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The news media recently reported on several horrendous cases of child abuse in New Jersey. The real tragedy is that these are not isolated stories. In New Jersey alone, more than 50,000 reports of child abuse and neglect are made each year.
Who knows how many cases are not reported?
Delta Dental is working hard to protect children who may be victims of abuse. The Delta Dental Foundation offers its
P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness) educational program to those who are in regular contact with children.
P.A.N.D.A. was originally created for dentists, who are well positioned to detect child abuse. Two out of every three injuries occur to the head, face, and neck areas, which are readily visible during a dental exam.
In recent years, the P.A.N.D.A. program expanded to include medical professionals, teachers, school nurses, youth group leaders, and other community group leaders who can assist in the fight to combat devastating patterns of abusive behavior.
P.A.N.D.A. presentations provide detailed information on physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect. They also teach how to report, whom to contact, and how to deal with the sensitive issues involved in filing a report of suspected abuse.
"We are deeply concerned about the number of child abuse and neglect cases reported in the state, which don't even include the many cases that go unreported," said Lawrence A. Dobrin, D.M.D., a forensic dentist with a practice in Roselle Park,
New Jersey and a spokesperson for the P.A.N.D.A. Coalition. "We strive to empower those in authority with the knowledge and resources for reporting cases of suspected abuse, to help the many children who are often defenseless."
The P.A.N.D.A. presentation is a one-time, one- to three-hour slide program and workshop conducted by Dr. Dobrin or another trained speaker. If you are interested in attending a presentation or scheduling one for your group, please call
973-285-4059.
April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
"Nationwide, reports show that more than 879,000 children are victims of child abuse and neglect and approximately 1,200 children die from maltreatment, many at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them," wrote President George Bush last April in his Presidential Proclamation announcing National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"Every April, communities across the country join to raise public awareness about child abuse, to provide information about how to prevent it, and to assist families in need of support, recovery, and encouragement," wrote the President.
Delta Dental is an annual sponsor of the Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey (PCA-NJ) Blue Ribbon Campaign, which takes place each April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
PCA-NJ, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, distributes more than 300,000 blue ribbons throughout New Jersey. The ribbons remind people of the tragedy of child abuse and what they can do to help prevent it.
For more information on PCA-NJ or to learn about becoming a volunteer for the Blue Ribbon Campaign, please call
800-CHILDREN, or visit its Web site at www.preventchildabusenj.org.
For information about other programs to prevent child abuse, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information at
www.calib.com/nccanch.
Tips for Identifying Signs of Abuse
According to Prevent Child Abuse - America, children who are abused may show physical and behavioral signs. Abused children may seem:
· Nervous around adults or afraid of certain adults
· Reluctant to go home (coming to school early or staying late, for example)
· Very passive and withdrawn - or aggressive and disruptive
· Tired a lot, or they may complain of nightmares or not sleeping well
· Fearful and anxious
Abuse is a pattern of adult behavior that is preventable with proper support and education. "The purpose of identifying and reporting suspected abuse is not to remove a child from their home, but to stop the abuse," said Dr. Dobrin.
Reporting Abuse
To report a suspected case of abuse or neglect:
In New Jersey:
· Contact your local Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; or
· Contact the Office of Child Abuse Control child
abuse hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at
800-792-8610 (TTY/TDD for the deaf is available at 800-835-5510).
In Connecticut:
· Contact the CARELINE, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at
800-842-2288.
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