Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas -- The month of April is observed as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Laughlin’s Family Advocacy Program is doing its part to help raise awareness and prevent child abuse.
“Child abuse prevention is important [to the military community] because it affects us inside and outside of the gate,” said Casey Molleson, 47th Medical Operation Squadron family advocacy outreach manager. “We have to get information out to the parents to help them become more effective as parents.”
Last year, Val Verde County had 352 child abuse investigations. The State of Texas mourned the death of 171 children because of maltreatment in 2015.
“Some cases of child abuse are accidents due to lack of parental knowledge,” said Molleson. “That’s what the family advocacy program is for: to educate. Some people think, ‘If I walk into family advocacy, I’m a bad parent.’ That’s not the case though. It’s about allowing us to give them the tools.”
The family advocacy program can provide families with books, movies, pamphlets and courses to help learn good parenting skills.
“One of the best resources we provide here, is the First-Time Parent Program,” said Judy Rhinesmith, 47th MDOS new parent support program manager. “The program provides information, appropriate for the age of the children, to parents.”
Other than providing resources to help others understand the importance of a child’s well-being and how to provide the necessary environment for it, members of Laughlin’s medical team want to make sure that the subject isn’t forgotten.
“We have to consistently remind parents, and the population, that child abuse is a continuous challenge,” said Rhinesmith. “As long as we remember, we can continue to improve and prevent child abuse, and our society will be healthier because of it.”
For more information, and to learn about more activities this month, call the Family Advocacy Program at 298-6422.