Missouri Children's Trust Fund

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).

Play and/or Download: 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.     

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.

2009 Resource Guide Available

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Child Welfare Information Gateway in conjunction with the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services Childrens' Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect and the FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention is offering free copies of  Strengthening Families and Communities - 2009 Resource Guide.  The packet, available for download (pdf) or hardcopy, is developed for service providers and others who work to promote healthy families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Locally Missouri Children's Trust Fund (CTF), as the state CBCAP lead agency, provided copies to each participant attending the state conference on child abuse and neglect prevention in March, as well as copies to each CTF grantee.

Safe Sleep Practices Reduce Risks

According to the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS),  Missouri has experienced a 46% increase over the last two years in the number of infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping practices. [Audio] This topic continues to be of vital importance for professionals and families in Missouri and across the country.  SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis recently held a news conference promoting safe sleep environments for infants and young children and discussed the risks associated with bedsharing.  The Children's Trust Fund (CTF) reminds parents/caretakers that the message is as simple as ABC - Babies should sleep Alone, on their Backs, in a Crib. CTF offers a free brochure, 'Six Simple Steps to Make Your Baby's Crib Safe', which can be ordered online and/or printed from our website.  An accompanying Safe Sleep Poster can be printed now with hard copies available soon.  Also please check out these related stories and resources:

[News Release - Sleeping With Babies, DHSS 1/28/09]
[Article - Rise in Infant Suffocations Renews Debate On Bed-Sharing, Washington Post online 1/26/09]
[Article - Co-sleeping With Baby Never Okay, JC News Tribune online 1/24/09]
[Article - Dallas (TX) Morning News, 11/27/08]
[Related - Story and PSA's from WHAMTV13, Rochester, NY]
[Public Service Announcement - Infant Suffocation from Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department]

New Child Fatality Review Report Available

The 2007 Missouri Child Fatality Review Program Annual Report, "Preventing Deaths in Missouri" is now available online. The report provides a statistical breakdown of child injuries and deaths both accidental and non-accidental by county and statewide.  It contains helpful recommendations for keeping children safe and reducing the chances for injuries and/or fatalites from occurring.  Issued by the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT), Missouri Department of Social Services, the report provides information about Missouri's Child Fatality Review Program (CFRP) and reflects the work of many dedicated professionals throughout the state who strive to improve and protect the lives of Missouri's youngest citizens.  Printing for this document is paid in part by a grant from the Children's Trust Fund.  For additional information please call (573)751-5980. 

Cultural Influence on Child Development

The cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors within a family all have an impact on early child development. Zero to Three, the national center for infants, toddlers and families, has issued a new report that looks at this very issue entitled "The Changing Face of the United States: The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development".  The report, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Bernard van Leer Foundation summarizes the latest research on dealing with the impact of culture on early childhood services. Download a copy of this free resource here.

National SBS Center Launches New Website

The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome announced they have expanded their website to be the most comprehensive source on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma (SBS/AHT).  The site includes new information about the evidenced based SBS/AHT prevention program, the Period of PURPLE Crying.  The Period of PURPLE Crying® program incorporates 25-years of research on normal infant crying to help parents and caregivers understand the frustrating features of crying in infants that can trigger shaking or abuse. According to the National Center, SBS is the leading cause of death in abusive head trauma cases. An estimated 1,200 to 1,400 children are injured or killed by shaking every year in the United States with actual numbers possibly much higher as many likely go undetected. Learn all about SBS/AHT, training opportunities and available prevention materials by clicking on www.dontshake.org.  As a reminder, Missouri CTF also offers a free dvd and other education materials on preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome which can be ordered on-line. 

Zero Seconds Campaign Launched

Harrison's Hope, a Missouri based non-profit organization and Children's Trust Fund (CTF) license plate partner has launched a new nationwide safety campaign in an attempt to keep children safe in and around vehicles.  The Zero Seconds Campaign aims to teach parents and caregivers to never, ever leave a child unattended inside or near a car and will consist of public service announcements, posters, magnets and fliers.   Harrison's Hope was established by Michele and Terrill Struttmann of Washington (MO) after their son was tragically killed by a runaway van.  Each year there are hundreds of reports of children being left unattended in or around vehicles with many ending in tragedy.  Parents and caregivers should always remember that a child left alone in a vehicle, even for a short time, is in danger of dehydration, injury, abuduction, or even death.

Related articles and resources:
[St. Louis Post Dispatch online, 9/5/08]
[St. Louis Post Dispatch online, 9/7/08]
CTF Not Even For A Minute Rack Card (pdf)
CTF Not Even For A Minute Poster (pdf)
View CTF Not Even For A Minute PSA
Kids And Cars

The Effects of Childhood Stress

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) summarizes the available research on childhood stress and its long-term consequences in a publication entitled The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan.  The document explores how intensive and prolonged stress, especially stress caused by child abuse, neglect and repeated exposure to domestic violence, can lead to a variety of short and long-term negative health effects.  This may include the disruption of early brain development and functioning of the nervous and immune systems. In addition, childhood stress can lead to health problems later in life including alcoholism, depression, eating disorders, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases.  This guide can be especially useful to prevention practitioners as they incorporate information about childhood stress into their work.  Requests for hard copies can be submitted on-line at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/ncipc.aspx.

View, download, or print the complete text of The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan.

Related - Child Maltreatment Associated with Reductions in Quality of Life, University of Georgia, September 2008