Citizens for Missouri's Children (CMC) recently released the 17th annual KIDS COUNT in Missouri Data Book. The annual publication, a collaborative project of CMC, the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF), and more than 30 public and private organizations from across the state, documents the status of children in all 114 Missouri counties and the City of Saint Louis.

The book provides information on measures of child well-being covering areas such as health, education, financial security, juvenile justice and child protection. In conjunction with the release of the book, CMC has a unique interactive web tool that allows users to compare county-by-county data over time.  The 2009 Data Book finds that during the most recent reporting period, Missouri made improvements in six of the key KIDS COUNT indicators including a reduction in child abuse and neglect, while four key indicators were worse.

"So often families are faced with a variety of problems and stresses especially during these economically challenging times.  We know that families with high stress levels are at greater risk for child abuse and neglect which is why it is so important for communities to keep their pulse on the critical issues and indicators facing children and families."   said Kirk Schreiber, CTF Executive Director. "The county by county information provided by Kids Count can help communities identify issues and gaps in services so they can develop a plan to address these issues.  It also helps counties identify what is going well." 

Osage County, just east of Jefferson City, was ranked as the state’s most child-friendly area, based on a composite of all KIDS COUNT measures. St. Charles County was second, followed by Platte, Andrew and Worth Counties in northwest Missouri. The City of Saint Louis ranked last in the composite rankings, with McDonald, Sullivan, Ripley, Pemiscot and Dunklin Counties rounding out the bottom five. The state’s two largest counties, Saint Louis County and Jackson County, ranked 15th and 87th respectively.

Data for the report is compiled from more than 80 federal, state, county and municipal sources by the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) at the University of Missouri.  Primary funding for the project is provided by the Chidlren's Trust Fund, the Missouri Foundation for Health, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Molina Healthcare of Missouri, and the St. Louis Mental Health Board.

[View 2009 KIDS COUNT in MO Press Releases by Region]

The Children's Trust Fund (CTF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the availability of child abuse and neglect prevention grant funds for state Fiscal Year 2011 under CTF's general child abuse and neglect prevention grant program. Approximately $350,000 will be available for new (first year) projects.  Additional funds have been set aside for those grantees renewing their projects within the five-year grant cycle. 

An informational seminar for the General Child Abuse Neglect Prevention Program Application will be held Friday, January 15, 2010 from 10 a.m. - 12 noon at the Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Room 492, Jefferson City. [Download FY 2011 CTF General Prevention Grant Application]

[Download Powerpoint Presentation, Pre-bid Meeting 1/15/2010]
[Download Questions/Responses, Pre-bid Meeting 1/15/2010]  

In a separate application process, CTF is soliciting up to two new Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) sites under the CBCAP federal grant program.  An informational seminar for the CBCAP Federal Grant Program Application only will be held Friday, January 22, 2010 10 a.m. - 12 noon at the Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Room 850, Jefferson City.

The CBCAP (federal grant) Program in Missouri is specifically designed to help communities develop a model integrated system for delivering health, family support and social services to children and families in order to improve outcomes, reduce costs, maximize resources, improve efficiency and ultimately reduce the risks of child abuse and neglect. Through incorporating a lead agency concept, each CBCAP site works to develop a more efficient and coordinated way of working with families to reduce duplication of existing services and maximize the resources of public and private providers. Community collaborations and partnerships are encouraged to apply.  [Download Fy2011 CBCAP Grant Application]

[Download Powerpoint Presentation 1, CBCAP Pre-bid Meeting 1/22/2010]
[Download Powerpoint Presentation 2, CBCAP Pre-bid Meeting 1/22/2010] 

For grant specific information and due dates, please refer to the individual grant application.  For questions, please contact CTF Program Coordinator Laura Malzner at (573)751-6511 or laura.malzner@oa.mo.gov.

Bethaney Booth proves one is never too young or too busy to be an advocate for children.  Bethaney, a junior at Odessa High School who participates in multiple sports, recently found time in her busy schedule to raise awareness about the importance of prevention by raising funds for the Children's Trust Fund (CTF).  In December, CTF Board member Rep. Mike McGhee, along with CTF Executive Director Kirk Schreiber visited Odessa High School to meet Bethaney where she presented them with a check for $103. In appreciation of her efforts, Rep McGhee presented Bethaney with the Missouri state flag. We applaud Bethaney, her fellow students and the Odessa High School faculty for their compassion, generosity and caring for others and for their support of CTF.

Pictured from left to right: Beverly Wilburn, Mabeline Woods, Lynette Cruz, Hugh ‘Buddy’ James

Several members of the Family Support Project (FSP), Caruthersville, were recently recognized for their work to support and strengthen families in Pemiscot and Dunklin counties. Recognized were FSP Coordinator Beverly Wilburn, University of Missouri Extension Nutrition Specialist Mabeline Woods, Lynette Cruz, In-School Career Education Program Coordinator, and Re-entry Program Director Hugh "Buddy" James.  FSP is a Community Based-Child Abuse Prevention Program (CBCAP) funded by a federal grant administered by the Missouri Children's Trust Fund.   The CBCAP in Missouri is an evidenced-based model designed to strengthen families with young children by providing coordinated wrap-around family-centered services and support that promotes the safety and well-being of children and reduces parent stress. Integrating the five protective factors proven to strengthen families, the "Missouri model" provides a community network coordinator who works with a larger service provider network to build capacity, organize and deliver services to families in an integrated, strength-based and comprehensive way.  Each eligible family works with a lead agency and the overall provider network to develop and implement a family roadmap for achieving goals.

 [Full story appearing in the Daily Dunklin Democrat]

In addition to Pemiscot and Dunklin counties, the CBCAP program is currently being implemented in Jasper and Newton counties (Joplin) with the intent to expand to two new communities in Fiscal Year 2011.  By sucessfully incorporating this model, the community provider network offers a coordinated and more efficient way of delivering prevention and family support services to the community; reduces the duplication of existing services; maximizes the often strained resources of public and private providers to better serve children and families; increases the social capital of each community and the providers within the community so that they can strengthen and expand their delivery system; and supports and strengthens families including reducing parental stress that can ultimately lead to child abuse and neglect.

CBCAP community sites have and continue to show statistically significant improvement in scores of standardized measures of family risk (Child Abuse Potential Inventory) and distress (Parent Stress Index) among volunteer parent participants. Families also report high levels of satisfaction with the network of services they receive.
 
For additional information about the CBCAP Program, contact CTF Program Coordinator Laura Malzner at (573)751-6511 or laura.malzner@oa.mo.gov.

The award is named after former Missouri House Representative, children's advocate and CTF Board member Laurie Donovan for her efforts to support children and families while serving in the General Assembly from 1983 until 1998.  Previous award recipients include Representative Donovan, Senator Betty Sims, Senator Harold Caskey, Senator Patrick Dougherty, Senator Roseann Bentley, Representative Rachel Storch, and Governor Mel Carnahan (posthumously).

The Children's Trust Fund (CTF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the availability of child abuse and neglect prevention grant funds for state Fiscal Year 2011. CTF will be soliciting both new (first year) projects under its general child abuse and neglect prevention  grant program, as well as adding up to two new CBCAP (Community Based Child Abuse Prevention) sites under the CBCAP federal grant program. Funding will also be available for currently funded projects renewing within the five-year grant cycle. All applications will be available on the CTF website on the date of release.  The timeline for the application process is as follows:

January 8, 2010 – Release of CTF Grant Funding Application for both the CTF general child abuse and neglect prevention program and the CBCAP federal grant program
January 15, 2010 – Pre-bid informational seminar for the General Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Program only.  Location - Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Room 492, Jefferson City.  10 a.m.-12 Noon.
January 22, 2010 - Pre-bid informational seminar for the CBCAP Federal Grant Program. Location - Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Room 850, Jefferson City.  10 a.m.-12 Noon.
March 12, 2010 – Submission deadline for General Prevention proposals
April 9, 2010 – Submission deadline for CBCAP proposals

For questions, please contact CTF Program Coordinator Laura Malzner at (573)751-6511 or laura.malzner@oa.mo.gov. 

During the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) annual fall Board meeting held October 21 and 22, 2009 in Jefferson City, the Board recognized Senator Carl Vogel for his service and contribution to CTF.

In addition, the Board expressed appreciation to Regina Staves, Ph.D., Kansas City, for her service as Board chair over the last two years.  The Board also elected and welcomed Patrice Mugg, Kirkwood, as the new Board chair and Tom Vansaghi, Ph.D., Kansas City, as the new chair elect.  [More]

Board Members Take New Leadership Roles
Patrice Mugg, Kirkwood, was elected chair of the CTF Board of Directors. She has been a member of the Board since 2005 and will serve a two-year term as chair. She is a former teacher certified in special education and has been active over the past years serving the Kirkwood School District, Kirkwood School Foundation, Greentree Community Church, and Missouri Baptist Children's Home. She and her husband are the proud parents of four children. 

"What an exciting challenge and opportunity to serve as the new CTF Board chair." said Mugg.  "My dream is that someday child abuse will only be read about in history books and never again in daily newspapers.  The CTF Board and staff are passionate about keeping children safe, and I am eager to continue CTF’s prevention efforts as chair.  Please join me in advocating for all the children of Missouri!"

Mugg replaces outgoing chair Regina Staves,Ph.D., who is an Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Psychology at Avila University in Kansas City.

Tom Vansaghi, Ph.D. , Kansas City, appointed to the Board by the Governor earlier this year, was elected chair elect and will succeed Mugg as chair in October 2011.  Vansaghi currently is Associate Vice-chancellor of Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas City.

What developmental expectations should I have for my child?  Is my toddler ready to be toilet trained? In what ways can I communicate with my child? Why is a strong bond with my baby so important? How can I help my child learn to make good choices? How should I deal with my child's crying and temper tantrums? Is my baby misbehaving or exploring? What is positive discipline?

Check out these newly developed parenting tips that will provide insight to these questions and many more.  CTF and Parents As Teachers National Center (PATNC) created this information to help everyone better understand and care for babies and young children. The tips are available in electronic format only and focus on:   

• Positive Parenting
• Developing a Strong Relationship with Your Child
• Understanding Discipline & Guidance
• Issues in Development
• Observing & Knowing Your Child
• Development-Language, Motor, Intellectual, Social-Emotional

PATNC professionals have written and presented each topic by age groups: birth-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 24-36 months, young preschooler, older preschooler. Please download and use the parenting tips at your convenience.

The American Humane Association (AHA) recently launched an innovative program based upon the belief that therapy animals can help individuals who have suffered physical or emotional trauma.  The Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK)™ Program, co-created by AHA's Allie Phillips and Diana McQuarrie, encourages and guides child welfare professionals on how to incorporate therapy animals into sessions with children who have been abused or neglected or who have witnessed violence. When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them to speak of their experiences. According to AHA, therapy animals can help children become more open and promote the healing process in such venues as children’s advocacy centers and courtrooms. 

To assist with program implementation, AHA has developed a Program Manual (pdf) that provides guidance for setting up an animal-assisted therapy program and safely working with therapy animals. The manual also covers the legal implications of effectively incorporating therapy animals in working with children.  For more information about the Task Program e-mail task@americanhumane.org.