AUGUST 2012

31 August

Tighter Controls Needed on All-Terrain Vehicle Use

Children and youth under 16 years old should not operate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) of any size, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) said in a new statement released today.

The CPS is calling on provinces and territories to harmonize their off-road legislation, prohibiting ATV operators who are under 16 years, making helmet use and training courses compulsory, and restricting riders from carrying passengers. Currently, off-road vehicle legislation varies across Canada.

"ATVs pose a high risk of injury to children and youth," said Dr. Natalie Yanchar, Chair of the CPS Injury Prevention Committee and the statement's author. "Kids don't have the knowledge or strength to operate these vehicles safely. Their lack of sound judgement when encountering a potentially dangerous situation and tendency toward risk-taking only adds to the danger."

About 447 Canadian children under 15 years are hospitalized every year for ATV-related injuries. Among youth aged 16 to 19, there are about 506 admissions a year.

"Provincial and territorial governments need to play a bigger role in regulating and legislating ATVs," says Dr. Yanchar, a paediatric surgeon at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. "ATV injuries and fatalities are far too common. Unsafe behaviours, like taking passengers and driving without a helmet, need to be stopped."

The CPS is also calling on the federal government to help prevent injury by enacting stringent product safety regulations.

In regions where ATVs are commonly used for transportation, such as remote and isolated communities, local education programs that convey the potential danger of ATV use among children and youth are needed.

The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national professional association that promotes the health needs of children and youth. Founded in 1922, the CPS represents more than 3,000 paediatricians, paediatric subspecialists and other child health professionals across Canada.

To access the full CPS position statement, e-mail media@cps.ca.

Press release: MARKETWIRE / Canadian Paediatric Society
30 August 012

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/tighter-controls-needed-on-atv-use-1695916.htm

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29 August

INDIANA

Childhood Connections To Cease As Child Care Resources
and Referral Agency

Childhood Connections will no longer be the child care resource and referral agency for Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and seven other area counties. A press release from Childhood Connections says that their role will change, effective October 1.

According to Executive Director of the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral, Marsha Thompson, these changes are occurring to "ensure the best utilization of resources and to ensure that more funding is available for direct services to families, child care providers and communities, The Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral (IACCRR) is restructuring the statewide system of local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies. This restructuring involves a reduction in the number of CCR&R agencies as well as redirecting resources to field based staff working in the communities that they serve."

Effective October 1, Childhood Connections will no longer be the designated CCR&R agency serving Monroe, Brown, Bartholomew, Lawrence, Jackson, Jennings, Orange, Washington, Crawford and Harrison counties. In the weeks leading up to October 1, more information will be made available about the CCR&R agencies that will be serving these counties.

Childhood Connections will continue to be a resource throughout the region for families. Executive Director Rose Ellen Adams said their immediate focus will be to strengthen the Route 21 program, which focuses on supporting pregnant and parenting teens up to the age of 21 in being ready for college, work and life. Adams also said that Childhood Connections will continue to be a strong advocate for high-quality early care and education and positive youth development.

Press release: Childhood Connections
August 27, 20123

http://wcsi.whiterivernews.com/templates/localnews_temp.asp?id=5558&storyno=7

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27 August

Especially for Children Who Take Medication on a Daily Basis:
A simple design for children and teens

MED-Q Pillbox in Phoenix, Az has created a new product that has taken the marketplace by storm. A Pillbox that has been designed to be used by children who have a daily medicine regiment. MED-Q is a first in the children's marketplace.

A first pill dispenser for children from MED-Q. A simple to use Medication Reminder. Phoenix based MED-Q pill Medication Reminders offers a simple, easy reliable electronic medication reminder to assist children in managing their medication.

"The MED-Q helps a parent organize and remember to give medications with a system of programmable alarms that makes forgetting virtually impossible," says Troy Holbrook Regional Manager of Phoenix based MED-Q pill Medication Reminders. "With the amounts of errors with medication today. We offer the solution with pill dispensers, a medication timer and medicine reminders. An affordable and practical weekly medication device that help children to never forget to take their medications again or double dose again."

MED-Q Pill Dispenser Organizer is priced at $59.95 and has a dual alarm system to ensure non-compliance will be a thing of the past.

The MED-Q's simple design ensures medication adherence and patient compliance. A simple affordable solution to a huge problem facing the medical & health fields.

Press release: Healthcare GLOBAL
24 August 2012

http://www.healthcareglobal.com/press_releases/especially-for-children-who-take-medication-on-a-daily-basis

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24 August

UNICEF

Child Rights Taskforce in Geneva

“How can we give children a voice when they don’t even vote?” This comment was made by a representative of the Australian Government in the lead up to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child review process.

The comment marked a clear divergence from the focus of the Child Rights Taskforce, a force of over 100 children’s organisations, who presented their report titled “Listen to children” to the same committee last October. The key message of that report was that a key tenet of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is participation and the incorporation of children’s ideas in policy formation is at its crux. Australia signed onto the Convention more than 20 years ago and such a response from Government illustrates the challenges we have.

This June, I had the privilege of witnessing first hand Australia’s review by the Committee on the Rights of the Child on how we’re faring when it comes to protecting and supporting our children and their futures. In Geneva, we aimed to inform the United Nations on the state of children in Australia and hold the government accountable to their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The UN expressed particular concern that a shocking 10.9% of children in a first world, flourishing, industrialised country were living below the poverty line. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children in immigration detention and those in out-of-home care were singled out as most vulnerable.

Now a month later, we are seeing the first signs of progress after what many considered a disappointing review. The UN Committee has delivered their concluding observations and the National Children’s Commissioner Bill, an initiative the NGO community has pushed for since our ratification of the CRC.

The recruitment process has begun and the Australian Human Rights Commission is now taking expressions of interest and undergoing public consultation. But the way forward for the National Children’s Commissioner is uncertain, and one thing goes without question - what lies ahead is an almost herculean task.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children currently suffer 3 times the child mortality rate. Aboriginal mothers are twice as likely to give birth to a low-weight baby and children are much more likely to suffer gastroenteritis, rheumatic fever, hearing deficiencies and face an overall lower life expectancy than their non-Aboriginal peers.

The issue goes much deeper. Indigenous children are 24 times more likely to be in juvenile detention between the ages of 10 and 17 and are 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care. Considering Indigenous Australians make up only 2.5 of Australia’s population, these are grave concerns.

During the proceedings Peter Woolcott, leader of the Australian Government delegation recognised the disproportionate number of children in detention. He also admitted he had no data or even data collecting mechanisms to find out why there had been a 51.5% increase in children in out-of-home care since 2005 of which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children make up a large proportion.

Much to the frustration of the UN, the Government delegation did not appear to have any plans to combat the disparity. Instead, he stated that children in out-of-home care were living ‘close to normal lives’. The UN Committee evidently disagreed and proceeded to grill the delegation. Issues of abuse, violence, adolescent justice, education and health affecting Indigenous children, they explained, clearly meant that these children were not living normal lives. Rather, the increase in statistics meant they were largely being ignored.

The UN then went on to express that a lack of national approach wasn’t doing us any favours. The grave issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children needed to be addressed with a holistic, comprehensive outlook including nation-wide data collection mechanisms that would make it possible at federal, state and territory levels to identify gaps, gaps that were blatantly obvious to the Committee. The UN made a solid and comprehensive argument and Woolcott later acknowledged ‘Australia is behind in data collection’ and that it ‘is something we need to work on’.

The National Children’s Commissioner will not only have to see to these issues, but see to the creation of mechanisms that have never previously existed and will provide a platform for meaningful consultation and data-collection. This will be critical as statistics reflect the fact that children are suffering from the absence of a coordinated approach and falling through the gaps in dangerously large numbers and that our consultation with them thus far has been tokenistic and broken.

The Child Rights Taskforce hopes that the new National Children's Commissioner will place a particular and necessary focus on Australia’s Indigenous children. This focus must foster the creation of culturally-sensitive and effective policies that will eradicate the alarming disparity between these children and their non-Aboriginal peers.

Jan Muhunthan
23 August 2012

http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/unicef-australia-blog/August-2012/Child-Rights-Taskforce-in-Geneva.aspx

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22 August

US

Couch-potato kids are biggest child health problem in the US, adults say

'Not enough exercise' cited as top children's health concern, obesity second,
according to U-M's National Poll on Children's Health annual top 10 list

Adults across the U.S. rate not getting enough exercise as the top health concern for children in 2012, according to a new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

In the poll's annual top 10 list, a nationwide sample of adults were asked to identify the top 10 biggest health concerns for kids in their communities. For the first time, not enough exercise was rated by most adults at the top of the list (39 percent). That was followed closely by childhood obesity (38 percent) and smoking and tobacco use (34 percent).

"Childhood obesity remains a top concern, and adults know it is certainly linked to lack of exercise," says Matthew M. Davis M.D., M.A.P.P., director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

"The strong perception that lack of exercise is a threat to children's health may reflect effective recent public health messages from programs such as First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign.

"But lack of exercise offers many more benefits other than weight loss or preventing obesity – such as better attention and learning in school and improved sense of well-being," says Davis, associate professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

The rest of the poll results were:

4. Drug abuse (33 percent)
5. Bullying (29 percent)
6. Stress (27 percent)
7. Alcohol abuse (23 percent)
8. Teen pregnancy (23 percent)
9. Internet safety (22 percent)
10. Child abuse and neglect (20 percent)

"The strong connection of many of the top 10 child health concerns to health behaviors among children and adolescents underscores the importance of public programs and communication initiatives — for example, those designed to prevent drug abuse, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy," Davis says.

The poll's results varied based on race/ethnicity. Hispanic adults were more likely to rate childhood obesity first (44 percent), followed by not enough exercise (38 percent), and also rated drug abuse higher than smoking and tobacco use.

Black adults had higher levels of concern about smoking and tobacco use, ranking that most often (43 percent). They also had high levels of concern about racial inequality, ranking it seventh on the list, and gun-related injuries, ranking that ninth.

Black and Hispanic adults both identified sexually transmitted infections as a greater concern for kids in their communities than did white adults.

"Child health varies across communities, and these results emphasize a need for local programs that respect and address community-specific health priorities for youth," Davis says.

Broadcast-quality video is available on request. See the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_laRzYkhjjQ

PR Newswire
21 August 23012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/couch-potato-kids-are-biggest-child-health-problem-in-the-us-adults-say-166759126.html

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20 August

ARIZONA

Back2Basics Young Adult Treatment Center Plans to Expand Facilities

Back2Basics as an institution - staff, therapy and residents - has shown much growth over the last year and will in turn uproot much of the activity to the Late For The Train coffee warehouse in Flagstaff, Az.

Back2Basics owners Roy DuPrez and Graciela Del Moral were looking for a space that is all-encompassing and provides enough room for years to come. “We are currently full with a waiting list and we needed to create a space that accommodates several activities under one roof: Kung Fu, culinary classes, therapy, administrative offices and family workshops,” said DuPrez.

The treatment center establishes a strong sense of community being an extended program for young men fighting alcohol and drug addiction. By moving to a space that houses all of Back2Basics’ program specialties, Del Moral believes the residents will “have more room to play,” including a commercial sized kitchen for culinary class.

“We involve the residents in many different parts of Back2Basics. This move is indeed something we want them to play a role in,” adds Del Moral.

DuPrez, Del Moral and the rest of the Back2Basics staff are currently juggling a full house - the largest number of residents since the program’s inception - in addition to this move that is set to take place by the end of 2012. There are high hopes of ringing the 2013 year in a new building.

Press release: PRWEB
18 August 2012

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9809901.htm

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17 August

Some children risk death with codeine, U.S. warns

Three children died and one suffered life-threatening hyperventilation after taking codeine that was broken down in their bodies very quickly, likely causing a morphine overdose, U.S. health officials warned on Wednesday.

The children, all between the ages of 2 and 5, received a normal dose of the opioid codeine after surgery to remove their tonsils or adenoids, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The surgery was to treat sleep apnea, a condition in which the upper airways become blocked during sleep.

Codeine, an ingredient in many prescription pain relievers and some over-the-counter cough syrups, normally turns into morphine in the body.

But these children likely had a genetic condition that caused codeine to turn into morphine more quickly and completely than usual, causing a fatal overdose, the FDA said.

Known as ultra-rapid metabolizers, people with this condition are relatively rare, usually occurring in one to seven out of every 100 people. But the frequency could be as high as 28 per 100 people among certain groups, such as North Africans, Ethiopians and Saudi Arabians.

The FDA learned about the issue from articles in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009 and the journal Pediatrics in 2012.

The agency said it was reviewing adverse event reports and other data to see if there were other similar cases.

In the meantime, the FDA said doctors should be aware about the risks of codeine for certain children and use the lowest dose for the shortest period of time possible. Codeine should be used only as needed and not on a regular basis.

Parents should observe children for signs of overdose, which can include unusual sleepiness, trouble waking up, confusion, or difficult or noisy breathing.

In 2007, the FDA warned about a similar issue for some breast-feeding mothers who take codeine to relieve pain after childbirth. While the narcotic is generally considered safe for women and their babies, mothers who are ultra-metabolizers may put their infants at higher risk of a morphine overdose.

Anna Yukhananov
Press release: Reuters
15 August 2012

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-fda-codeine-idUSBRE87E0R320120815

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15 August

Delightful Collection of Poems and Stories for Children

Author Peter Knoester delights young children with his charming collection of Poems and Stories for Children. Released through the self-publishing leader, Xlibris, this picture book is filled with wonderful literary works that both young ones and their parents will enjoy.

Divided in two parts, this book introduces simple poems which feature both animate and inanimate objects to children. Through funny verses and rhymes, Knoester gives character to animals, personifies certain objects and landscapes, and many more. Each poem allows young readers to play with their imagination, interact with their surroundings, and appreciate literature early on in their lives. Also featured in this book are two short stories about baby birds and a fawn that would make great bedtime stories for the young ones.

“This work came about quite by accident but became a full-blown booklet for the enjoyment of all ages. I love children and to see them at play and hear the screams, mostly of delight, warms my heart… I myself am a child at heart and in a way have never grown up and hope to be like that forever,” says Knoester.

For more information on this engaging book, log on to http://www.Xlibris.com

Poems and Stories for Children * by Peter Knoester
Picture Book; $24.99; 62 pages; 978-1-4415-9108-1
Picture Book Hardcover; $31.99; 62 pages; 978-1-4415-9109-8

PRWEB.COM Newswire
13 August 2012

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/836305

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13 August

New Book Imparts Lessons on Kindness through Vibrant Storytelling

Parents who read stories to their children will find this activity to be a very rewarding experience. Reading lets parents and children bond together and helps develop the child’s vocabulary, communication skills and creativity. The combination of delightful characters, vibrant illustrations and a narrative filled with meaningful lessons make the storybook, “Jake and Julia Save the Butterfly”, a wonderful choice of reading material.

Written by Ed Goebig, the story follows the adventures of a young brother and sister, Jake and Julia. The two used to chase butterflies but have never come close to any before, so they are surprised to find one in their driveway one morning. Their discovery will send them on a delightful quest that will ultimately teach them the important lesson of being kind and gentle to others.

Heartwarming and beautifully told, “Jake and Julia Save the Butterfly” will make storytelling an engaging and an even more rewarding experience for both parents and their children.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

Jake and Julia Save the Butterfly * by Ed Goebig
Publication Date: July 20, 2012
Picture Book; $15.99; 24 pages; 978-1-4771-4289-9

PRWEB.COM Newswire
12 August 2012

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/834453

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10 August

U.S. child and teen cholesterol down

In the past two-plus decades, average total cholesterol levels have dropped in U.S. children and teens ages 6-19, U.S. health officials found.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found there has been a decrease in average total cholesterol levels over the past 24 years, but almost 1-in-10 had elevated total cholesterol from 2007 to 2010.

Dr. Brian K. Kit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hyattsville, Md., and colleagues conducted a study to examine the trends in serum lipid concentrations among U.S. children and adolescents.

The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during three time periods: 1988 to 1994, 1999 to 2002 and 2007 to 2010.

The researchers looked for average total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, the "good," cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, the "bad," cholesterol.

From 1988 to 1994 and 2007 to 2010, there was a decrease in prevalence among youth ages 6-19 of elevated total cholesterol from 11.3 percent to 8.1 percent. Among adolescents, there was a decrease in prevalence of elevated LDL and triglycerides between 1988 to 1994 and 2007 to 2010 and a decrease in average serum LDL.

Press release: UPI
9 August 2012

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/08/09/US-child-and-teen-cholesterol-down/UPI-54481344490875/

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8 August

NEW ZEALAND

Food and nutrition guidelines for healthy children and young people

The new Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Children and Young People (Aged 2-18 years) were released today by the Ministry of Health.

These guidelines are a handbook for health practitioners who work with and for children and young people.

They provide evidence-based recommendations about food, nutrition and physical activity for this age group.

Two nutrition resources for the public have also been updated to reflect these recommendations.

The Ministry of Health Chief Advisor on Child and Youth Health, Dr Pat Tuohy, said today " A concerning finding from recent research was that many children are eating treat foods most days. These are empty calories which fill children up but don't nourish them."

"The guidelines provide advice about how to improve children's nutrition and keep them healthy which includes keeping high fat, sugar or salt food for occasional use only," Dr Tuohy said.

Children and young people (aged 2-18 years) represent a quarter of our total population - that's just over a million people.

It is known that good nutrition and physical activity during childhood and adolescence are essential for normal growth and development and will contribute to good health and reduced levels of chronic disease and disability in adulthood.

The dietary requirements of children and young people are different to those of adults, and change as children and young people develop.

The guidelines and advice to the public covers a very wide range of topics, including:

•  the dietary patterns and nutrient intakes of New Zealand children and young people with recommendations for practical interventions;

•  physical activity recommendations, as well as approaches to reduce sedentary behaviour;

•  topical issues related to 2-18 year olds are discussed, for example energy drinks and energy shots; and

•  the many influences on the diet of children and young people, with practical suggestions to assist parents and caregivers to encourage healthy eating in the home.

A copy of the Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Children and Young People (Aged 2-18 years): A background paper is available on the Ministry of Health website at: www.health.govt.nz

The health messages for the public can be found in the Ministry's health education resources Eating for Healthy Children aged 2-12 years (HE1302) and Healthy Eating for Young People (13 - 18 years) (HE1230), available at: www.healthed.govt.nz

Media release from Ministry of Health
6 August 23012

http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/un-doctored/2012/august-2012/06/food-and-nutrition-guidelines-for-healthy-children-and-young-people.aspx

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6 August

Mental Health Care Scarce for Kids in Child-Welfare System

If young children living in a family suspected of maltreatment are to thrive, it is imperative that they receive needed services for their problems, researchers maintain.

Young children who are the subject of investigations by child-welfare agencies because of allegations of maltreatment have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than their peers, and very few receive treatment for those problems. And that situation is a services system and social policy failure.

Sarah McCue Horwitz, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Centers for Health Policy and Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University, and colleagues made that pronouncement after evaluating data from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II), a longitudinal study of 5,872 children from infancy to age 17.5 referred to child-welfare agencies for an investigation of potential maltreatment. The investigations were completed during the sampling period, February 2008 to April 2009. They reported their results in the June Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

For children aged 12 to 18 months who were part of the survey, caregivers were administered the Brief Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA), a 42-item screening tool designed to identify children at risk for social-emotional problems and low social competence. For children aged 19 to 36 months, caregivers were administered the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL 1.5-5).

The results were disturbing: in all, the scores for 34.6 percent of children aged 12 to 18 months were high on the Problem Scale of the BITSEA, and 20.9 percent on the Competence Scale, while for 10 percent of those aged 19 to 36 months the scores were over the CBCL clinical cutoff, indicating the need for mental health services. Children of black ethnicity were less likely to have elevated scores on the BITSEA Problem Scale, and children who lived with a never-married caregiver were five times more likely to have elevated scores.

Competence problems were associated with prior child-welfare-system history, and elevated CBCL scores were associated with living with a depressed caregiver. But what the researchers found distressing was that few of the children with identified mental health problems—only 2.2 percent— received mental health services.

Because treatment of mental health problems in infants and toddlers is likely to involve parenting-skills training, Horwitz and her colleagues also looked at use of such services. “When we added parenting-skills training that might be related to the treatment of child problems, 19.2 percent received such a service,” the researchers noted.

“The fact that so many very young children in contact with child welfare are showing signs of social and emotional problems is somewhat surprising, but that so few children and caregivers receive any services is disturbing given that effective interventions are available and could produce positive changes in the lives of these children,” said Horwitz, in a press release discussing the study.

The researchers made clear the course of action dictated by their findings: “There are data to suggest that evidence-based early intervention services potentially can improve mental health outcomes, and this underscores the need for more aggressive efforts to identify and treat vulnerable young children who are investigated by child welfare agencies,” they wrote.

“At the very least, we have the obligation to ensure that the following goals are met: that there are adequate services to identify and treat the very young by training additional professionals to address mental health problems in preschool children; to include assessments for mental health problems in routine screening; and to put in place targeted, efficacious prevention programs for high-risk families.”

The study was supported by an award from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Psychiatric News
3 August 23012

http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsArticle.aspx?articleid=1284581

 

3 August

Warning Signs of a Troubled Teenager

Eagle Village describes how to identify a young person at-risk – 10 Warning Signs

For parents who are worried that their teenager is struggling with something or is troubled but don’t have a clue how to help, they are not alone. Today’s teenagers are exposed to much more than they were 25 years ago and parenting them is twice as challenging. Plus there’s no manual!

Melissa Patten, Family Counseling Supervisor for Eagle Village’s Intervention Services Program commented, “Today we live in a world that moves faster than anyone could have ever thought was possible. Our society not only has access to all forms of information, good and bad, available at the click of a button, but we also carry it in our pockets. We see it at school or work and are bombarded with it on TV. Violence, inappropriate use of social networking, pornography, drugs, and misinformation are always within the reach of our children.”

Parents need to be aware of their pre-teen or teenager’s behavioral habits, emotional norms and who their kids communicate with to remain ahead of the game. Slight changes are to be expected throughout the teen years but even relatively minor changes can signal a problem. Patten shared, “Parental insight and a quick response are critical to the successful intervention of a young person in trouble. It is critical that parents, grandparents, caregivers, and loved ones be mindful of a teenager’s choices and respond with early intervention.”

Some of the key warning signs to look for include:

• Behaviors that are distinctly different than what they previously did (sleeping too much or too little, aggression, depression, grades slipping, forgetfulness, spending all time with friends or completely avoiding friends and spending too much time alone).

• Refusing to listen to anything a parent says or requests.

• Behaviors that put a teen or the rest of the family in danger or high risk causing constant anxiety and fear in the home.

• Becoming increasingly disrespectful, dishonest and openly displays rebellion, not caring about consequences. Ignoring boundaries set.

• Treatment of people, pets or belongings by your teen are threatening or out of control.  Appears to feel that their needs are more important and disregards the feelings, needs or possessions of others.

• Counseling has proven to be of little help so far.

• Intentional separation from the family and showing hatred for the family when made to comply.

• Suspected alcohol or other substance usage.

• Threats of suicide, active self-harming, excessive risk-taking or sexual promiscuity.

One final thing for parents to remember is that seeking out help for a struggling teenager is not a sign of weakness or failure as a parent. It simply means they want the best for their child and are willing to look everywhere until they find what works. And if they have made mistakes as a parent, again, they aren’t the only one. Part of getting help for a child involves some soul-searching for a parent and maybe a few changes to how they communicate and interact with their teen.

Eagle Village
Eagle Village is a co-ed facility excelling in Intervention Services, Residential Treatment, Foster Care and Adoption services, as well as Summer and Family Camps. Located in Hersey, MI, Eagle Village provides programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and families through experiential learning, spiritual enrichment and counseling. For more information about Eagle Village, visit their website at http://www.eaglevillage.org

Press release: PRWEB
1 August 2012

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9757160.htm

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1 August

Emotional Abuse of Children Prevalent, Yet Hard to Prevent

Health care providers can help to promote sensitive and attuned parenting using a range of educational strategies to support families that are at risk for, or show evidence of, psychological mistreatment of children, according to a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online July 30 in Pediatrics.

Roberta Hibbard, MD and colleagues on the AAP's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, updated the "Psychological Maltreatment" guidance for pediatricians.

The committee members found that intervention should first focus on a thorough assessment and ensuring the child's safety. Acknowledging little is known on effective prevention or treatment for psychological maltreatment, the authors recommend pediatricians be alert to its occurrence and consider ways to support families who have risk indicators for this problem. Cognitive behavioral parenting programs and other psychotherapeutic interventions may be potentially effective treatments. Effective management is necessary to reduce the high prevalence of psychological abuse in advanced Western societies and its serious consequences, including disorders of attachment, developmental and educational problems, socialization problems, disruptive behavior, and later psychopathology.

"Pediatricians are uniquely positioned to educate those working in child welfare, child health care, and the judicial system about the complex needs of children exposed to psychological maltreatment," the authors write. "[They are] well situated to advocate on behalf of the child and can take on an important liaison role with professionals in the child welfare system."

Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
30 July 2012

http://www.jaapa.com/emotional-abuse-of-children-prevalent-yet-hard-to-prevent/article/252484/

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