HOT SPRINGS (AP) — An Arkansas woman accused of abusing her 4-year-old daughter has been sentenced to prison.

The Sentinel-Record re-ports 31-year-old Jennifer Diane Denen was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to domestic battery and en-dangering the welfare of a minor. Denen received 10-year and 15-year sentences, which she will serve concur-rently.

Denen’s boyfriend, 48-year-old Clarence Eugene Reed, pleaded guilty to the same charges in March. He also was sentenced to prison. Both have remained in custo-dy on a $100,000 bond.

The month of April has been designated as Child Abuse Preven-tion Month since 1983.

The official defi-nitions of child abuse and neglect are, ac-cording to the World Health Organization (WHO), child abuse and child maltreatment (which includes “all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment), sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treat-ment or commercial or other exploitation resulting in ac-tual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, de-velopment or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or pow-er,” in this country, the Cen-ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the term child maltreatment to refer to both acts of commis-sion (abuse), which include "words or overt actions that cause harm, potential harm, or threat of harm to a child", and acts of omission (ne-glect), meaning "the failure to provide for a child's basic physical, emotional, or edu-cational needs or to protect the child from harm or po-tential harm."

For those people that are either not aware of the prevalence and frequency in which children are victim-ized, or to those citizens who feel tax dollars should not be allocated to fund the nec-essary reformation of this state's child welfare system, please consider this statistic: A report by the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services noted that in FFY 2014 in the United States, approximately 646,000 chil-dren were victims of child abuse or neglect, while still another 1,580 children died from abuse or neglect. That is 1,770 children per day in this country. If that is bro-ken down to number of vic-tims per hour, that is roughly 70. By minute? One. That means that in the time it has taken me to type the words that you have just read, 15 children have been brutally victimized, or neglected.

A common misconcep-tion is that children who are abused are from poor households that usually lack the stability of two parent homes. The parent imagined in this scenario is usually an uneducated, unemployed, high school drop-out, who happens to be a raging alco-holic/drug addict, or is just simply lazy, mean or insane. When, in fact, parents who abuse their children, are of-ten themselves, childhood victims of abuse.

Socioeconomic status

and education level, are fac-tors that matter very little; especially since perpetrators come from all education lev-els, ranks, professions and any other demographic that may come to mind in our society.

Studies have shown that abuse and neglect are most likely a multi-generational cycle. The parent or care-giver often reverts to the disciplinary techniques used by their own parents or care-givers. In order for us, as a society, to be able to "fix" or eradicate child abuse, it must be discussed openly and honestly. Also, we must acknowledge the power as-sociated with ideas pro-claiming, “... since my par-ents did this, then I am going to as well.”

The problem with that type of knee-jerk logic is that the person subscribing to it is willfully ignorant. It reminds me of the saying: “insanity defined is repeat-ing same actions over and over while expecting a dif-ferent outcome.” Therefore, the designation of April as National Child Abuse Pre-vention Month is a solid, ini-tial step towards educating the masses. The effects of abuse not only leaves visible scars, but also those that are hidden deep in the psyche. The emotional scars are just as tangible to the victim, as any visible scar.

Prior to my inclusion in to world of print media, I had the honor of working with and mentoring preg-nant teenagers. I saw that position as my opportuni-ty to introduce alternative disciplinary methods. I just knew that once those young women, many of whom were also survivors of childhood abuse, became aware of de-velopmental limitations, like becoming angry and pun-ishing a toddler for wetting himself, or spanking them because they keep putting everything they touch into their mouths, actual change would occur.

Well, once that parent be-came aware of the patterns of physical and cognitive de-velopment and growth, those young mothers experienced “Ah-Ha! moments.” They understood the science be-hind their child's actions. It became evident that spank-ing, or hitting their child for doing things that actually enabled them to learn more about their environment was actually counterproductive.

They learned that the actions of their child were good things, it was exactly what that toddler was supposed to be doing.

Those revelations served to reduce in-stances of abuse with-in that cross-section of young mothers.

They also realized that a bit of knowledge empowered them. It enabled them to be-come better parents by un-derstanding what their own child did or did not under-stand at various stages in de-velopment. They understood how their child's brains operated. So they ceased hitting them, or becoming angry when their son or daughter did not comply when told “no.” They began to understand that their child was not being a “bad” kid. It was because the child had not yet learned the meaning of the word.

My group of young moth-ers, armed with their new knowledge, were able to become creative disciplinar-ians. Once provided with the basic education, and a lot of support from each other, several multi-generational cycles of abuse were broken.

That group of young women, clearly demonstrat-ed to me that often anger is a derivative of fear. They became furious with their children because they did not know what to do. Each strongly wanted to be the best mama possible, yet al-lowed their negative emo-tions dictate their actions.

I encourage all parents of kids of all ages to take a step back and breathe when they feel themselves becoming heated. If needed, then step away from the situation for a few moments. Use this time to calm down. Then go back and discuss your child's be-havior with them and why it is wrong or inappropriate.

As parents, it is our job to prepare our kids to be adults. That job also in-cludes demonstrating how to discipline their own children one day. They will remem-ber the way you have treated them. Make sure what they remember is beneficial and constructive.

Now, I am under no de-lusions that parenting class-es and an overview of child development will end child abuse. The point is that those young women had limited exposure to positive exam-ples. They were doing the best they could with what they had.

Once they understood ba-sic tenets of child develop-ment, they had a better un-derstanding of appropriate discipline based upon their child’s understanding. Sadly not all abusive situations are as easy to remedy.

12 - Friday, April 14, 2017 - Malvern Daily Record

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

1001 Schneider Drive1-888-B-A-P-T-I-S-T baptist-health.com

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County takes the health and safety of our community seriously.

PREVENTION IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.

All children deserve great childhoods because our children are our future.

of Garland, Grant and Hot Spring Counties is a non-profi t organization that trains community volunteers to serve as powerful advocates for our community’s most severely abused, abandoned and neglected children.

Be a powerful voice for children. You can make a difference!

For more information, contactTonya Lee, Program Coordinator

Serving Garland, Grant and Hot Spring Counties

501-467-3306

M NTHBismarck Head Start

2078 Arlie Moore Rd. • 501-865-1882Magnet Cove Head Start

21977 Hwy 51 • 501-332-6906Malvern Head Start

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HeadStartProgram

Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center in Hot

Springs helps abused childrenBefore the new system

with the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Cen-ter in Hot Springs, a child who informed a teacher about abuse would then have to talk to the principal, the local police, the Arkansas State Police, the prosecut-ing attorney and sometimes a doctor, according to the former director at the cen-ter. Children often stopped talking after so many inter-views and offenders often tell children lies to make them afraid of the police.

In the mid 80s, a prose-

cutor set up a child advocacy center to change the old way. These centers are multidis-ciplinary agencies designed so that the child only has to give one interview, and there are medical exam ser-vices at the center. Going to the emergency room, a child sometimes had to wait for hours and they always thought that everyone in the waiting room knew why they were there, said Beaver, so exam services are available at the center.

All services are free of charge to the families.

Interviews are also re-corded and the interviewers are trained to talk to children.

The interviews are non-lead-ing, so as to avoid accusing innocent people.

Police officers observe interviews through a two-way mirror. Interviews are also recorded so the child doesn’t have to keep repeat-ing the interview. The center has memorandums of under-standing with local police, the Garland County Sher-iff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police and prosecutors. No offenders or alleged of-fenders are allowed into the building.

The center also provides mental health counselors whose services are also free to the families.

By Joshua Waddles

Staff Writer

Can education end the cycle of abuse?

Dana Keener

Keenobservationsby

CASA always searching for volunteers

Tonya Lee, program co-ordinator with Hot Spring County Court Appointed Spe-cial Advocates (CASA), said the number of children in fos-ter care has nearly doubled in the last two years. Hot Spring County has only two foster homes and CASA is always looking for volunteers to ad-vocate for children.

CASA volunteers advo-

cate for the children in the court system who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Lee said drug abuse plays a role in the majority of these cases in which children are removed.

Volunteers must be at least 21 and pass federal and state background checks. Volun-teers will need flexible sched-ules so that they can attend court. All volunteer respon-sibilities take about 15 to 20 hours a month.

CASA accepts donations. Hot Spring County CASA operates under the umbrel-la of Garland County CASA and receives funds from their fundraisers, including an auc-tion of donated, artist-created Christmas ornaments in De-cember. Donations can also be sent to the office on 104 West Second Street in Mal-vern.

For more information, please call Hot Spring County CASA at (501) 467-3306.

By Joshua Waddles

Staff Writer

Candy Land themed abuse awareness event April 22

On Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., First Baptist Church at 220 Vine Street will be the location of a Candy Land themed event by the Hot Spring County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

The event is free to the pub-lic and will include games and prizes for children. Lo-cal organizations, including the Court Appointed Spe-cial Advocates (CASA) will have booths set up.

April was designated Child Abuse Prevention Month in 1983. The Depart-ment of Health and Human

Services has said that Child Abuse Prevention Month (or Child Abuse Awareness Month) is meant to remind communities to rededicate themselves to preventing child abuse, neglect, sup-porting families and pro-moting the well-being of children.

By Joshua Waddles

Staff Writer

Hot Springs woman sentenced in child abuse case