Preventing Child Abuse

Child abuse is a tragedy that can be avoided. We can help by supporting the things that contribute to the healthy development of children, and are actually “protective factors.” Protective factors help parents cope with the challenges of parenting and other parts of life, especially when they are under stress.

Research has shown that these protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse:

• Nurturing and attachment of child with parent

• Parents’ knowledge of parenting, child and youth development

• Parental resilience

• Social connections

• Concrete (material) supports for parents

• Social and emotional competence of children

Child abuse and neglect can be an unintended consequence of family crisis, a parent’s stresses such as those that are experienced from unemployment, or other personal difficulties such as substance abuse.

Some of the ways that The Information Center and other agencies we work with in this region can help are:

• Connecting parents with food pantries and clothing closets

• Providing referrals that connect people with the right services that can help them

• Providing immediate assistance and support in the event of an eviction or other emergency

• Supporting the family throughout a crisis

• Linking family members to jobs, job training, transportation, and other resources that lead to economic security and self-sufficiency

• Providing access for health care, child care support and other services

• In short, stepping forward to intervene and help when a family problem or emergency is happening.

On the other hand, ignoring the problems and thinking they are just going to go away, is one of the surest ways for problems to compound and grow until they are unmanageable. That is when child abuse is most likely to occur.

For help, call The Information Center's Helpline at (734) 282-7171. Watch this blog for details on the upcoming Strengthening Families Conference on April 20th.

It was my honor to receive a Community Service Award from the Southgate Rotary Club last evening.

Rotary is one of the largest international humanitarian service organizations in the world with 1.2 million members and 33,000 clubs. All of these fine people are committed to helping make the world an even better place by addressing literacy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water and other environmental challenges.

I was truly touched by the honor and how nice everyone from the Southgate Rotary Club was, last evening. Thank you.

Most importantly, there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot of genuine need for families and children, and others who need our help. The staff and volunteers of The Information Center are all such an incredible mix of professionalism and local community connection, and each day I am inspired by how they go above and beyond in their efforts to help others. I want nothing more than to give them the fullest measure of resources that they need, to do more of the good work that they do in the community, for the people who truly need help.

Call (734) 282-7171 for free assistance, or to make a charitable donation to a wonderful community organization. The Information Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3) serving residents of the Downriver and surrounding communities since 1975.

Family Caregiver's Event on March 29th - Free

If you are a family member who is caring for another person in your family consider attending this free inspiring event specially designed for you, next Thursday. "Family Caregiving: Exploring the Senses through Therapeutic Arts" will feature Michael Krieger a Music Specialist and Karen Barsy a Dance Therapist.

This free interactive event for family caregivers will teach you to connect with the senses, giving you techniques that provide different types of stimulation that may help to improve the quality of life for the person you are caring for. They may or may not have Alzheimer's Disease, or other dementia or disability. What you learn will be helpful in any case. You will take home experience and knowledge about how dance, music and pets might help you engage your loved one.

This workshop is free and will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., at the Dearborn Senior Center - Ford Community and Performing Arts Center 15801 Michigan Avenue, Studio A in Dearborn. Refreshments will be served. This special program is presented by Wayne Metro CAA, The Information Center and Adult Well-Being Services. For more information call Erica Hartman at The Information Center (734) 282-7171.

Dealing With Job Loss

Losing a job can be a horrible experience, but you are not alone. So how to move forward to something better?

First things first: breathe. You will get through this. The initial feelings of shock, panic and anger will ease with time. It is important to put the situation into perspective and begin to move on. This is a great opportunity to focus on taking care of yourself. Take an hour to go for a walk in the morning, and take a bit more care to eat healthy. You will feel the difference.

Second, it’s very important to understand that your prospective next employer, your friends and family members are not responsible for your situation. You gain nothing by taking out your frustrations on them. If friends and family members are willing to lend a sympathetic ear, you have wonderful support. But an interview for your next job is not the place to express your feelings about your recent job loss, and even with friends and family there is a point where you need to own your situation and take responsibility for moving forward.

Put a plan in place.

Take an honest look at your spending and make some hard decisions about what is absolutely necessary to survive and what are the things that you want, but can do without for a while. Take some time to cut out costs that are not necessary. Cutting out costs is the same as earning money except you don’t have to pay taxes on cut costs!

Update your understanding of financial accounts, savings and any payments that you have coming to you. How much are your monthly bills? What can be eliminated? Often utility companies, banks and credit card companies, for example, encourage you to speak with them about ways to make things more manageable for you. But you still need to read the fine print and make sure something being proposed is actually good for you.

Inform friends, family and people you have worked with before. You may feel embarrassed or ashamed by what has happened, but don’t let negative thinking get in the way of the help that may be available to you from your network of support. These people know what you have to offer and want the best for you. They will be more than happy to keep their eyes and ears open for any employment opportunities that might be right for you that they hear about. They can’t guarantee you a job, but they can often let you know about an opening, or sometimes even help get you in the door for an interview.

Ask your family members for ideas on how you can earn extra money or decrease your expenses.

Request information on the extension of your health and life insurance benefits. Ask your former employer about opportunities for continued health benefits for laid off workers under COBRA.

Register for work by going to www.michiganworks.org or calling 1(800) 285-WORKS. It’s tempting to take time off for a break, but you don’t know how long it will take to find employment. Keep an open mind when applying for a job. Take a comprehensive look at all of your talents, skills and qualities. You want to match them up with an employer who has a need for someone with the value that you have to offer. Your resume should be up to date, and highlight the education, credentials, experience and skills that you have to offer an employer that are relevant to that job you are seeking.

The worst thing you can do is sit at home and feel sorry for yourself. Get out there and volunteer, catch up with friends, and go visit places you think you might like to work at. Time is a valuable gift. Use it wisely.

The Information Center's telephone helpline is free (734) 282-7171.

Walking for Warmth 2012

Congratulations to Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (WMCAA) on a successful 16th Annual Walk for Warmth to raise funds to heat the homes of people in our neighborhoods that need help, at Westland Mall last Saturday. There was a nice turnout and The Information Center was well represented by our team of walkers who were pleased to be part of a fun morning dedicated to a very good cause. Those who are having problems paying their energy bills can call DTE energy at (800) 477-4747 for help in going over payment programs and other helpful resources such as: the State emergency relief program for low income households who have received a shutoff notice, the Home Heating Credit from the Michigan Department of Treasury to use towards heating bills, and The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW) for low income households during times of crisis. The number to call for information on WMCAA programs and services is (734) 246-2280. For more information on all services and supports available to the community call The Information Center’s free helpline at (734) 282-7171.

Jobs Available

The Plymouth and Northville locations of Home Depot store are having a job fair on Wednesday, March 14^th.

In order to attend you must email: tradtke@rossprov.com and sign up for one of three time slots: 9 a.m., 10 a.m., or 11 a.m. You must sign up in advance and fill out an application online ahead of time. On Wednesday you should be prepared to interview (business attire). The event will start promptly at 9 a.m., and each of the sessions will start promptly and last one hour. The address of the Job Fair location is 30206 Plymouth Road in Livonia (48150). For more information call (734) 466-4688.