Help reverse child abuse trend
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This is the fifth of a series of articles about services in Graham County
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and there are several ways people can help reduce the number of child abuse incidents in Arizona, said Christy Maltose, a family support specialist in the Choices program of Child & Family Resources.
Last year, there were 35,148 reports of abuse and neglect involving more than 70,000 children in Arizona, according to Child & Family Resources.
Education plays an important role in preventing child abuse. Several classes for parents of children, newborn to age 18, are offered through the Choices program at Child & Family Resources. These classes cover parenting skills, budgeting skills and communications.
“We try to educate the community,” Maltose said.
Child & Family Resources also has programs available to new parents through its Healthy Families program. The agency contacts new mothers through the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center.
“It’s an excellent program. They even offer it to expectant mothers,” Mal-trose said.
Parenting classes are given throughout the Gila Valley. Parents who want to enroll in these classes can contact one of the following:
Another way Valley residents can help prevent child abuse is through programs that accept contributions to the state’s Child Abuse Prevention Fund, Maltrose said.
Taxpayers may designate on their state income tax return that they wish to make a donation to the fund.
According to Child & Family Resources, the Graham-Greenlee Regional CAP Council receives money from the fund.
“For every dollar spent on prevention services, $6-$10 is saved in social costs,” according to statistics from Child & Family Resources.
Another way to help prevent child abuse is by purchasing a specialty license plate that reads “It Shouldn’t Hurt To Be a Child.” These plates cost $25, and $17 goes to the Child Abuse Prevention Fund, said Cydney DeModica, Motor Vehicles Division spokeswoman.
She said the Arizona Republic Charities matches the $17 with a 50 cents on the dollar donation.
Agencies may apply each spring for grants from the Child Abuse Prevention Fund to pay for child abuse prevention programs.
“It’s a real win-win all the way around,” DeModica said.
As of the end of February, about 35,000 cars registered in Arizona bears the special plate. The first year of this specialty plate was 1999, DeModica said. In comparison, there are about 20,000 veterans plates on Arizona vehicles, DeModica said.
“Of all the specialty license plates in Arizona, this one (child abuse prevention) has captured the hearts and imagination of vehicle owners,” DeModica said.
