Prevent Child Abuse New York

Research shows play can improve children's ability to plan, organize, get along with others, solve problems, boost cognitive skills, and regulate emotions. 

The New York Can End Child Poverty campaign is rallying outside the Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 19. https://lnkd.in/e6xrFqDg Join parents, youth, educators, faith leaders, elected officials, pediatricians, nurses, child care providers, housing advocates, food security advocates, health care providers, social workers, labor unions, and others in supporting action toward New York's child poverty reduction goals. Find more details and registration at https://lnkd.in/e6xrFqDg

We are in the final days of an extraordinary presidential election that’s an emotional rollercoaster for parents and kids as well. The campaign is not just topic A on television and social media, but is dividing friends and family members and causing anxiety. Kids can’t help being exposed to disturbing language, shocking images, insults and dire predictions for the future. It might be tempting to assume that children are too young to be touched by this and needn’t be involved in conversation at home around the election. But it’s important to engage your kids in discussion around elections to help them process information they’re hearing. Whether or not we are proud of the state of our democracy and the 2024 election, kids need to understand why it’s happening, and form an understanding of the significant role each citizen has in our democracy. Learning early that one day it will be their civic duty to vote for the candidate they feel best represents what they believe in is a powerful lesson for a child to understand. Here are a few key things to recognize as we approach election day: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬⁣ Having discussions early and continuously about a fundamental principle of our democracy teaches kids about civic responsibility. “Having these conversations teaches kids about the importance of making critical and informed decisions,” says Janine Domingues, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “This investment has long-term benefits with engagement in civic duty because children who learn that voting matters are more likely to vote when they are older, and engage in community activities.” 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬⁣ These talks encourage kids to be critical thinkers in evaluating what’s important to them, their family, and the larger community. It also teaches them to consider where and how they receive their information. Children benefit from hearing discussion of differing points of view, and understanding that dialogue between competing ideas is the basis of democracy. “It’s helpful to discuss ways in which people can respectfully, and thoughtfully, converse around different points of view,” Dr. Domingues explains. As they get older, they can hone their own discussion skills. 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲⁣ Of course parents also need to monitor how much information kids are absorbing, and from where. “Anxiety can build from the “doomsday” message that some news outlets, and social media, have a tendency to emphasize,” Dr. Domingues notes. And monitoring the message you are sending is also important: You don’t want a highly anxious child losing sleep worrying that the family is relocating out of the country if their preferred candidate loses. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ec7YUNbx

There is a role for 👏 EVERYONE 👏 to play in addressing and mitigating the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences so we can strengthen families and communities.

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑨𝒍𝒊 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝑪𝑨-𝑵𝒀 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒎! Ali H. holds a degree in psychology and is a Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC). In 2014, Ali started her journey with Healthy Families as a Family Support Specialist (FSS) in Dutchess County. This is where Ali fell in love with working with families and children, making a positive impact on those individuals’ futures through trauma-informed tactics and evidence-based information. In 2017, Ali became an FSS supervisor, where she continued her passion for making a positive impact and supporting staff’s professional development in this role. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis/pickleball, spending time with friends and family, and reading. Ali is very excited to continue working within Healthy Families, supporting programs in her new role as a Training and Staff Development Specialist at Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCA-NY).

Prevent Child Abuse New York is thankful to partner with NYS Zero to Three for a meaningful discussion and training facilitied by our own Tamaé Memole. Link below for registration!

PCA-NY team members Yomika, Tershia & Alexander represented our organization at the Fall Advocacy Summit hosted by Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Inc. where #Prop1 and other #healthequity initiatives were discussed. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat! Prevent Child Abuse NY works to strengthen families across New York State. This means 𝑨𝑳𝑳 families. We support comprehensive healthcare and preventative services including access to - pediatric, pre-natal and postpartum services like home visiting, doula and midwifery services, accessible reproductive healthcare, family planning, and pregnancy spacing. 𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. We know that people who are prepared and supported will make better parents. We recognize that child maltreatment occurs when there is stress, lack of access to resources, and when trauma goes unaddressed and untreated. We believe in informed decision-making and education, including comprehensive and inclusive sex education. We support and strive to create means for equality, equity, and inclusion. We believe in ALL families.

Today is the day ✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 ...𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The wait is finally over! 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 (𝐏𝐂𝐀-𝐍𝐘) spent time during the summer to envision a plan to help us strategically look forward. After months of development, part of our efforts is ready to launch.  Our new website is ready for your viewing.  As our journey continues, we hope you will join us as we work to strengthen families and communities across NYS.    https://lnkd.in/eBi5R_Ym #PrimaryPrevention #thisispublichealth #strengtheningfamilies #NYS

waiting is the hardest 🎼 🎵 🎶

"According to the outdated Federal Poverty Level, 16% of children in the U.S. lived in poverty in 2022. Yet United For ALICE data shows that another 34% — more than twice as many — were also growing up in hardship, in households that earned above the poverty level but less than what it costs to afford the basics. These households are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed." This is a great resource and tool from the United Way of the Greater Capital Region.