April is National Child Abuse Prevention month.  ALCOAST 144/12 encourages all indivduals and organizations to play a role in making communities and homes better places for children and families.  Read the ALCOAST for suggestions on how each of us can make a difference and to learn the six protective factors.

For more information visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Adminstration for Children and Families.

Follow up:

R 271515Z MAR 12

ALCOAST 144/12
COMDTNOTE 1754

SUBJ: NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

A. COAST GUARD FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM, COMDTINST 1750.7 (SERIES)

1. APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. THIS MONTH AND
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE COAST GUARD ENCOURAGES ALL INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING COMMUNITIES AND HOMES BETTER
PLACES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WHAT FOLLOWS ARE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW
EACH OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

2. GET SMARTER ABOUT PROTECTIVE FACTORS. ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THERE ARE SIX PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT
DIMINISH THE RISK FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE
THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND RESOURCES PARENTS NEED TO CARE FOR THEIR
CHILDREN. THE SIX PROTECTIVE FACTORS ARE:

A. NURTURING AND ATTACHMENT
B. KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT
C. PARENTAL RESILIENCE
D. SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
E. CONCRETE SUPPORTS FOR PARENTS
F. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE OF CHILDREN

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE PROTECTIVE FACTORS VISIT
HTTP://WWW.CHILDWELFARE.GOV/PREVENTING/PREVENTIONMONTH/FACTORS.CFM.

3. PROMOTE HEALTHY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DOD MILITARY
INSTALLATIONS OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS WHENEVER
POSSIBLE AND PROMOTE THEIR USE BY OTHERS WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED. ONE
GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON SUCH ACTIVITIES IS OPERATION MILITARY
KIDS AT HTTP://WWW.OPERATIONMILITARYKIDS.ORG/PUBLIC/STATES.ASPX.

4. REPORT INCIDENTS TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. PER REFERENCE A,
REPORT ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO THE FAMILY ADVOCACY
SPECIALIST (FAS) AT THE NEAREST CG HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WORK-LIFE
REGIONAL PRACTICE OFFICE. REPORTS ALSO CAN BE MADE TO THE LOCAL CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES AGENCY. YOU CAN REQUEST ANONYMITY IF YOU PREFER.
OFTEN PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO MAKE A REPORT BECAUSE THEY ASSUME THAT
THE CHILD WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE HOME AS A RESULT. IT IS THE GOAL
OF ALL CHILD PROTECTION AGENCIES TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. REMOVAL
OF CHILDREN IS USUALLY DONE ONLY AS A LAST RESORT TO PREVENT FURTHER
HARM. FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD MALTREATMENT
AND WHERE TO REPORT GO TO
HTTP://WWW.CHILDWELFARE.GOV/RESPONDING/HOW.CFM OR CONTACT THE
CHILDHELP NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE AT 1-800-4-A-CHILD. FOR FAST
CONTACT INFORMATION GO TO: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE/CONTACT.ASP.

5. PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY. MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
NON-PROFITS RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND TO IMPROVE SERVICES RELATED TO
PROTECTIVE FACTORS. CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IN THESE EFFORTS OR FIND
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN SUCH AS THROUGH COACHING
A SPORTS TEAM, BECOMING A CHILD OR PARENT MENTOR, OR BECOMING A SCOUT
LEADER. FOR LISTINGS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TAILORED TO YOUR
LOCATION AND INTERESTS GO TO HTTP://WWW.SERVE.GOV/.

6. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND HELPFUL LINKS RELATED TO FAMILY
PROGRAMS WITHIN THE COAST GUARD, VISIT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE.

7. COMDT (CG-1112).
8. RADM M. K. DOLLYMORE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.