DELTA DENTAL TEACHES DENTISTS TO RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE WARNING SIGNS AND TEAMS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
-Professionals and Community Members Must Work Together To Break Cycle-

PARSIPPANY, NJ (April 2, 2001) -- As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. (Delta Dental) is increasing its ongoing effort to assist in the prevention of child abuse by working with both dentists and community outreach programs to spread important messages about education, support and intervention. Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco recognized the Foundation in a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month and commended programs including Delta Dental’s PANDA (Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness) presentations that strive to identify and combat devastating patterns of abusive behavior.

Studies have shown that 50% of abused children are likely to be abused more than once. Providing treatment to affected families is not enough to break the cycle of behavior; developing strategies to prevent abuse and neglect must be a community effort. Delta Dental has responded to this need by implementing the PANDA program and supporting Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey's (PCA-NJ) "Blue Ribbon Campaign."

PANDA

Two out of every three child abuse injuries occur to the head, face, and neck area, so dental professionals are in a unique position to identify and report suspected abuse if properly educated to recognize warning signs. PANDA is a statewide public/private partnership whose goal is to educate professionals, teachers, school nurses, and others who have frequent exposure to children.

"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. Delta Dental’s commitment to this type of education empowers dentists with the ability to make the difference in the life of a child," said Lawrence A. Dobrin, D.M.D., a forensic dentist with a practice in Roselle and a spokesperson for the PANDA coalition.

PANDA presentations provide detailed information on physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect. Dentists are taught how to report, whom to contact and how to deal with the sensitive issues involved in filing a report. "We believe PANDA is having a positive influence on dentists reporting cases and hope that it will result in a reduction in incidences of child abuse," said Dr. Dobrin.

As has been the case in previous years, Delta Dental offers PANDA presentations throughout the year to dental societies, school nurses and staff, Head Start programs, hospital staffs, and college students. Delta Dental has made more than 100 such presentations to alert professionals since the program's inception. For information on PANDA courses, call (973) 285-4059.

Prevent Child Abuse - New Jersey’s Blue Ribbon Campaign

Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey (PCA-NJ) is a non-profit organization which leads statewide efforts to eliminate child abuse in all its forms. Delta Dental is an annual sponsor of the PCA-NJ Blue Ribbon Campaign through which ribbons are distributed and worn as a demonstration against abuse.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the risk of child abuse and neglect, including substance abuse, economic stress and lack of knowledge regarding child care and child development. According to PCA-NJ, "The strongest message we can give people is that abuse is a pattern of adult behavior that is preventable with proper support and education." For more information on PCA-NJ or to learn about becoming a volunteer for the Blue Ribbon Campaign, please call (732) 246-8060 or visit their Web site at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

The Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. is funded by Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey's leading and largest dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country.