Be the Change – Help Us Put Children First!
Join us for a 4-part interactive series on how we can find a solution to be the change we need in the world for children. Each week, we will move forward in the change process together for a common goal of putting “Children First.” Our inquiry begins with one question – “Why is it important to put children first?”
The Situation - Our Nation’s Children Are in Crisis
Before we can discuss solutions, it is necessary to understand the problem. In the last twenty years, not much has changed for children. Statistics of abuse and neglect are staggering. Unfortunately, however, we don’t really get to see much about this topic in the national media. The Every Child Matters Foundation reports that child abuse and neglect is a “national epidemic,” with over 2,500 deaths a year (see http://www.everychildmatters.org/home/coalition). Furthermore, this organization makes a bold claim that, “We are currently in a de facto blackout with the national media.”
The Cost to Our Nation
The estimated annual economic cost of child abuse and neglect was $103.8 billion in 2007 value (see
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/about_us/media_releases/pcaa_pew_economic_impact_study_final.pdf). These are the direct costs that go into intervention programs as a result of not investing in prevention. However, at the time of intervention, children have already experienced poor medical and mental health, poor school performance, risky and violent behavior, substance abuse and criminality. Children are our future. If we want our future to be bright, we need to act now and break the cycle of childhood abuse and neglect in the early years – before children experience these negative outcomes. By focusing on prevention, children will be healthy, safe, educated and better able to reach their potential in life, which will in turn allowing our nation’s to achieve its potential.
Information to Knowledge
We hear about the multitude of problems in our nation today, such as, war, poverty, school shootings, home invasions, healthcare crisis and corporate espionage. We have a choice on how to use this information. We can either choose to ignore it or be empowered by it. By being more intentional on how we obtain information, we can become more informed from a variety of sources. For example, when we see a story on a child who has been abused or neglected, how can we be a part of the change for the solution? How do we join together to shift our vision of a better future to focus on what is working well?
The Message of Change
Messages of change are a like a lighthouse that shines in the distance. We see the light from our ship in the sea amidst social, political and economic insecurity. One message remains clear, Americans have responded well to the message of change. We seem to agree that we want a brighter future for children, families and our community. This is good news! We have found common ground. If we are to seek change, we must first be the change. Here comes the interactive portion of this article. What do you think is working well with putting children first? Please share your response to this message of change?
About Deaconess Children Services:
Deaconess Children’s Services, founded in 1898, is the leading service provider of child abuse and neglect prevention programs in Snohomish County. Deaconess Children’s Services supports at-risk children and families with high impact, evidence-based prevention and early intervention programs that focus on building individuals’ strengths, positive relationships and supportive networks through parent education, child development and advocacy programs. To learn more, visit, http://www.deaconesschildren.org/ or call 425-259-0146.
