Missouri Children's Trust Fund

Parent, Child Communication Key to Avoiding Internet Dangers

In an age where children can communicate with anyone at anytime and anywhere, the most important communication they can have is with their parents in their own home.  That was the main message during National Internet Safety Night on October 23, hosted by the Missouri Research and Education Network (Morenet) .  The event was held to raise awareness of online dangers and crimes and provide resources for keeping families safe online. More than 1500 people at 79 sites in 9 states (including Missouri) tuned in to learn about the latest trends in law enforcement and the resources available for staying safe online.

[Jefferson City News Tribune]
[Nationwide Internet Safety Night Delivers Powerful Message - Morenet]

Child Trends Releases Two New Program Briefs

Child Trends, an independendent nonpartisan research center focusing on children and youth, has released two new briefs in its series on fostering the adoption of evidence-based practices in out-of-school time programs.  Implementing Evidence-Based Practices: Six "Drivers" of Success  defines implementation; highlights why the effective implementation of evidence-based practice is critical to achieving outcomes; and outlines six core components of successful program implementation.  Seven Activities for Enhancing the Replicability of Evidence-Based Practices describes the essential components of replicable programs and outlines seven key activities that program developers and researchers can conduct to enhance replicability of effective program models. 

Family Resource Center Presents Conference for Professionals

Register now for Remedies For Families and Children in a Socially Toxic World, Friday, November 16, 2007, St. Luke's Hospital, 232 South Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield.  This one day conference sponsored by Family Resource Center focuses on professionals who work with children and families.   The conference will provide solutions, strategies and tools to assist professionals with a better understanding of how to deal with the impact of trauma and violence on children, families and the community.  Nationally acclaimed child maltreatment expert and author, James Garbarino, Ph.D., will address the impact of family and community violence and abuse on child development and offer key interventions to deal with these effects. Registration fees have been reduced to $25 standard registration and $15 for students. 

Safety Tips for Home Visitors in Meth Environments

In response to those who attended the workshop on Methamphetamine (Meth) during the Children's Trust Fund's (CTF's) child abuse and neglect prevention conference in March 2007, CTF has developed an electronic flyer, A Toxic Combination: Children and Methamphetamine (pdf), to assist home visitors in becoming informed and safe as they work with and help families.

The Missouri Guidelines for Managing Children Found at Methamphetamine Laboratory Sites implemented by the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association (MJJA) is another tool that provides agencies and organizations with a protocol to cautiously deal with a Meth environment and the safe removal of involved children.

The production and use of Meth creates a dangerous environment for children and families, as well as home visitors who serve their communities.  Meth has a detrimental effect on child abuse and neglect in Missouri, since addiction may lead to parents and caregivers compromising the healthy lives of their children in order to maintain continued use of the drug.  As a result, children may be exposed to very dangerous surroundings, severe neglect, and physical and sexual abuse.  In addition, homes contaminated with Meth pose risks to home visitors as they conduct their work.

CTF expresses appreciation to Detective Mark Edwards of the Jefferson City Police Department and Peggy Thoenen, Early Childhood Consultant, who contributed the content for this public education piece.
 

BraveHearts Program Provides Support to Dads

Healthy Families Counseling and Support, a nonprofit agency that serves families in Clay and Platte Counties, is having success reaching dads through the BraveHearts Program.  The free support program for fathers with children ages birth to 6 began two years ago with funding from the Missouri Children's Trust Fund and the Kauffman Foundation.  Using a curriculum from the Center for Successful Parenting, a BraveHearts' facilitator takes fathers through parenting and child development education, fatherhood development, case management services, mentoring, and job training. Referrals for the program are received from local courts, attorneys, high schools and Head Start. Some fathers refer themselves.  Most volunteer to attend, though some are court-ordered. Free childcare is provided while the dads are in session, and one portion of the meeting is committed to play time which helps to strengthen the bond between fathers and their children.
[KC Community News]

Safe At Home Program Provides Vital Service to Victims

The Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program is a new service administered by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office that provides survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or stalking, who have relocated or are about to relocate, with an alternative mailing address to help keep their assailants from finding them. The Secretary of State’s Office will forward participants’ first class mail, certified mail and court documents to help keep their location confidential.  In addition, it allows participants to use the substitute address on their government records and public filings, keeping assailants from using current government documents to locate their victims.   For more information or to sign-up, please contact the Missouri Secretary of State's Office at (866) 509-1409 or e-mail SafeAtHome@sos.mo.gov.

Related Articles:
First Sign Ups For Safe At Home
Governor Signs Legislation To Help Victims of Domestic Violence
Safe At Home Signed Into Law
Carnahan Applauds General Assembly for Passage of Legislation
Helping Missourians Feel Safe At Home

Death of 4-Month-Old Blamed on Crib

Federal consumer safety officials are investigating a Simplicity Inc. crib design after local authorities blamed the death of a 4-month-old girl in southwest Missouri on one of the company's bassinets.  The model in the probe, a "Simplicity 4-in-1," was not part of a recall last month of 1 million other baby beds from the company.  The sheriff's deputy who investigated the case and the coroner in McDonald County said Tuesday that they blame the Sept. 29 death on the design of the bassinet. [St. Louis Post Dispatch Online]

CTF Participates in 'Show Me You Care Campaign'

The Children's Trust Fund (CTF) recently participated in the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign statewide kickoff festivities for 2008. The theme of this year's campaign is Show Me You Care. The annual event provides state employees with one unified fund raising campaign to contribute to charitable organizations from across the state.

CTF is one of many non-profit organizations and charities in which state employees can choose to designate a portion of their income. This campaign is critical to CTF's prevention efforts since the organization receives no general revenue funds. Contributions assist CTF with providing grants to community organizations that prevent child abuse/neglect and create awareness to the importance of strong families and keeping children safe.

CTF participates in Department of Corrections (DOC) Employees Charitable Campaign kickoff event on September 17.  Pictured left to right: Mariann Atwell, Acting Division Director, Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services; Vicki Myers, Director, Division of Human Services; Jerome Anderson, Boys and Girls Club; Lee Knernschield, Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Larry Crawford, Director, DOC; Kirk Schreiber, Executive Director, Children's Trust Fund; Dave Rost, Deputy Director, DOC; and Steve Long, Chairman, Board of Probation & Parole. [Larger photo]