Message from Dr. Newman: Child Abuse Prevention

Dear Friends –

We want everyone to be prepared!

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

RESPECT encourages everyone to do their best to put an end to child abuse and neglect.

In Nebraska everyone has a responsibility to report child abuse or neglect. State law requires any person who has a reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected to report their concerns to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at:

(800) 652-1999 (Add it to your contacts!) 

Your contact with the hotline is confidential and will not be shared with the family. You may be contacted by a Child and Family Services Specialist during the investigation; however, you may request to remain anonymous.

Every call on behalf of a child can help. Sometimes it is an accumulation or pattern of calls that can make a difference. If you are not sure if you should be calling? Call and the experts on the hotline will help sort it out. It is ALWAYS better to err on the side of making sure a child is safe.

At RESPECT we have a special play with an accompanying discussion to help children learn the signs of child abuse – BUB is an alien from outer space who learns about safe touch and how to get help if there is unsafe or uncomfortable touching – and children learn with them!

Check The Bubbylonian Encounter out at: https://respect2all.org/programs/

We have also collaborated with Project Harmony on five important podcasts to help parents and other adults talk with children about topics of: Safe Adults; Safe Touch; Personal Privacy; See Something Say Something; Consent. These feature our actor educators in carefully developed scripts that are motivating, entertaining but also educational about safe relationships and asking for help.

Check out Woody’s Wisdom Podcast with RESPECT at: https://respect2all.org/continuing-conversations/

In all RESPECT programming we are helping students of all ages to learn the skills they need to have safe, healthy, and happy relationships. This includes skills like being aware of their emotional and physical boundaries, how to ask for help if they need it and better understanding “big feelings” like anger, worry, uncertainty. We also teach them how to ask for help and how to help be supportive friends to others.

RESPECT is doing our best to help prevent child abuse and neglect. Please join us!

RESPECTfully,

Patricia