers and risks. A child left unattended in a vehicle even for a short time is in danger of dehydration, overheating, hyperthermia, injury, abduction and even death.
 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released its first-ever “Not-in-Traffic Surveillance 2007 - Children” confirming that preventable deaths and injuries associated with motor vehicles happen with regularity every year, not only on public roadways, but on private driveways and in parking lots.  The safety agency report estimates that thousands of tragic and life-altering incidents occurred in 2007 due to children being left alone in hot vehicles, being backed over, or powerful automatic vehicle windows closing on necks and limbs of car occupants.

To help spread this critical safety message, CTF offers several public education materials from our 'Not Even For A Minute' Campaign (NEFAM). These are available at no cost in hard copy and download (pdf) and include a poster and rack card complete with helpful tips and reminders. The NEFAM Campaign also includes television and radio public service announcments (PSAs):

• CTF NEFAM Radio PSA 1
• CTF NEFAM Radio PSA 2
• CTF NEFAM Video PSA

KidsAndCars, a national organization that addresses safety issues of children in and around vehicles, provides several helpful tips and reminders to parents and caregivers.     

Summit to Focus on Drug Endangered Children

Lori Moriarty, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, will headline a team of outstanding presenters at the Missouri Alliance for Drug Endangered Children's Summit, July 21-22, 2009 at the Resort of Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark. The innaugural event provides an excellent opportunity for organizations and community partnerships across the state to connect with each other, learn and share information about how to better protect children whose health and safety are jeopardized by drug manufacture, drug dealing or drug abuse in the family home. For more information contact Missouri Alliance for Drug Endangered Children.  Download Summit Registration Form & Program Booklet (pdf)

Early Interventions Create a Healthier Future

A new article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reinforces the importance of prevention programs and policies that support safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments for children.  According to authors James A Mercy, Ph.D., and Janet Saul, Ph.D., investing in prevention programs can not only improve the long-term health and mental health of a child that can last throughout adulthood, but can also reduce criminal behavior and generate important economic benefits to society.  Conversely, a history of adverse and traumatic experiences can detrimentally effect optimal brain development and lead to long term health risks such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, as well as emotional and behavioral problems such as continuing the cycle of violence in relationships, depression, and even suicide.  The article sites several successful research-based prevention models.  [Read full article - JAMA June 3, 2009]

Governor Nixon Appoints New Board Members

Governor Jay Nixon recently appointed three members to the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) Board of Directors.  Joining the CTF Board are Susan E. Block, University City; Stacey L. Dujakovich, Kansas City; and Robert J. Harris, M.D., Columbia.
 
Block is an attorney and a partner at Paule Camazine and Blumenthal. She previously was an administrative judge of the Family Court of St. Louis County. The Missouri Supreme Court appointed Block to serve on the Missouri Children's Service Commission, the Missouri Children's Justice Commission, and the Missouri Supreme Court Family Court Committee.

Dujakovich is an office manager with Union Shop Apparel in Kansas City and has served in bookkeeping positions with several Kansas City businesses.

Dr. Harris has been a practicing pediatrician in Columbia for 44 years. He was a member of the Columbia Board of Education from 1981 to 1990, including serving as board president from 1984 to 1986.

CTF expresses appreciation to outgoing Board members Kay Lynne Myers, Kansas City (10 years) and Nuzhat Nisar, M.D., Ballwin (3 years) for their outstanding volunteer work and service.

Related - [Governor Nixon Announces Appointments 6/2/09]

Podcast: 2008 Kids Count Missouri Data Book

Teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates have increased while child abuse has decreased.  That is among the data reflected in the most recent edition of the 2008 Kids Count Missouri Data Book.  Citizens For Missouri's Children (CMC) Executive Director F. Scott Gee, along with Director of Programs and Policy Emily Schwartze, join CTF Director Kirk Schreiber on this podcast to discuss the work of CMC, the annual Kids Count Project and how the data can be an effective tool and resource.

Listen/Download - 05/21/09 (MP3)

New Members Appointed to CTF Board

The Children's Trust Fund (CTF) welcomes five new members to the CTF Board of Directors. Joining the CTF Board are Paula E. Clay, Columbia; Kathleen Boyle Dalen, Ph.D., Kansas City; Richard C. Dunn, Springfield; Stephen F. Huss, Ph.D., Hillsboro; and Thomas M. Vansaghi, Ph.D., Kansas City. In addition, Governor Jay Nixon recently reappointed Board member Lynne M. Cooper, D. Min., St. Louis, to a second term.

The CTF Board of Directors is comprised of twenty-one members in which seventeen public members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, two Missouri Senate members are appointed by the President Pro Tem, and two House of Representative members are appointed by the Speaker of the House. 

Public members may serve up to two consecutive 3-year terms and may serve until their successor is appointed.  CTF also expresses appreciation to outgoing Board members Terry Bloomberg, St. Louis (8 years); Sam Burton, Ph.D., Rolla (11 years); Daniel 'Duke' McVey, North Palm Beach, FL (formerly of Jefferson City)(12 years); Christy Garnett, Independence (10 years); Margaret 'Peggy' Krokstrom, St. Louis (3 years); and Sheryl Maxwell, Lilbourn (3 years) for their volunteer work and outstanding service to CTF.

CMC Makes Kids Count with 2008 Data Book

The 2008 Kids Count Missouri Data Book, released by Citizens For Missouri's Children (CMC), shows a number of positive changes as well as challenges for Missouri's children. One of the positive changes includes an overall decrease in the rates of child abuse and neglect between 2003 and 2007. 

The annual publication, a collaborative project of CMC, the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF), and more than 30 public and private organizations from across the state, documents the status of children in all Missouri counties and the City of Saint Louis.

The book provides information on measures of child well-being covering areas such as health, education, financial security, juvenile justice and child protection. In conjunction with the release of the book, CMC has created a unique interactive Web tool that allows users to compare county-by-county data over time.

Child Maltreatment Report Available

Child Maltreatment 2007, an annual report from the Children’s Bureau, is now available online. The report presents national and state statistics on child abuse and neglect derived from data collected by child protective services (CPS) agencies through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.
 
This year’s report shows a decrease in the number of children who were maltreated—794,000 in 2007, which is down from 904,000 in 2006. The report includes information on: 

• The estimated 3.2 million referrals made to CPS agencies in 2007, involving the alleged maltreatment of approximately 5.8 million children;
• Fatalities that occurred as a result of maltreatment;
• Perpetrators of maltreatment; and
• Services to prevent maltreatment and to assist victims.

CTF Chair Encourages Prevention Throughout Year

"Now that April has come and gone, so have many of the public activities highlighting it as child abuse prevention month.  What many people learn during April relates to the long term impact that child abuse and neglect can impose on a child’s development.  Specifically, it is learned that a child who has experienced the trauma of abuse and neglect can have life-long struggles with relationships, academics, job experiences, physical health, mental health and future parenting behavior.

Typically, if we see a child with a broken bone, we support and help that child with their physical needs and healing.  However, the emotional, cognitive and spiritual breaks resulting from abuse and neglect are often not responded to or recognized in the same supportive manner.

As adults, we are responsible to create a safe environment for all children to grow, develop and heal.   It is important to keep the momentum from April going throughout the year, so that we can reach each child impacted by the fear and pain of child abuse, keep the cycle from repeating and work together to stop it once and for all."

Regina Staves, Ph.D., Children’s Trust Fund Chair
Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri
Assistant Professor
Interim Chair, Department of Psychology