New from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse! |
|
Happy April from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. This time last year, we were well into quarantine, which we did not know would continue for so long. There have been some upsides to quarantine, such as spending more time with one another and not losing time commuting to and from work. There have been some challenges as well, like unemployment and strains in relationships from spending more time together than we are accustomed to. Parenting during the pandemic has been a stressor for many family members as well, from working at home with children underfoot to managing schooling from home, parents have had many new experiences to navigate.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, so we will share some tips and resources that can help dads manage the challenges and, sometimes, increased stress that have come with parenting over this past year, and in general. We provide tips fathers can use to guide their children in positive ways instead of punitive. Our tips and resources also serve as a reminder that self-care is critical to managing life’s ups and downs, so, dads, take a deep breath, and put aside some time to take care of yourself so you can be the best version of yourself.
|
|
- Physical Abuse: The intentional use of physical force that can result in physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or other shows of force against a child.
- Sexual Abuse: Involves pressuring or forcing a child to engage in sexual acts or exposing a child to other sexually explicit conduct or materials.
- Emotional Abuse: Refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejection, withholding love and affection, and threatening.
- Neglect: The failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, and access to medical care.
|
|
Understanding your child’s needs at each age and stage of their development can help prevent abuse and neglect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a Milestone App to help parents track their child’s development. It also provides tips and activities to help promote their development. Understanding age-appropriate behavior and milestones can help you parent effectively, alleviate stress, and prompt you to act early if you have a concern.
Check out the 24 ways to prevent child abuse pamphlet, which includes various strategies to make your home safe and give your child trust, independence, and self-esteem. It also provides great recommendations for effectively disciplining children, urging parents to never strike their child in anger--discipline with short time-outs. Finally, as parents, we are reminded to listen to our children, be consistent in our words and actions, model respect, and speak love.
|
|
Parent education reduces the risk of child abuse and neglect by encouraging positive parenting practices that promote safety, well-being, and permanency for children and families. Programs supporting dads and families in these trying times should offer or provide referrals for parent education. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), as reauthorized in 2010, identifies parent education as a core prevention service. Many of the Children’s Bureau’s Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants fund parent education programming as part of local community prevention efforts. Successful parent education helps parents and caregivers acquire the skills needed to build healthy families and communities.
|
|
Young children experience their world through their relationships with parents and other caregivers. Safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments are essential to preventing child abuse and neglect, and programs can take a lead in promoting them. The Essentials for Childhood Framework includes strategies to promote relationships and environments that can help create neighborhoods, communities, and a world in which every child can thrive.
Many low-income parents also qualify for Early Head Start. Early Head Start (EHS) programs are a great resource for programs to partner with as a comprehensive support service for families in the prevention of child abuse. EHS programs serve infants and toddlers under the age of 3 and pregnant women. Through a partnership with EHS, parents, including fathers, can receive home visits and education, which can reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect.
|
|
Disclaimer: Reference to specific products, services, or companies does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), or the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. ACF is not responsible for the contents of “off-site” web page references or for any private, third-party, pop-up, or browser-integrated software or applications. |
|
Upcoming Events
NRFC is monitoring events and will update our website and in newsletters if events are canceled.
|
|
Our Mission: The goals of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse are to provide, facilitate, and disseminate current research and proven and innovative strategies that will encourage and strengthen fathers and families and providers of services.
Our Resources: Visit the NRFC website for fatherhood topics and tools, news, and new publications, which can be found through the NRFC online library search.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
