Protecting Childern

Protecting Children
A
Community Responsibility

Because children are victimized in every part of the country each community needs to provide an educational program that better ensures the safety of the children in its area. We all have a role to play in building strong neighborhoods where individuals’ families and children are valued and supported. Part of building a strong community is participating in the programs that support community members. Anything that supports kids and parents in your community can help strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. With the help of family support activities many families are able to find the strength and resources they need to raise safe healthy and productive children. As we learn more about why child abuse and neglect occur, communities are recognizing the best way to promote prevention is to provide parents with the skills and resources they need to understand and meet their children’s emotional physical and developmental needs and protect their children from harm. Though research has generally focused on the risks associated with abuse and neglect many researchers are now calling for more attention to be paid to the positive mediating factors that protect children from experiencing harm. These factors referred to as protective factors reduce or counterbalance stress and other negative influences thereby making abuse less likely to occur. The community environment can have a tremendous influence on the ways families are able to raise their children. Access to adequate health care quality education and employment services benefit adult caretakers and protect children. Families operate within neighborhoods and communities. Factors that characterize a neighborhood such as availability of supports governmental and community, stability, violence, poverty, disorganization all affect the ability of families to nurture their children. Good communities for raising children include both caring and...