AG 2002 08 19 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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conducted several community vigils to remember the victims of child abuse and has also organized, in collaboration with other groups, two campaigns to educate the community and protect children. · InfantSafetyCampaign In 2001 the Cabarms Community Child Protection Team and Smart Start planned and carried out the Infant Safety Campaign to educate young parents and infant caregivers about critical health and safety issues, including the need to place infants on their backs to sleep, to provide safe places to sleep, to use properly installed and fitted car seats, to seek medical care and obtain timely immunizations. Young parents with no money to purchase infant cribs have been provided with good quality portable cribs. In April, the team received the state award from Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina for this campaign. Small group sessions for parents and caregivers have been carried out all over the county, showing the Infant Safety Video and providing educational and safety materials. This is an ongoing campaign, begun with a grant from the Division of Social Services and assisted with other grants from Speedway Children's Charities, Smart Start and The Community Foundation. Toddler~Two's Safety Campaign Smart Start is now preparing to carry out a Toddler/Two's Safety Campaign, developed in a similar way to the Infant Safety Campaign, with the assistance of pediatricians, social workers, law enforcement, safety educators and early childhood specialists. The focus in this campaign will be on safe transportation, indoor and outdoor safety, discipline and health. Social workers and nurses will carry out small group sessions around the county to educate parents and teachers of children between the ages of 1 and 3. The Role of the County Commission As our County Commissioners, your role is an extremely important one to provide the Department of Social Services with the staff that is needed for Children's Protective Services. This is the department within the Department of Social Services that is responsible for child abuse and neglect investigations and treatment. We appreciate the role Commissioner Fennel played in signing the application for the state grant that enabled us to obtain the first funds for the Infant Safety Campaign and hope you will always encourage community efforts such as that to protect children. Thank you! Anne Laukaitis Chairman, Cqmmunity Child Protection team Executive Director, Cabarms County Partnership'for Children August 19, 2002