Child-abuse prevention begins at home

By 2nd Lt. William Powell
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- More than 900,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2003 with many suffering from neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological maltreatment, according to a National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System report.

Eighty percent of the perpetrators were parents, including birth parents, adoptive parents and stepparents, the report stated.

“The best thing parents can do to prevent abuse in their homes is to learn how to be a good parent,” said Jae Pate, family advocacy treatment manager at Tyndall.

“Children go through many developmental stages which bring about different behaviors, many of which can be frustrating and anger-provoking to parents,” Pate said. “Recognizing what is normal behavior and having a good parenting plan for addressing the behaviors can be an effective preventative tool.”

Parents also need a plan for managing personal stress and anger, Pate said. Stress and anger are normal, but if allowed to get out of hand, they can be serious risk factors for lashing out at children.

Several resources are available to help parents develop these plans. Family advocacy offices offer assistance with parenting and stress through their prevention programs. Life skills clinics offer stress management, anxiety and depression management classes. Family support centers and chaplains are also good resources, Pate said.

“For needs that cannot be met by any of these programs, there is an option of being referred to a civilian resource,” Pate said.

Some situations, however, do require immediate action. Parents who reach their “boiling point” with a child need to take a minute before they act or lash out, said 1st Lt. Tina Nelson, Tyndall’s family advocacy element chief here.

“One of the most common things we recommend is to take a time out, breathe deeply and think about what you are about to do,” Nelson said. “If possible, talk to the other parent and think of how to approach the situation before engaging with the child.”

Nelson said military parents are not necessarily more or less likely to abuse their children because some of the same factors affect both civilian and military families.

“Children are at higher risk for abuse in general if there is history of abuse in the family, financial stressors in the family, alcohol or drug abuse, or if a spouse is currently being abused,” Nelson said.

The military may seem like it processes numerous abuse cases compared to civilian programs because of the military's reporting system, said Capt. (Dr.) Priya Srinivasan, a pediatrics physician with the 325th Medical Operations Squadron.

“A child who shows signs of abuse (during a routine health examination) will get a full physical exam including X-rays if needed,” Srinivasan said. “The case gets reported to family advocacy if it occurs on base and to the department of children and families if it occurs off base.”

Child-care providers are also trained to recognize signs of abuse, said Janet Collins, the child development center’s program technician for preschoolers here.

“The training helps us be aware of signs that children may exhibit if they are being abused,” Collins said. “Certain indicators we look for include bruises on a child’s lower back or limbs; constant rocking; hiding under the table; a decline in behavior, hygiene or communication; and an increase in aggressive behavior or foul language.”

Parents may not have the ability to take a break from their children when they need it, Pate said, but with the family advocacy programs, life skills clinic classes and a personal stress relief activity can help keep a family together.

“We will do whatever we can to help so children remain treasures, not targets,” Pate said.