All Children are Safe
% of Substantiated Cases of Abuse/Neglect Per 1000 Under 9 Years Old
Current Value
35%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
There is no statistic more troubling than the percent of Plymouth children who have been abused and neglected. The above graph demonstrates the number of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases as reported from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency responsible for child welfare.
The Plymouth Early Childhood Council wants ALL children safe, and until we reach the point where there are no Plymouth children abused and neglected then we will continue to work until we reach this goal.
Partners
Plymouth Early Childhood Council (Members & Partners)
United Way
Bristol Hospital
Plymouth Human Services
The Plymouth Family Resource Center
Department of Children and Families
OB/GYN Physicians
Wheeler Clinic
Plymouth Public Schools
Plymouth Police Department
CT Works
Chamber of Commerce
Special Education Parent Teacher Association
Local Churches
Strategy
● Strategy: Expand Family Support Programming
▪ Expand Nurturing Families – designed to help “at risk” first time parents. Currently, consecutive children of “at risk” parents are not eligible for this program and PECC would like them offered this same program.
▪ Increase Number of FRC playgroups – for working families
▪ Explore the possibility of implementing an Intensive Home Visitation Program – to reach those not participating in Nurturing families as first time parents or playgroups to learn how to interact with children; decreasing stress in families
● Strategy: Ongoing support of existing mentoring program – Providing an outlet to children, reducing stress and providing a possible healthy relationship with an adult
● Strategy: Establish Financial Literacy Programs in Public Schools –to prevent and decrease financial stress in our youth
● Strategy: Continue to offer job counseling/job skills training classes – to decrease unemployment stress in families
● Strategy: Establish School Safety Net - To ensure that the school system is aware of specific issues and will follow up with the child/children at school & Special Needs Alert System – to alert town services on how to react when called to a home with children with special needs.
● Strategy: Increase access for long term therapy and counseling for Plymouth students and their families – to reduce family stress to mental illness/behavior
What Have We Accomplished
What has been accomplished for the Safety of Plymouth’s Children:
| Awareness Campaign of Safe Driving in the Plymouth Community | Since 2013, the PECC has sold over 50 "Drive Like Your Kids Live Here" signs posted in Plymouth and surrounding communities |
| Free Car Seat Check | This service was provided at Family Fun Day; 2013 at the Terryville Fair Grounds in Plymouth, CT. Fourteen (14) seats inspected and/or installed. We also provided 3 new car seats to children whose seats were expired or who were in the wrong seat for their age or weight. |
| Pilot Special Needs Alert System | Plymouth Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) family members welcomed and signed up for this service |
| Incorporated a Safety Fair into Family Fun Day | 1700 attended this event in 2013 |
| Pilot Evening Playgroup | The Plymouth Family Resource Center piloted an evening Play and Learn Group; designed with working families in mind. |
| Pinwheels for Plymouthwww.pinwheelsforprevention.org | Summer of 2014: A partnership with the Terryville Woman’s Club, Wheeler Clinic and the PECC Family Wellness Committee brought Pinwheels for Prevention, a project of the Prevent Child Abuse America into our community. |
| Positive Parenting Workshop | A program in partnership with the Wheeler Clinic.All 15 participants felt the information presented was helpful, they would use the strategies presented in their home. |
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