Missouri Children's Trust Fund

Positive Parenting Tips

What developmental expectations should I have for my child?  Is my toddler ready to be toilet trained? In what ways can I communicate with my child? Why is a strong bond with my baby so important? How can I help my child learn to make good choices? How should I deal with my child's crying and temper tantrums? Is my baby misbehaving or exploring? What is positive discipline?

Check out these newly developed parenting tips that will provide insight to these questions and many more.  CTF and Parents As Teachers National Center (PATNC) created this information to help everyone better understand and care for babies and young children. The tips are available in electronic format only and focus on:   

• Positive Parenting
• Developing a Strong Relationship with Your Child
• Understanding Discipline & Guidance
• Issues in Development
• Observing & Knowing Your Child
• Development-Language, Motor, Intellectual, Social-Emotional

PATNC professionals have written and presented each topic by age groups: birth-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 24-36 months, young preschooler, older preschooler. Please download and use the parenting tips at your convenience.

Therapy Animals Help Kids

The American Humane Association (AHA) recently launched an innovative program based upon the belief that therapy animals can help individuals who have suffered physical or emotional trauma.  The Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK)™ Program, co-created by AHA's Allie Phillips and Diana McQuarrie, encourages and guides child welfare professionals on how to incorporate therapy animals into sessions with children who have been abused or neglected or who have witnessed violence. When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them to speak of their experiences. According to AHA, therapy animals can help children become more open and promote the healing process in such venues as children’s advocacy centers and courtrooms. 

To assist with program implementation, AHA has developed a Program Manual (pdf) that provides guidance for setting up an animal-assisted therapy program and safely working with therapy animals. The manual also covers the legal implications of effectively incorporating therapy animals in working with children.  For more information about the Task Program e-mail task@americanhumane.org.

ACE Study Links Childhood Trauma

Research released from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that people who experienced considerable trauma during their childhood died 20 years prematurely and those suffering childhood trauma have double the risk for early death compared with adults who had not endured adverse childhood experiences. These results, appearing in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, are the latest from the ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences). The research project, now in its 14th year,  is one of the largest investigations ever conducted on the links between childhood maltreatment and health and well-being later in life. The ongong study looks at how both positive and negative experiences and childhood stressors are strongly related to development and affect risk factors for disease, health and social well-being throughout the lifespan.

[More from this article and related article by Jane Stevens appearing in LJWorld.com 10/6/2009]
Related - CDC's ACE Study and The Ace Pyramid

New Board Member Appointed

CTF welcomes Eric F. Battle, St. Louis, to the Children's Trust Fund Board.  Battle, recently appointed by Governor Jay Nixon, is the executive pastor for House of Deliverance Church and also serves as bereavement coordinator for United Healthcare Hospice Service. He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy from 2002 to 2007 and as deputy director of the Division of Workforce Development from 2007 to 2009. The Governor has appointed Battle for a term ending Sept. 15, 2012.

CTF also expresses appreciation to outgoing Board member Rev. Robert H. Marty for his outstanding volunteer work and service over the past seven years.

Golf Tournament Benefits CTF

The Jefferson City Probation & Parole Office District #27 raised $5,500 for CTF after hosting the 1st Annual CTF Benefit Golf Tournament September 18 at Railwood Golf Club near Jefferson City.  Sixteen teams, a raffle and silent auction, good barbecue, beautiful weather and a full use of mulligans created an atmosphere of fun and friendship for the afternoon event. CTF Board members Lynne Cooper and Richard Dunn won the "closest to the pin" honors.  A special 'thank you' to the JC Probation & Parole and others for their many volunteer hours, hard work and dedication, and a very grateful 'thank you' to all those who sponsored a hole or a team, donated an auction item or played golf.  Your enthusiastic participation helped to make this first tournament a tremendous success. We hope to see everyone back in September 2010 to play another round of golf for Missouri's kids.