Successful Involvement Successful Involvement of the Community in of the Community in Child Abuse Prevention Child Abuse Prevention EffortsEfforts

Jennifer Tolle WhitesideJennifer Tolle WhitesidePrevent Child Abuse North CarolinaPrevent Child Abuse North Carolinajtollewhiteside@preventchildabusenc.orgjtollewhiteside@preventchildabusenc.org

IntroductionIntroduction

““There is no such thing as a social There is no such thing as a social problem, until enough people, with problem, until enough people, with enough power in the society, agree that enough power in the society, agree that there is. Social problems are produced there is. Social problems are produced by public opinion, not by particular by public opinion, not by particular social conditions, undesirable or social conditions, undesirable or otherwise.”otherwise.”

Armand Mauss and Julie Wolfe,eds.,Armand Mauss and Julie Wolfe,eds.,

This Land of Promises: The Rise and Fall of Social This Land of Promises: The Rise and Fall of Social Problems. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, 1977, p. Problems. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, 1977, p. 2.2.

What we seekWhat we seek

To engage communities in creating a To engage communities in creating a cultural climate in which children are cultural climate in which children are valued and families are strengthenedvalued and families are strengthened

To create public will in support of To create public will in support of policies benefiting parents and policies benefiting parents and familiesfamilies

To motivate and enable positive To motivate and enable positive changes in individual behaviorchanges in individual behavior

Current SituationCurrent Situation

In the past 40 years since the In the past 40 years since the “battered child syndrome” was “battered child syndrome” was

identified……….identified……….1.1. Incredible rates of public awareness and Incredible rates of public awareness and

perceived importance have been perceived importance have been generated.generated.

2.2. Mixed results on education effortsMixed results on education efforts3.3. Minimal understanding of, and Minimal understanding of, and

investment in, prevention.investment in, prevention.4.4. No significant progress in reducing the No significant progress in reducing the

incidence of child abuse/neglect.incidence of child abuse/neglect.

Current Situation, Current Situation, cont.cont.

In the past 40 years since the In the past 40 years since the “battered child syndrome” was “battered child syndrome” was identified…identified…

5.5. Media coverage has been episodic, Media coverage has been episodic, linked to high-profile, dramatic caseslinked to high-profile, dramatic cases

6. 6. Messaging has reinforced perception of Messaging has reinforced perception of failed individuals and systemsfailed individuals and systems

7.7. Advocates have relied on emotional Advocates have relied on emotional appeals, shocking imagery & statisticsappeals, shocking imagery & statistics

8. Unclear calls to action8. Unclear calls to action

Our ChallengeOur Challenge

To effectively involve the To effectively involve the community in our issue for the community in our issue for the long termlong term

To encourage community changeTo encourage community change

Why Involve the Why Involve the Community?Community?

““A single bracelet does not jingle”A single bracelet does not jingle”

African ProverbAfrican Proverb

At the heart of At the heart of community organizing community organizing are are inclusioninclusion, , ownershipownership, , relationship buildingrelationship building, , and and leadership leadership developmentdevelopment..

Principles of Principles of OrganizingOrganizing Assess the communityAssess the community Create an action teamCreate an action team Develop an action planDevelop an action plan Mobilize to actionMobilize to action ImplementImplement EvaluateEvaluate

Assess the communityAssess the community

Become familiar with the Become familiar with the community-its history, community-its history, demographics, geography, and demographics, geography, and political leadership.political leadership.

Community Community InvolvementInvolvement We build involvement in our issue We build involvement in our issue

by building a “team”by building a “team” Long term reality of child abuse Long term reality of child abuse

and neglectand neglect

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a Strong TeamStrong Team High level of interdependence High level of interdependence

among team membersamong team members Team leader has good people skills Team leader has good people skills

and is committed to team and is committed to team approachapproach

Each team member is willing to Each team member is willing to contributecontribute

Team develops a relaxed climate Team develops a relaxed climate for communicationfor communication

Strong teamsStrong teams

Team roles are definedTeam roles are defined Team is clear about goals and Team is clear about goals and

establishes targetsestablishes targets Team members develop mutual Team members develop mutual

trusttrust

Strong Teams, cont.Strong Teams, cont.

Team has capacity to create new Team has capacity to create new ideasideas

Each team member knows she can Each team member knows she can influence the team agendainfluence the team agenda

Team members have a positive Team members have a positive attitude toward change and are willing attitude toward change and are willing to accept and allow change to occur.to accept and allow change to occur.

Understanding of long term Understanding of long term commitmentcommitment

Develop an action planDevelop an action plan

What problems have you What problems have you identified?identified?

What policies would address the What policies would address the problem?problem?

Create a timelineCreate a timeline

Mobilize to actionMobilize to action

Build a base of supportBuild a base of support Make presentationsMake presentations Identify elected officials Identify elected officials Solicit advice Solicit advice

ImplementImplement

JUST DO IT!JUST DO IT! Decide how to maintain the changeDecide how to maintain the change

Does the change need to be enforced?Does the change need to be enforced?

EvaluateEvaluate

What has been accomplished?What has been accomplished? What was done well?What was done well? What could have been done What could have been done

better?better? What still needs to be done?What still needs to be done?

Community Community Encouragers lead by Encouragers lead by instilling in others hope instilling in others hope and confidence to and confidence to accomplish accomplish extraordinary things; extraordinary things; even things thought even things thought impossible!impossible!