Highlight
Presence over Presents
by Thomas Claiborn IV, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Parent Advisory Committee Member
I’ll never forget the first time I came back from Africa after serving with an orphanage. I was flying from Johannesburg to Atlanta, and my mind was racing because I realized I felt sorrier for our kids here in the states than I did for the children I had just met. At first, I couldn't quite figure out why, but eventually, I realized the African children had something many American children don't have. They had joy. Although this group of kids I served with were materialistically poor, they were relationally rich. The orphanage was full of vibrant community.
That experience reshaped my mindset around how I parent and mentor kids. The relationship between parents and children, or mentors and children, will always be more important than the things we give them. This holiday season, let’s remember that.
Two research-backed books helped me grow this mindset that my physical and emotional presence is more important than material presents. I highly recommend both.
The first book, Bright from the Start, by Dr. Jill Stamm, teaches us how children's brains flourish when they receive attention, bonding, and communication.
The second book, Championship Fathering, by Carey Casey, demonstrates how loving, coaching, and modeling are fundamentals that fathers, grandfathers, and father figures can implement.
As parents, friends, neighbors, and leaders, we are the gift that our children need. May we remember that our presence is more important than our presents.
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37 Clinicians Attend Advanced Training in Birth to Five Play Therapy
Last month, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona hosted an advanced play therapy training for clinicians who work with young children. Training and Program Director Meghan Hays Davis describes why we chose to host this particular training:
"As a former Birth to Five clinician working in rural Arizona, it was often difficult to find advanced clinical training that was affordable. Not only that, but it can be challenging to find training that offers practical tools to use in sessions with children and families. As we understand better how trauma affects the body and how the therapeutic work needs to include body and sensory engagement, this type of training and practice improvement is essential. Being able to offer this level of training, accessible from anywhere in the state and at an affordable cost, improves Arizona’s ability to serve the mental health needs of children statewide.”
After attending the training, one attendee gratefully reported "I am more confident with the littles and helping to frame how to address the needs of the lower brain stem. I am really excited to include and work with parents/caregivers.”
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Infographic: How Racism Can Affect Child Development
What would our society look like if racial disparities in health and learning outcomes didn't exist? According to extensive studies, the U.S. would save billions in health care costs alone. Disparity-driven health inequities cause significant and unacceptable losses of human potential and well-being. This infographic from the Center on the Developing Child explains in basic terms how racism in particular gets "under the skin" and affects learning, behavior, and lifelong health.
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A Year in Review: Annual Report
Every year, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona creates an Annual Report to show you - our donors, partners, colleagues, and supporters - our year in review. We try to make it fun and practical by including it within a calendar you can hang on your wall! It is also digitally available for download. To see the great work we have accomplished together, click the link below:
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The Season for Giving
2020 has brought about a lot of change, and required each of us to adapt. This year has sometimes been overwhelming, especially for families who already had their fair share of stress.
Parenting is hard. Parenting in a pandemic is even harder. When stress hits, to protect children, caregivers need support.
That’s why Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is rallying communities around strengthening families. But we can’t do it alone. We need your help.
You are the reason that Prevent Child Abuse Arizona has been able to adapt quickly to our changing world.
AND, we urgently need your support to make sure this momentum continues.
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The Gift of Sweeping Change
By Claire Louge
A year ago, I had the opportunity to visit my sister, who lives in Tanzania. I met a man named David, who leads a project with an organization founded by Jane Goodall called Roots and Shoots. David works in Burundi, which up to 2005, endured a tragic civil war involving child soldiers. David's project involves bringing people together – people who had been from opposite sides in the war - to plant thousands of trees. They do this to rebuild the land decimated by the fighting and prevent erosion from destroying villages in the future. They are reconciling history by working towards a shared goal.
Amazing, right? But that’s not where it ends.
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As a 501(c)3 organization, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is eligible to receive bequests. Please contact Rebekah Prieto at [email protected] if you would like to discuss including
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona in your legacy.
Tax ID #86-0832901
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona can only accept donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations located in the State of Arizona.
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Prevent Child Abuse Arizona is shifting the public conversation about child maltreatment so that prevention is the priority. The organization provides research-based prevention services, education and training to help promote strong families and safe, healthy children. For more information, visit pcaaz.org. |
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