DELTA DENTAL PROGRAM TEACHES HOW TO RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
-Seventy Five Percent of Child Abuse Injuries Occur to the Head, Face, and Neck Areas-

PARSIPPANY, NJ (March 29. 2002) – As part of Child Abuse Prevention Awareness 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 leaders to spread important messages about education, support, and intervention. As part of their outreach, Delta Dental will continue to offer its PANDA (Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness) educational program to those who are in regular contact with children.

PANDA 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. PANDA was originally created for dentists - who are well positioned to detect child abuse - because 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 program has been 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.

"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 and a spokesperson for the PANDA 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 PANDA presentation is a one-time, one- to three-hour slide program and workshop conducted by Dr. Lawrence Dobrin. Those who attend are also eligible for one to three State Board of Dentistry continuing education credits, depending on the length of the presentation. If you are interested in attending a presentation or scheduling one for your group, please call 973-285-4059.

In addition to sponsoring PANDA presentations, Delta Dental is also an annual sponsor of the Prevent Child Abuse - New Jersey (PCA-NJ) Blue Ribbon Campaign through which ribbons are distributed and worn as a demonstration against abuse. For more information on PCA-NJ or to learn about becoming a volunteer for the Blue Ribbon Campaign, please call 973-246-8060 or visit their Web site at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

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 - General Facts

• Reporting abuse is required by law. New Jersey law (NJSA 9:6-8.10) requires that anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected must report it immediately to the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). The Office of Child Abuse Control (OCAC) operates the following child abuse hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 800-792-8610 (TTY/TDD for the deaf is available at 800-835-5510).
• Reporting abuse could save a life. Children die every day from injuries caused by child abuse. Often, someone was aware of the abuse, but didn't report it.
• Abusive families need help. Reporting abuse can help connect families with counseling and services. This may help relieve a family's stress - and prevent future abuse.
• The cycle of abuse can be stopped. Victims of abuse who receive counseling and treatment are less likely to become abusers or have other problems as they grow up.
• By investing in prevention, we are investing in the future. New Jersey spends about $450 million per year to respond to child abuse and neglect. Over $115 million is spent to investigate and adjudicate reported cases.

Child Abuse - Q&A

What happens when a report is made?

• An investigator may visit the home and interview the child, the parents, or other caretakers.
• The investigator helps determine whether the child is being abused or at risk for abuse.
• The case may be referred to social services or to juvenile, family, or criminal court.

How will the child be protected?

• The child may be temporarily removed from the home.
• He or she may go to live with relatives or a foster family.
• The family may be required to seek counseling or other services to help prevent future abuse.

Will the abuser be punished?

It depends. Often, the goal is to help the abuser break the cycle of abuse, so the family can stay together. In some cases, the abuser may face criminal charges.

I reported abuse and nothing happened. What else can I do?

Keep in mind that you may not have the legal right to know what steps were taken to protect the child. If you are still concerned about the child, you can help in other ways:

• Talk to the child's teacher, a school counselor, or a leader of the family's faith community. They may be in a position to reach out to the family.
• Offer support to the family, if it's appropriate. Offer to help with child care, chores, etc.
• Be kind and supportive to any child you suspect is being abused or neglected at home.
• And, keep reporting the abuse until the situation is resolved.

Delta Dental established the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation in 1986. Its mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good health, and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Delta Dental Foundation provides financial support to various organizations throughout the state.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading 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. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.