One Way Our Community Can Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

Summer is here and children are enjoying their "freedom".  We want to be sure that our children are safe.   Darkness to Light, is a training to end Child Sexual Abuse that will be offered for free to community groups over the next two months until the end of August 2013.

The New Beginnings Exchange Club Downriver would like to partner with community groups to host this free training.  The goal is to train 75 adults in the Downriver area to raise awareness of the harm done by child sexual abuse and encourage adults to create safe communities where every child is safe.  For more details please contact Lacea Zavala lzavala@guidance-center.org or call 734 785 7705 ext. 7291.

Children In Poverty

In difficult economic times maintaining a steady and sufficient income can be even more challenging.  Many available jobs do not provide the necessary income to keep a family out of poverty.  A family of 4 with an annual income below $22,000 is considered to be living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Parents may be working, and yet they find it very difficult to provide for their children's needs if they are part of our population some refer to as the working poor.

This affects a child's development. For children under the age of 5, living in poverty and going without can create severe consequences because it is a crucial developmental stage in their lives.  Living in poverty tends to have a long term impact on a child's life; it often affects future educational achievement, and physical, behavioral, and emotional health.  Parents living in poverty and the working poor are likely to feel increasingly stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or anxious due to the ongoing struggles.  When parents are overwhelmed, every additional stress that a parent faces increases the risk of child abuse and neglect, especially if they are isolated and feeling all alone.

It is important for families with children to know what community resources are available to possibly offset some of the costs in a family's budget when going through rough times, and what supports are available to help with some of the problems creating the stress.  For information on services from prenatal care to holiday time assistance, make a free call to The Information Center at (734) 282-7171 or visit us at www.theinfocenter.info.

Helping Children

We were pleased to participate in The Guidance Center's 5K Walk this past Saturday.  The fundraiser benefited programs for children and families.

The Guidance Center located in Southgate and Lincoln Park is one of the great local resources to help parents and children.  They have early childhood programs, many Head Start sites, and services for children and youth.  Services are available for other eligible family members, as well.  For help, you can call them at (734) 785-7700.

We help people best when we work together to strengthen families, support parents and help children to grow up healthy.