It’s Hot Hot Hot! Never Leave Kids Alone in Cars…Period!

Summer months in Missouri often means extreme heat, which can pose extreme risk for kids who are stuck in a car. The Children’s Trust Fund’s Not Even For A Minute Campaign encourages parents and caregivers to NEVER leave children unattended in or around vehicles. Left alone in a vehicle for a short time, a child is in danger of heat stroke, dehydration, overheating, hyperthermia, injury, abduction and even death.

Our friends at KidsAndCars offer the following simple tips for parents & caregivers to keep kids safe & prevent tragedies:

• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
• “Look Before You Lock” – Get in the habit of always opening the back door to check the back seat before leaving your vehicle. Make sure no child has been left behind.
• Create a reminder to check the back seat.
• Put something you’ll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., in the back seat so that you have to open the back door to retrieve that item every time you park.
• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat. When the child is placed in the car seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that the child is in the back seat.
• Make sure you have a strict policy in place with your childcare provider about daycare drop- off. Everyone involved in the care of your child should always be aware of their whereabouts. If your child will not be attending daycare as scheduled, it is the parent’s responsibility to call and inform the childcare provider. If your child does not show up as scheduled; and they have not received a call from the parent, the childcare provider pledges to contact you immediately to ensure the safety of your child. (this is very similar to the ‘absence-line’ used by most elementary, middle and high schools)
• Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in driveways or garages. Ask home visitors, child care providers and neighbors to do the same.
• Keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children.
• If a child goes missing, immediately check the inside passenger compartments and trunks of all vehicles in the area very carefully, even if they are locked. A child may lock the car doors after entering a vehicle on their own, but may not be able to unlock them.
• Be especially careful during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays. This is when many tragedies occur.
• Use drive-thru services when available (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.) and pay for gas at the pump.
• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.

Please share these important safety tips with your childcare providers, teachers, relatives, friends, family & neighbors. And always remember to keep your pets safe from hot cars as well.   It could save a life!

Child Vehicular Heat Stroke Fact Sheet

OLATHE, KS. – Two children died of heatstroke in hot cars on Father’s Day, reports KidsAndCars.org, the only national nonprofit child safety organization working solely to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles.

Five children have died in hot cars already in June, bringing the total to 7 child vehicular heatstroke deaths this year nationwide.

•  June 21st (Pomona, CA) – A 3-year-old girl was unknowingly left alone in a vehicle after returning home from a Father’s Day family outing.
• June 21st (Columbia, SC) – A 4-year-old boy got into an unlocked car in an apartment parking lot.
• June 11th (Spirit Lake, ID) – A 3-year-old boy got into a neighborhood vehicle on his own.
• June 5th (Baton Rouge, LA) – A 22-month-old girl was unknowingly left by a child care provider.
• June 2nd (Hiland Park, FL) – An 18-month-old girl died after being unknowingly left in vehicle after the mother believed she had been dropped off at daycare.
• May 12th (Lake City, FL) – A 16-month-old girl died after being unknowingly left in vehicle after the father believed she had been dropped off at daycare.
• April 20th (Phoenix, AZ) – A 2.5-year-old boy died after being unknowingly left in his father’s vehicle.

“Today is the day for every parent in America to understand that this can happen to anybody and take simple steps to protect their children.” says Janette Fennell, KidsAndCars.org president and founder. “Far too many wonderful parents and caregivers believe that this would never happen to them or their family; which is the most dangerous mistake we can make as parents. Nobody is immune,” she continued.

These tragedies are not only predictable, they are 100% preventable, yet over 700 children have died inside hot cars in the last 20 years, according to KidsAndCars.org.

KidsAndCars.org’s successful Look Before You Lock program has provided more than 625,000 education cards to birthing hospitals nationwide providing safety tips about how to keep children safe.

Safety Tips from KidsAndCars.org

Below are some simple tips parents and caregivers can follow to prevent heatstroke tragedies.

• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
• “Look Before You Lock” – Get in the habit of always opening the back door to check the back seat before leaving your vehicle. Make sure no child has been left behind.
• Create a reminder to check the back seat.
• Put something you’ll need like your cell phone, handbag, employee ID or brief case, etc., in the back seat so that you have to open the back door to retrieve that item every time you park.
• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat. When the child is placed in the car seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that the child is in the back seat.
• Make sure you have a strict policy in place with your childcare provider about daycare drop-off. If your child will not be attending daycare as scheduled, it is the parent’s responsibility to call and inform the childcare provider. If your child does not show up as scheduled; and they have not received a call from the parent, the childcare provider pledges to contact you immediately to ensure the safety of your child. (this is very similar to the ‘absence-line’ used by most elementary, middle and high schools) Everyone involved in the care of your child should always be aware of their whereabouts.
• Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in driveways or garages. Ask home visitors, child care providers and neighbors to do the same.
• Keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children.
• If a child goes missing, immediately check the inside passenger compartments and trunks of all vehicles in the area very carefully, even if they are locked. A child may lock the car doors after entering a vehicle on their own, but may not be able to unlock them.
• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or sick, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
• Be especially careful during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays. This is when many tragedies occur.
• Use drive-thru services when available (restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.) and pay for gas at the pump.

Please share these important safety tips with your childcare providers, teachers, relatives, friends, family and neighbors… It could save a life!

KidsAndCars.org urges everyone to read “Fatal Distraction,” Gene Weingarten’s Pulitzer Prize-winning article in The Washington Post at http://ow.ly/ldDwU, which explains how these heartbreaking and preventable tragedies can happen to anyone.

For additional information, statistics and charts specific to child vehicular heat stroke visit http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html

For further details about ways to keep children safe in and around vehicles, please visit www.KidsAndCars.org.

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The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2014 highlights CTF’s prevention activities, events, grants and public education campaigns from July 2013 through June 2014.

During that time, CTF awarded over $2.9 million in prevention funding to support 117 community-based programs providing home visitation, safe crib/safe sleep, crisis nursery, mentoring, parent education, sexual abuse prevention, family support, strengthening families, public awareness and other prevention initiatives.   Since its  inception in 1983, CTF has awarded nearly $52 million in prevention funds statewide from donations and dedicated fees.

The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) welcomes four new members to the CTF Board of Directors. Senators Jill Schupp (D), Creve Coeur, and Bob Dixon (R), Springfield, were recently appointed by Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey. Senator Schupp represents District 24 in St. Louis, and Senator Dixon represents District 30 in Greene County. Additionally Governor Jay Nixon  appointed M. Peggy Krokstrom, Chesterfield, and the Rev. Andy Bryan, Springfield, to the CTF Board. Peggy Krokstrom is an Instructional Designer with Edward D. Jones in St. Louis, and Andy Bryan is the Senior Pastor at Campbell United Methodist Church in Springfield.

The CTF Board of Directors is comprised of twenty-one members, seventeen of whom are public members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, two from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two from the Missouri Senate appointed by the President Pro Tem. Public members may serve up to two consecutive 3-year terms.

The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) welcomes Michelle Crockett, Carthage, to its Board of Directors.  She was recently appointed to the Board by Governor Jay Nixon.  Currently the director of talent acquisition for Leggett & Platt, Inc.,  Crockett previously was executive director of Barceda Families, a non-profit agency providing child abuse prevention, intervention and family support services. Crockett also taught in the Lamar R-I School District for 10 years.   “I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve on the Children’s Trust Fund Board of Directors.  It is an outstanding foundation dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children across the state of Missouri,” said Crockett.  Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

The CTF Board of Directors is comprised of twenty-one members of whom seventeen public members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  In addition, four members are from the Missouri Legislature, including two members from the Missouri Senate appointed by the President Pro Tem and two members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House.

Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation Ceremony April 28,2014

Last month Governor Jay Nixon presented a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Missouri.  Over thirty individuals joined the Governor in his Capitol office for the ceremony including Representative Jill Schupp from the Missouri House, Children’s Trust Fund Board members, state division directors, child advocates, service providers and children.  Many individuals present were members of the Missouri Prevention Partners (MPP) Coalition, a consortium of agencies, organizations and individuals who provide leadership to reduce child abuse and neglect by strengthening families and communities.  Thank you Governor Nixon, to all who participated and to those who made Child Abuse Prevention Month a huge success!

April is Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month both nationally and here in Missouri.  This year’s theme focuses on, “Making Meaningful Connections.” Many communities around the state are gearing up for events and activities scheduled throughout the month to emphasize the critical importance of preventing child abuse and neglect and keeping children safe.   Go Blue Day for Missouri’s kids is scheduled for Friday, April 11.  We hope you will join thousands of Missourians on that day in wearing blue to promote the safety and well being of Missouri’s kids and the importance of child abuse prevention.  To learn how to support meaningful and measurable change in children’s well-being, and engage families and communities in the prevention of child maltreatment, you can:

• Visit the National Child Abuse Prevention Month website to find useful resources.
• Download the 2014 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections and learn how to strengthen families using the protective factors.
• Access dozens of tip sheets—in English and Spanish—that can be distributed to parents and caregivers. There are two new tip sheets this year titled “Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” and “Making Healthy Connections With Your Family.”
• Bookmark three activity calendars—one each for prevention programs, parents, and community partners—and discover ways to integrate activities related to the protective factors into Child Abuse Prevention Month activities.
• View the prevention video gallery, which features videos from national child abuse prevention partners. Share these videos via email and social media to raise awareness among your networks.
• Download and post Child Abuse Prevention Month widgets to your website to help promote the initiative.
• Spread the word with the online media toolkit, which provides traditional and new media strategies to help your organization or community partnerships raise awareness about events, reach potential supporters, and build relationships.
• Participate in Go Blue Day, Friday, April 11 by wearing something blue (the official color of prevention) to support Missouri’s kids.
• Attend the 5th annual Pinwheels for Prevention Community Pinwheel Garden at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 12pm hosted by Missouri KidsFirst.
• Attend or volunteer for child abuse prevention month events in your community.  Check here on CTF’s community events calendar for an event near you.
• Follow Missouri CTF on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with April’s prevention activities and news.
• Order CTF’s parent education and prevention materials including our new Strengthening Families Protective Factors Poster to use in April and throughout the year.

Nanci Bobrow, Ph.D. is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, St. Louis University School of Medicine, and a licensed Psychologist working with the Division of Endocrinology at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. She earned a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from St. Louis University. As a practitioner, Dr. Bobrow has held numerous local, state and national leadership positions in the area of prevention as well as therapeutic intervention. She previously served on the CTF Board from 2000 until 2008 serving as Board Chair from 2005-07 and was appointed by Governor Nixon in 2013 to serve another term. She is also a former Chair of the Task Force On Children’s Justice, and past President of Prevent Child Abuse Missouri. We spoke with her about the contributions CTF has made over the years.

AUDIO: Dr. Bobrow talks about the experience that led to her involvement with CTF

AUDIO: Working with the Specialty License Plate program

AUDIO: Addressing Shaken Baby and Safe Sleep campaigns

AUDIO: How the board evaluates programs for impact and success

AUDIO: Dr. Bobrow reflects on her time with the board

AUDIO: Dr. Bobrow shares her thoughts on CTF’s work and advancements.

The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2013 is now available and highlights CTF’s prevention activities, events, grants and public education campaigns from July 2012 through June 2013.

During that time, CTF distributed over $3.2 million in prevention funding to support 116 community-based programs providing home visitation, safe crib/safe sleep, crisis nursery, mentoring, parent education, sexual abuse prevention, family support, public awareness & other prevention initiatives.   Since its 1983 inception, CTF has distributed over $48 million in prevention funds from donations & dedicated fees.

CTF continued its  public education campaigns including Strengthening Families with the development of a related rack card; Never Shake A Baby addressing abusive head trauma;  Not Even For A Minute (NEFAM) reminding caregivers about the dangers of leaving children in and around vehicles; Safe to Sleep by updating materials; Words Help addressing the prevention of child emotional abuse & neglect; & Parent with Patience promoting positive parenting.

Read all about it and thank you for your continued support!

W. Dudley McCarter is an attorney with Behr, McCarter & Potter Law Office in St. Louis.  McCarter was appointed to CTF’s Board from 1996 through 2003 and served as Board Chair from 2001-2003. We caught up with him to talk about his time with the Children’s Trust Fund, which included CTF’s first Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention video and the beginning of the Specialty License Plate campaign.

AUDIO: McCarter reflects on the powerful story that led to the beginning of CTF’s Shaken Baby campaign.

AUDIO: McCarter talks about the need to replace diminishing funding from Tax Check-Off and so was born the CTF License Plate.

AUDIO: McCarter speaks to the commitment and dedication of organizations that applied for CTF grant funding.

AUDIO: McCarter talks about a broader awareness of abuse and neglect

There are many ways Missourians help children each and every day. One quick and easy way is to make a charitable donation on your Missouri tax form to the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF).  It’s been proven that a child’s experiences have a direct link to their health and well-being in adulthood. Investing in children early in their life is key to helping them have a successful future.  Your gift through Missouri’s Tax Check-off Program makes a BIG difference in the life of a child at risk for abuse and neglect.

Since 1983, CTF has invested millions in best practice child abuse prevention programs in communities around the state. Parent education, family support, home visitation, mentoring, safe sleep practices, sexual abuse prevention, fatherhood and grandparent support, strengthening families and many other effective prevention services are possible because Missourians like you make a gift on their Missouri tax return.

Just look for the child’s handprints on your Missouri State Income Tax Return and designate any amount over $2 to CTF by making your mark to contribute.  Your donation may also be deducted on next year’s federal tax return, and with a $25 or more donation, you are eligible to purchase a CTF specialty license plate for your vehicle…the ones with the green handprints. 

Whether you do it yourself or enlist the help of tax professionals, please consider donating a portion of your refund to CTF.  The Missouri Department of Revenue will send your donation directly to CTF where it will be used to support Strong Families, Safe Kids.  Thank you!  Together we can check-off child abuse in Missouri.

Patty Wolfe Hasselbring served as CTF’s 2nd Director, from 1987 to 1994. During her time, she implemented a program called Front Porches in 1994, a demonstration project focusing on family support.  We spoke to Hasselbring about her accomplishments as Director and the accomplishments of CTF over the past three decades.

#GivingTuesday™ is a movement to create a national day of giving added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is the second annual event.  #GivingTuesday is a special call to action and creates a national day of giving around the annual shopping and spending season to inspire giving every day.  CTF has become a #GivingTuesday partner to encourage families and individuals to be generous in whatever ways matter to them, whether that means volunteering at a local charity or donating to a favorite cause.  The following is a list of ways that CTF is promoting #GivingTuesday and encouraging you to do what you can to help us prevent child abuse and neglect across Missouri.

• Does your employer offer matching gift donations?  Consider making a #GivingTuesday donation today.
• Donate to CTF in a number of ways. Learn more.
• Follow us on Facebook & Twitter for updates on #GivingTuesday.
• Be a social media ambassador yourself for #GivingTuesday. Share the message on your social media accounts.

CTF Chair Award recipient Regina Staves, Ph.D. (C), pictured with CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber (L) and CTF Outgoing Chair Tom Vansaghi, Ph.D., (R)

Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Board member, Regina ‘Gina’ Staves, Ph.D., Kansas City, is the 2013 recipient of the CTF Chair Award in recognition of her outstanding service on the Board and in the field of prevention. The award was presented by outgoing Chair Tom Vansaghi, Ph.D., at the CTF Board of Directors meeting October 17 in Jefferson City.

“Gina fully embodies all of the characteristics that this award stands for – dedication, commitment and service,” said Vansaghi.  “She is a consistent positive voice and supportive advocate for Missouri’s children, as well as for those who work on behalf of Missouri’s kids. She continues to be a personal source of inspiration, encouragement and motivation to CTF staff, Board members and other child advocates,” Vansaghi continued.

Staves was originally appointed to the Board by Governor Bob Holden in 2004 and was later reappointed by Governor Jay Nixon. She is currently Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Avila University. She was previously in private practice specializing in attachment, stress, psychological trauma, abuse, neglect and childhood behavioral problems.  Staves served as the CTF Chair from 2007-2009, and has worked over the last 9 years on various CTF projects including assisting with the development of public education materials, sharing her expertise, and being a trainer/presenter.  She also worked with the National Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds on their publication – Preventing Child Neglect & Promoting Child Well Being.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Staves for her ongoing support, commitment and leadership with moving CTF forward and for sharing our vision of Strong Families, Safe Kids,” said CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber.

The CTF Chair Award was established in 2002 by the late Richard “Dick” Dunn, former CTF Chair, as a way for the chair to recognize a person or organization exhibiting outstanding service, advocacy and volunteer work on behalf of CTF.

Newly elected Chair Charmaine Smith (C) with CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber (L) & outgoing Chair Tom Vansaghi (R).

During the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Annual Fall Board meeting held October 16 and 17, 2013 in Jefferson City, the Board elected Charmaine Smith, St. Louis, as the new Board Chair, and Kathleen Boyle Dalen, Ph.D., Kansas City, as the new Chair-elect. Smith replaces outgoing Board Chair Tom Vansaghi, Ph.D., Kansas City, who has served in that role the past two years.  Smith, who has been a member of the Board since 2005, will serve a two-year term as chair until October 2015. She is the founder and executive director of Discovering Options, a St. Louis-based charitable organization that provides children with comprehensive support and enriching after-school programming.  Smith was appointed to the Board by Governor Nixon in 2010.

Dalen, a psychologist, was appointed to the CTF Board in 2009.  She is currently vice president of the Partnership for Regional Educational Preparation (PREP-KC) where she works closely with the leadership of Kansas City’s urban school districts and post secondary institutions to support the implementation of research-based strategies to increase college and career readiness for urban students.  Dalen will serve as chair-elect during the same time period ending 2015.