OzChild’s Post

The February 2024 Child Support Report is here! Some of the highlights from OCSS this month include: 🔸 Commissioner's Voice: Starting Conversations About Healthy Relationships 🔹 Removing Burdens to Support the Growth of the Tribal Child Support Program 🔸 Helping Domestic Violence Survivors Avoid Being Retraumatized We applaud the Administration for Children and Families for taking charge and discussing these important issues. Give this a read if you'd like to learn more. #ChildSupport #OCSS https://lnkd.in/geKqzTiM

Back this fall by popular demand… Working in child welfare is completely different than other helping professions. You won’t learn these skills and strategies in college courses or professional development trainings! This course will change everything for you…

Child abuse is an abhorrent violation of a child's fundamental rights, leaving indelible scars on their physical and emotional well-being. It transcends borders, affecting children from all walks of life. It is imperative for society to stand united against this heinous crime. Every child deserves to grow up in an environment free from fear, violence, and exploitation. Preventing child abuse requires collective action. Raising awareness about the signs of abuse, promoting open communication, and providing resources for support are crucial steps. Education plays a pivotal role, teaching parents, caregivers, and communities about positive parenting and non-violent discipline. Communities must establish support networks to aid families facing challenges, ensuring that stressors don't escalate into abuse. Empowering children with knowledge about their rights and avenues for help can break the cycle of silence. Legal systems must be vigilant, swiftly punishing perpetrators and creating a deterrent effect. Collaboration between governments, non-profits, and citizens is essential to developing comprehensive strategies for prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. In the fight against child abuse, fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and zero tolerance is paramount. Together, we can create a world where every child is cherished, protected, and given the opportunity to thrive. #humanity #childcare #childabuse #socialimpact

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, free from fear and violence. Yet, the reality is that many children are exposed to domestic abuse, leaving lasting emotional scars that often go unnoticed. 💔 In our latest blog article, we delve into the profound effects of domestic abuse on children. From the psychological toll to the long-term consequences on their well-being, we shed light on a topic that demands our attention and action. Join us in raising awareness and breaking the cycle of violence. Read our article and share it with your friends, family, and community. Together, we can create a safer world for all children. #DomesticAbuse #Children #BreakTheCycle #Awareness #SafeHomes https://lnkd.in/geWSiB9i

NEW REPORT - Kentucky now ranks 14th in the nation in child victims of maltreatment according to the latest Child Maltreatment report from the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While there has been a 48% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2018 to 2022, Kentucky is around 60% higher than the national rate (7.7 per 1,000) of child maltreatment at 12.3 per 1,000 children. “While the drop in child maltreatment rates is a step in the right direction, we must continue our march to eliminate child abuse and neglect altogether," said Barry Dunn, president and CEO of Kosair for Kids, the founder and funder of the Face It Movement. Read more about the latest report and how Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement are advocating to the 2024 General Assembly for state policy and budget priorities that support child victims of maltreatment: https://lnkd.in/gZNpT8SP

💜 Domestic Violence Awareness Month 💜 As we continue to raise awareness this month, it's essential to highlight the specific needs of survivors that can empower them to leave abusive situations safely and successfully. Here are some critical resources and support they may need: 👉Safe Housing: Access to shelters or transitional housing provides a secure environment away from the abuser. 👉Financial Support: Financial assistance, whether through direct aid or job training programs, can help survivors gain independence. 👉Legal Assistance: Support with restraining orders, custody arrangements, and navigating the legal system is vital for protecting their rights and safety. 👉Emotional Support: Counseling and support groups offer a safe space to process feelings, share experiences, and build resilience. 👉Childcare Services: Access to affordable childcare can help survivors focus on their safety and stability without worrying about their children's well-being. At Sarah's Friends, we strive to meet these needs by providing comprehensive support services to empower survivors to reclaim their lives. 💜 Let’s come together to raise awareness and advocate for the resources survivors need to leave abusive situations. Your support can make a difference! #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #SupportSurvivors #SarahsFriends #EmpowerChange #EndDomesticViolence

For those out there who contend a child will suffer irreparable harm should they be removed from their parent(s)/families, I couldn’t disagree more. ⁠ ⁠ The family units involved in a majority of foster care cases are nothing more than havens for abuse. The damage inflicted upon these children will most likely be permanent. ⁠ ⁠ These kids will grow up with all of their pain, torment, and mental suffering intact. I’m sure there are many of us who can relate to how the grievous actions and detrimental decisions of a supposed loved one can mess with one’s sense of self-worth. ⁠ ⁠ How can we expect these children to evolve into mentally and emotionally stable adults when the parent(s) and/or family units aren’t? ⁠ ⁠ A healthy bond between a parental figure and a child can be created through the transfer of love. DNA and biology have absolutely nothing to do with it. ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #TimeToFosterChangeNow #ChildAdvocacy childrensrights #childrensrightsmatter #childrensrightsmovement #childrensrightsadvocate #improvechildrensrights #childrensrightsactivist

Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens & young adults. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, when we educate, empower, and advocate for healthy relationships. The Center for Family Justice's Training Institute offers prevention and community trainings on teen dating violence and other topics. For more information, call Amanda Posila, Director of Prevention & Community Engagement, at (203) 334-6154 or email aposila@centerforfamilyjustice.org. #LoveLikeThat #TDVAM24 #loveisrespect

The Long Weekend is upon us... Did You Know? The Denise House is 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫. Over the last 5 years an average of 269 women and children resided at The Denise House Shelter each year, AND an average of 513 women and children received support through our 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 each year! What does this mean? Simply put, you DO NOT have to reside in our Shelter to access our services. 🦋Our outreach counsellors meet with women to develop a safe plan to leave an abusive home. 🦋We provide on-going support for women and children after they have left the shelter for as long as they need it. 🦋Our supports are individualized to meet the unique needs of each woman including emotional supports, legal referrals, housing, financial literacy, and employment readiness. 🦋Our Child & Youth Outreach Worker provides multiple services for children & teens who have experienced, been affected by, or are at risk of abuse. Including 1:1 supportive counselling and therapeutic, supportive group counselling. 🦋We focus on prevention and awareness to stop the intergenerational cycle of violence. Need Help? Not sure where to turn? Want resources for your children? Don't need shelter, but have questions? Our support counsellors are standing by to take your call. 24 Hours a Day/7 Days a Week - 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, we are here for you💜 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟗𝟎𝟓-𝟕𝟐𝟖-𝟕𝟑𝟏𝟏 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝟐𝟔𝟑-𝟑𝟕𝟐𝟓 #loveshouldnthurt💜 #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #hereforyou #yourvoicematters #youaresafehere #TheDeniseHouseDurham

❗1 in 5 children are victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales - that's over 800,000 children. Most support for child victims has not been evaluated, and so there's no evidence of what works. With the high human cost - as well as social and economic costs running into the tens of billions of pounds each year - we urgently need to find out what works to prevent domestic abuse and support child victims. Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families has launched a 5 year project to find the best way to help children and families who are experiencing domestic violence, reducing this impact by identifying what works. We have partnered with Foundations to evaluate one of the promising interventions included in the #REACHplan, Fathers for Change (originally from the US). Our Chief Exec, Katherine Jones, said: 🗣 "This one-to-one intervention positions fatherhood as a key motivator for change in abusive men. In the US it has been found to reduce the likelihood of repeat abuse and children’s exposure to conflict (Stover et al, 2020) and to halve the chances of a repeat child maltreatment report within a year (Beebe et al, 2023). High quality, robustly evidence-based programmes are much needed in England, and we look forward to exploring whether and how it could work here.” 👉 Learn more about the #REACHplan: https://lnkd.in/e_PgWWcT 👉 Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/eJUxeswy 👉 Read BBC coverage of the #REACHplan: https://lnkd.in/eB6XxmQg Association of Child Protection Professionals Family Rights Group Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) #domesticabuse #evaluation #conflict #familyservices