Mother-to-Mother is an incentive based mentoring program that pairs young mothers with experienced mothers.  Services support at-risk pregnant and parenting families through home visitation, parent education and training, peer and social support, and community resources.  The program is for young women, no older than 21 1/2, who have or are pregnant with their first child. We spoke with Yvonne Hall, DCRHF Interim Executive Director about the program and how it works to give young mothers the skills they need to be good parents and responsible community members.

AUDIO: Yvonne Hall talks about the mentoring and incentives that young mothers receive.

Hall says there are many agencies that assist in making the Mother-to-Mother program a success.

AUDIO: Yvonne Hall talking about the community resources that enhance the program

The Mother-to-Mother program works to enhance the lives of young women for the long term. Part of that mission is placing a focus on education.

AUDIO: Yvonne Hall talking about how the Mother-to-Mother program assists in Education

Hall says funding assistance is a key to being able to offer all of the services available with Mother-to-Mother.

AUDIO: Yvonne Hall explains why CTF funds are so important to the program.

AUDIO: Kristen Slaughter talks about what sparked interest in the Amachi program.

Slaughter and Dopuch point out that the funding Big Brothers Big Sisters receives from CTF is used to focus on prevention of child abuse and neglect.

AUDIO: Kristen Slaughter and Kate Dopuch talk about how they use CTF funding.

The Amachi program often deals with sensitive subject matter.  By using the resources of area agencies with expertise in the care of children of prisoners Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri is better able to address the specific needs of each child and their family.

AUDIO: Kate Dopuch talks about some of the key partners involved with the program.

As part of its Words Hurt, But They Also Help campaign, CTF has developed a new flier (PDF) for caretakers that promote emotional well-being in children. The flier also provides information about emotional abuse/neglect, also known as psychological maltreatment, and how these hurtful and harmful behaviors can have long-lasting effects.

Download Emotional Well-being, Emotional Abuse/Neglect Flier (PDF)

Listen to Emotional Well-being Podcast – Regina Staves, Ph.D. (7:32)

Debby Howland, Coordinator for the Kansas City Child Abuse Roundtable Coalition, speaks with CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber in this latest podcast about the work of the Roundtable and the many upcoming events in Kansas City to promote child abuse prevention.

In a related podcast, Becky Wood, Advancement Manager Special Events for Boys & Girls Town of Missouri  – Jim D. Morris Campus, Springfield, discusses the Be A Lifesaver – Prevent Child Abuse Campaign in Greene County.

For a complete list of prevention events and training opportunities in April and throughout the year, go to our upcoming events calendar.

PODCAST: Debby Howland, Kansas City Child Abuse Roundtable Coalition (10:27)

PODCAST: Becky Wood, Boys and Girls Town of Missouri (11:58)

AUDIO: Echternach talks about the recruiting process for finding kids for the program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri works from the Search Institute’s Asset Building program.  Grant money from the Children’s Trust Fund helps the program provide education to parents in the home as well as build relationships in the schools.

AUDIO: Swoboda and Echternach talk about the added benefit CTF gives their program in homes and schools.

Swoboda says there are many ways the program has been proven successful. She says national research shows that children involved in the program statistically have lower drug use, do better academically, have an easier time socially, and are less likely to become pregnant than their peers who are at risk and not involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Additional research shows program alumni are more likely to have college degrees, make more money, have stronger relationships, and become more involved in their community as volunteers or leaders.

AUDIO: Echternach and Swoboda discuss long-term involvement in the program.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month,

The St. Louis Family & Community Partnership is hosting its Child Abuse Prevention Month kickoff ceremony on Tuesday, April 10, in St. Louis at the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center in Forest Park.  Missouri KidsFirst is hosting its 3rd annual Pinwheels For Prevention Awareness Garden on April 11 at noon where over 1,000 pinwheels will be displayed on the south lawn of the Missouri State Capitol.   Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, A Great Circle Agency, is sponsoring the Be A Lifesaver – Prevent Child Abuse Campaign throughout the month of April in Springfield and includes an afternoon with Elizabeth Smart on April 13 who will be speaking at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall For The Performing Arts, Missouri State University Campus.  Wear Blue Day at the ‘K’ will be the theme at the Kansas City Royals game the evening of April 14 at Kauffman Stadium.  The event is sponsored by the Kansas City Child Abuse Roundtable Coalition.  These are just a few of the many other community events and activities scheduled around the state to recognize and bring awareness to child abuse and neglect.  Click here for a list of scheduled events for April and throughout the year and download or print the Child Abuse Prevention Month flier (pictured).

Learn how to increase awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month and throughout the year through the 2012 Prevention Month web section on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.  The website features:

• Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Child Well-Being: Network to Action 2012 Resource Guide
• Tip sheets for parents & caregivers available in English and Spanish
• An activity calendar for April relating to the Six Protective Factors
• An online media toolkit for promoting April and prevention
• Prevention Month widgets to post on your website

According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), child maltreatment in the United States in 2008 cost an estimated $124 billion in health care expenses, productivity losses, use of the criminal justice system and more. The average lifetime cost for a nonfatal victim of child maltreatment is about $210,000 in 2010 dollars, while the cost for a fatal case of child abuse is nearly $1.3 million.

Awareness about child abuse and neglect strengthens communities and builds support for children and families in the effort to prevent child abuse.  Prevention is the insurance policy for good health, mental health, crime reduction, educational and economic prosperity for our next generation.  We hope that you will join the Children’s Trust Fund in investing in Missouri’s children by supporting prevention efforts and organizations in your community in April and throughout the year.

The booklet includes valuable information about the six protective factors that help reduce the risk of child maltreatment, strategies for engaging communities to support families and protect children, and ways to promote child well being during April – Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Tip sheets for parents and caregivers are included in English and Spanish.  The protective factors help lay the foundation for prevention by helping parents build resiliency and social connections, providing concrete support and resources, and providing parents with knowledge of parenting including the importance of nurturing, attachment and appropriate developmental ages and stages.

Organizations, volunteers, and child advocates are encouraged to use this resource guide in their community throughout the year to promote healthy families and educate others about the cost-saving benefits and positive economic impact of prevention.

CTF continued its “Never Shake A Baby”, “Not Even For A Minute (NEFAM)”, “Words Hurt” and “Parent with Patience” public education campaigns.  In addition, CTF partnered with the Department of Health & Senior Services to provide safe cribs and safe sleep education to Missouri counties in need of a safe crib program, partnered with the Missouri Department of Transportation to highlight CTF’s NEFAM campaign to never leave children unattended in vehicles, and responded to the Joplin tornado disaster by providing prevention funds to local organizations who work with children and their families.  In its 28th year, CTF has distributed over $42 million in prevention funds from donations and dedicated fees since its inception in 1983.

CTF Annual Report FY2011