Missouri Children's Trust Fund

Blue Ribbon Month Message Encouraged Throughout the Year

Kiener Plaza Fountain in downtown St. Louis turns blue to recognize April as child abuse and neglect prevention month.

April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention month and marks the time when Missouri KidsFirst (MKF), the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) and other child advocates reaffirm their dedication to putting kids and families first.  Planned activities throughout the state united many organizations and people behind a Stong Families, Safe Kids effort that must be carried out all year long.

“Everyone must share in the responsibility to protect our children." said Jay Wood, Missouri KidsFirst executive director.  “Child abuse and neglect are community issues.  Parents, educators, public officials, faith-based and local organizations all play an important role to strengthen families and help children reach their full potential.”

In most cases, isolation, stress and unrealistic expectations of children serve as the underlying causes behind child abuse.  Engaged and supportive communities can be successful in preventing many abusive situations by offering and sustaining home visitation programs, parent education, mentoring opportunities, crisis intervention and other evidenced-based practices.

“We know that the abuse and neglect of children negatively impacts brain development, can cause long-term health issues, and destroys the ability to establish healthy relationships,” said Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director.  “Our focus must be to change behavior by supporting prevention efforts that offer ways for families and children to lead productive and safe lives. Certainly, the cost of prevention is less costly than treating the effects of abuse that can so often last a lifetime."

Anderson Recognized for Child Abuse Prevention Efforts

Photo Caption:  Skip McGuire, STAT investigator; Rodney Jones, STAT Investigator; Gus Kolilis, STAT executive director; Det. Andy Anderson; Sheriff Dwayne Carey, Boone County Sheriff's Department; Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director

For 20 years, Boone County Detective Andy Anderson has been working to protect children and prevent crimes against them. The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF), Missouri’s foundation for child abuse prevention, recently recognized Anderson’s efforts with the presentation of the 2008 Richard P. Easter Award.

“Andy truly has a passion for investigating these cases involving child victims,” said Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey, who nominated Anderson for this award.  “He is extremely knowledgeable and very well trained in this area.  Our department is very fortunate to have Andy.”

CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber presented the award to Anderson among his peers, including Sheriff Carey, during a ceremony on Friday, April 18 at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department in Columbia.  Gus Kolilis, Rodney Jones and Skip McGuire represented the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT) to remark about Det. Anderson's career and accomplishments related to child protection.

Anderson played an instrumental role in creating the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force by securing the Internet Cyber Crime Grant, and he currently serves as coordinator of the task force.  In this capacity, Anderson conducts Internet crimes investigations related to children in addition to providing public education regarding Internet safety and prevention against predators.

Internet Sleuth-Photo and caption published by the Columbia Daily Tribune
Det. Andy Anderson's speech for Victim's Rights on 4-17-08

New Ratings for Child Safety Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new five star rating system to give parents help with determining which child safety seat to purchase.  In 2006, 670 kids under the age of seven died in car accidents. Federal officials say seven out of ten car seats in the U.S. are either the wrong size for the child, not installed properly, or used incorrectly. [KRCG-TV Online]

The announcement came one day before Evenflo Company Inc. stated it is implementing a voluntary safety recall for four models of its Discovery Infant Car Seat.  Tests by Evenflo and the NHTSA show that models 390, 391, 534, 552 of the car seat could potentially become separated from its base in high impact side collisions similar to those in the tests.  Evenflo is providing owners of the seat models a free supplemental dual-hook fastener to ensure that the seat remains attached.  To order the fastener, seat owners should call Evenflo at 1-800-356-2229 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST or visit http://www.evenflo.com/Discovery. 

CTF Releases Annual Report

The Children's Trust Fund Annual Report (pdf) for Fiscal Year 2007 highlights CTF prevention activities, events, grants and public education campaigns.  From July 2006 through June 2007, CTF distributed nearly $2.8 million in prevention funding and directly served over 80,000 persons.  CTF funded community-based programs such as home visitation, safe crib, respite care, mentoring, family support and parent education, including infant nurturing, fatherhood and grandparent support.  CTF continued its "Never Shake A Baby" and "Not Even For A Minute" awareness campaigns, and introduced two new campaigns, "Words Hurt" targeting the emotional abuse of children, and "Parent with Patience", which focuses on realistic expectations of children.

CTF Recognizes Individuals at Fall Board Meeting

During the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) annual fall Board meeting held October 2007 in Jefferson City, the Board recognized Rep. Rachel Storch and Rev. Robert "Bob" Marty for their service and contribution related to child abuse and neglect prevention.

In addition, the Board expressed appreciation to Nanci Bobrow, Ph.D., of St. Louis for her service as Board chair over the last two years.  The Board also elected and welcomed Regina Staves, Ph.D., of Kansas City as the new Board chair and Patrice Mugg of St. Louis as the new chair elect.

Photo: Senator Maida Coleman of St. Louis; Nanci Bobrow, former CTF chair; Rep. Rachel Storch of St. Louis; Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director [Larger photo]

Abuse Risks Increase as Families Change

David Crary, national writer with the Associated Press, explores the topic of how the risk of child abuse is directly affected by an ever-increasing share of America's children growing up in homes without both biological parents, and that the risk of child abuse is markedly higher in the nontraditional family structures.  [St. Louis Post Dispatch On-line]

World Child Abuse Prevention Day

November 19 is World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.  The World Day, initiated by the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) in 2000, aims to create a culture of prevention around the world by encouraging governments and community/society organizations to play more active roles in protecting children.  Melissa Jonson-Reid, Ph.D., a child welfare expert and professor of social work at Washington University, St. Louis, offers several ways to become involved in preventing child maltreatment including purchasing a Children's Trust Fund license plate.

[Related link-National Institute of Child Health and Human Development]

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]

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]