Child abuse prevention gets new resource
- Scott & White launches support center help stop violence –

TEMPLE, Texas – In an effort to raise awareness about child abuse prevention in Central Texas, the new Scott & White Child Abuse Support Center is joining forces with Safe Kids Mid-Texas and Aware Central Texas (ACT) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Temple Mall in the center court near the new Kid’s Corral soft play area.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the groups’ goal is to provide information about family abuse and violence, child abuse and neglect and Shaken Baby Syndrome.

“We hope to raise awareness, especially about Shaken Baby Syndrome and domestic violence and how they can be prevented,” said Scott & White Physical Abuse and Neglect Pediatrician, Dr. David R. Hardy. “Almost all cases of child abuse and neglect stem from the bigger problem of domestic violence.”

Hardy will also have information available about the new Scott & White Child Abuse Support Center, which was created to serve as an advocate for children. The center supports families and helps provide the means to stop child neglect and abuse in Central Texas through prevention and education. One of the major initiatives the center is working on is to work with Safe Kids Mid-Texas to develop Shaken Baby Prevention Programs in all the surrounding hospitals that handle deliveries.

Safe Kids Mid-Texas is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under.

Aware Central Texas (ACT) helps educate the community through parenting courses, working with the courts and Child Protective Services to target high risk families; anti-victimization courses in the schools; and case management, a home visitation and counseling program working with families referred to the center by Texas Department of Child Protective Services, by schools, by hospitals and other agencies.

According to Hardy, Bell County was ranked the 10th highest county in Texas in 2008 for child abuse and neglect reports and sixth highest in Texas for child deaths related to child abuse in 2007 and 2008.

“Through education, we hope that we can help stop these children from becoming victims of preventable abuse and death,” Hardy said.

To learn more about the Scott & White Child Abuse Support Center, visit stopchildabuse.sw.org

For more information, contact:

Contact: Scott Clark

Scott & White Healthcare Media Relations

254-724-9724 or 254-724-3047

sdclark@swmail.sw.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 16, 2009