Santa Cruz County advocates host talks to spotlight child abuse prevention month

Santa Cruz Sentinel - 4/11/2024

Apr. 11—SANTA CRUZ — In observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, first declared for April in 1983, local leaders providing youth support and services across various sectors are teaming up to raise awareness and share resources.

The Children's Network, a program from United Way of Santa Cruz County, is rolling out a four-part video interview series featuring discussions that shine a light on what it might look like, feel like and sound like to reach out for help.

The series, with episodes released every Sunday of the month, will feature speakers from 15 community organizations including Monarch Services, CASA of Santa Cruz, First 5 Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

Stephanie Barron Lu, co-chair of the network's executive committee and co-host for the interviews alongside Scotts Valley real estate agent and nonprofit supporter Robert Aldana, told the Sentinel the goals of the series include increasing access and awareness of resources, demystifying what child abuse is and reducing stigmas around efforts to seek help.

"That's our hope — lifting up what we can do in our head, our hearts and our homes in terms of prevention," said Lu, who also serves as the executive director of Positive Discipline Community Resources. "How are we as educators, as parents, as neighbors able to really lift up every child?"

Another goal of the series, Lu said, is encouraging the community to look at abuse from different angles and examine the various social or economic determinants such as food, housing or financial insecurity, access to reliable transportation and education opportunities.

"All of those pieces to some people may seem disconnected from child abuse prevention, but we're making the case that it is absolutely connected," said Lu. "We have to look at the whole family as a unit and we have to look at social determinants of health to be able to better understand each facet of what is at work for us."

Lu said each episode, typically an hour long and featuring multiple speakers, will be posted to the Positive Discipline Community Resources' YouTube channel as well as the Children's Network of Santa Cruz County Facebook page.

According to a release from the county's Human Services Agency, 2,314 reports of child abuse, neglect or harm were made in Santa Cruz County in fiscal year 2023-24, spanning July 1 to June 30.. Of that total, 945 warranted screening and investigation by a social worker from the county Human Services Department Family and Children's Services.

Earlier this month, the county Board of Supervisors approved — and Chair Justin Cummings signed — a local proclamation affirming the national month of recognition.

"The County of Santa Cruz is committed to advancing policies and practices that prioritize the well-being of all our county's children and families," Director of the Human Services Department's Family and Children's Services Division Gloria Carroll said in the release. "Every family and child deserve supports to help them thrive, feel purposeful and have hope for the future. I encourage our community to join in our efforts this month and become partners in child abuse prevention."

The Children's Network has also planned a memorial flag raising on the county courthouse steps later this month, with Cummings slated to raise the flag. According to the county release, the event will begin at noon, April 26 at 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz. The ceremony will include guest speakers, a tip sheet and prevention packets and a moment of silence.

If you go

What: Memorial flag raising in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Where: Santa Cruz County courthouse steps at 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz.

When: noon April 26.

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