EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- National Child Abuse Prevention Month begins April 1. This year’s DoD theme is “Strong Communities Strengthen Families.”
According to a case study titled “Abusive Head Trauma: A Perpetrator Confesses,” written by Erica Bell, Michelle Shouldice and Alex Levin, child abuse is often associated with a lack of understanding of basic child development. Parents, even if they are knowledgeable, may lack the ability to put their knowledge into action. Timely mentoring, coaching, advice, and practice are likely to become more useful to parents and caregivers than information alone.
“As a community, we share the responsibility for our children’s safety and well-being,” said Yvonne Viel, violence prevention integrator. “Prevention of child abuse and neglect is our ultimate goal. This is achieved when we have a strong community that supports and strengthens our families.
The month’s events here include:
April 3, 10, 17, 24 – Active Parenting of Teens, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. each day. Youth Center, Bldg. 2582, Hatchee Road. For more information, call 882-8212.
April 3, 10, 17, 24 - Anger Management, Family Care Partnership, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. each day. Bldg. 2579, corner of Gaffney and Hatchee Road. For more information, call (850) 883-8616.
April 9, 16, 25, 30 - Love and Logic: Parenting Made Fun: Early Years Birth to Six, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. each day, Child Development Center III, 2718 Boatner Road. For more information, call 883-8616.
April 12 - Free workshop for parents, educators, clergy, friends, and family, Bldg. 2398, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Part 1: Current drug trends, signs and symptoms. Part 2: Parental and adolescent addiction. Open to anyone with base access. For more information, call 882-5519.
“Family Advocacy aims to further enhance positive parenting skills, which in turn strengthens our families and equips them to handle the stressors that may come their way,” Viel said. For more information, call 883-8616.
Military One Source offers tips, parenting resources and confidential counseling.