KANE — Citizens from the general public met in Kane Friday and learned when and how to safely intervene when they are concerned about a child suffering from abuse in their neighborhoods or in public places.
Beth Bitler, program director for the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance in Harrisburg, conducted the morning and afternoon sessions of the program, Front Porch Project Community Training, which were sponsored by the Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County and held at the Kane Area Community Center. Among the approximately 20 people in attendance were representatives from the McKean County 911 Emergency Services, Domestic Relations, Early Intervention, Bradford City Fire Department, Kane Area Community Center, Hamlin Memorial Library, Kane Elks Lodge, Mount Jewett Rotary Club, First Presbyterian Church of Bradford, First Baptist Church of Kane, Kane Area Revitalization Enterprise and general community members.
From the Children’s Advocacy Center, a government-based program which was established in 2012 to provide case management, forensic interviews and family advocacy services, were Executive Director Mikele Bay, forensic interviewer Mindi Brown and family advocate Tonia Hartzell.
“At least 20 people must be in attendance for this program since the presenter comes a long distance from Harrisburg,” Hartzell said. The sessions are free and open to anyone.
PFSA is a statewide child abuse prevention organization, protecting children by teaching citizens to recognize and report child abuse and neglect by providing information, educational materials and programs that promote positive parenting.
In Pennsylvania, among the mandated reporters required to report suspected child abuse are medical and health care personnel, school employees, clergymen, foster parents and individuals who accept responsibility for children. “Mandated reporters receive training,” Hartzell said, “and those who are not mandated still have contact with children in their everyday lives and may question how they can help or what they can do.”
Besides deciding when and how to safely respond when they suspect child abuse, the Front Porch Project also teaches decision-making to help and what prevents people from helping when they have concerns about a family; and why even a small step in assisting a child can have big results.
Past surveys that measured public opinion showed Americans picture the worst case scenarios, believe it’s harder to be a parent today and many parents are doing poor jobs of parenting and see child maltreatment as a serious problem, but don’t believe they can do anything about it.
In McKean County in 2015, there were 324 reports of suspected child abuse and student abuse, up from 238 in 2014. Of those more recent reports, 7.1 percent were confirmed as abused, a decrease of nine substantiated reports in 2014.
Attendees at Friday’s sessions learned tips for helping. These included: noticing what is happening with as much detail as possible; pausing for a moment to put themselves in the parents’ place and check their emotions; approach with understanding and empathy, instead of judgment; use your “toolbox” skills; and realize when to get others involved, step away or offer extra help.
According to the training, people should intervene when a child will be physically injured, when a situation can interfere with a child’s well-being or when they are uncomfortable with a situation involving a child.
There are key qualities that help all kinds of families be strong — nurturing relationships, establishing routines, maintaining expectations, adapting to challenges and connecting to the community. The more of these qualities families have, the better the teens and adults do in life.
Earlier this month, the McKean County Commissioners passed a resolution proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county and April 11 as Child Welfare Professionals Appreciation Day.
