Missouri Children's Trust Fund

National Missing Children's Day - May 25

In 1983 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 National Missing Children’s Day. Since that time this day has served as an annual reminder for the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families and make child protection a national priority. National Missing Children’s Day also serves as a reminder to all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency, and for the need for everyone to pay close attention to the posters and photographs of missing children.  For more information visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Early Neglect Can Predict Aggressive Behavior in Children

A new longitudinal study conducted by the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Public Health reveals that children who are neglected before their second birthday display higher levels of aggressive behavior between ages 4 and 8. The research has been published in  Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  According to the Administration for Children and Families, neglect accounts for nearly two-thirds of all child maltreatment cases reported in the United States each year.  For purposes of the study a child was considered neglected if his parents or caregivers did not provide adequate supervision or failed to meet the child’s minimum physical needs for food, clothing and shelter.
[Read UNC News Release]

Making a Difference 'One Child at a Time'

DiAnne Mueller has devoted her life to helping others and since 1994 she has been making a difference for children and their families as executive director of the St. Louis Crisis Nursery.  The Crisis Nursery, with four locations in and around St. Louis and a fifth location opening soon in nearby Wentzville, is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect by providing respite care and shelter to children whose families are faced with a crisis or emergency.  Parents can voluntarily bring their children to any of the nursery sites for a variety of reasons ranging from overwhelming parental stress, domestic violence, a parent medical emergency, and other situations that jeopardize the safety and well being of a child. The Crisis Nursery receives support from many in the community as well as foundations including the Children's Trust Fund.  See the complete feature article as it appears in the April 2008 edition of St. Louis Woman Magazine and read how DiAnne continues to make a difference one child at a time.