Health Priority 3: Child Abuse and Neglect

Strategy #1 Background and Intent: To improve parenting skills for *high-risk families.

In 2000, Colfax County was ranked 1 st highest in Child Abuse and Neglect cases in NM. Since the beginning of the Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Subcommittee accepted this challenge, several projects and events have helped move the rank down to about 16 th in the State. The Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Subcommittee provided videos for in-house training to each school, service provider, and many day care providers regarding abuse signs and reporting laws in its first year. We also sent a Parenting Resource letter home with every student in the county twice a year. This letter listed locations of providers giving parenting classes with dates and times and listings of various reading resources and on-line resources. Updated listings of adoption agencies throughout the state were also made available to area clinics and service providers such as GRADs. A grant was received from the Children, Youth and Families Department to increase the use of the Child Safe Interview Room, which had come about through the Children Youth and Families At Risk funding to Colfax County Extension Services 2 years prior. The Saferoom has been utilized approximately 100 times over the past 2 years. In addition, the grant has allowed for increased law enforcement and service provider training and education. The MDT voted to approve the use of the Safe Interview Room to be used for adult victims as well. Also in collaboration with Colfax County Extension Services, we were able to provide the science-based curriculum Nurturing Parenting to the Service Organization for youth who partner with us on providing the family driven training to prevent child abuse and create better bonding in families. The Subcommittee developed a coloring book for children, which is designed to increase awareness and encourage conversation between the child and parent about sexual abuse in a non-invasive context. The Coloring Book was passed out to over 300 children and funding has been received to produce and pass out another 2500. In addition, funding was received to provide a “Talking About Touching” Curriculum to all Head Start youth in Raton. We are hoping to expand this throughout the county if funding becomes available. Activities: Support and partner with SOY in delivering the Nurturing Parenting; Updating of Parenting Resource letters sent out 2x per year; Support Safe Room Coordinator in presentation of Talking about Touching in with Head Start families; and Support CYFD utilization of the Nurturing Parenting Curriculum.

Strategy #2: To reduce the rate of alcohol related child abuse cases in Colfax County .

Activities: Support Dare to Be You Curriculum and events provided by YES and TCCS. (having components on child abuse/neglect); Support Protecting You, Protecting Me curriculum and events presented by DWI; and To assist with proposals and research for funding. Both of these curriculum are science-based.

Strategy #3: To raise awareness of signs of child abuse/neglect and reporting laws.

Activities:    To Adults: Support Safe Room Coordinator and MDT in trainings for law enforcement, educators, child care providers, and community at large, My Body is All About Me coloring book to Head Start, Kindergarten, (and older when more funding becomes available.); Support Curriculums cited above; and Continue to provide SCI cards throughout community.

*Poverty, unemployment, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, domestic violence, and generational norms.