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The Guernsey County Family and Children First Community Outreach Coordinator, located at Children Services, provides many valuable services to the residents in our county. This position provides education and training on the topics of child abuse and neglect using the HUGS curriculum and Shaken Baby Syndrome Program. Another component to this position is a school intervention piece working in cooperation with county school social workers. Our COEC works with at risk children by providing behavioral interventions.

Program Information: HUGS  |  Shaken Baby Syndrome  |  Safe Haven

For additional information contact:
Jamie Booth - Community Outreach Education Coordinator - 740-439-3945

HUGS - Help Us Grow Safely

The Community Outreach Education Coordinator presents a program describing ways to help prevent child abuse in a public place. The HUGS program was originally developed to train staff at Children's Hospital to assist families in stressful situations (e.g., when waiting for a medical appointment), but its techniques are transferable to any environment and has been brought to Guernsey County. The principles can be applied at a grocery store, in the workplace, in a department store, at a child's school or daycare, at a park or any public place.

Concept
Have you ever been in the grocery store or other public place, and observed a stressful moment between a parent and a child.....one that left you uncomfortable and unsure how to help? You are not alone. 50% of Americans report that they "did nothing" when they saw a potential child abuse situation in public, because they were unsure how to help.

This program is a favorite throughout the community. To date, the HUGS program has trained day care providers, teachers, hospital nurses and volunteers, social workers, YMCA staff, parenting class participants, student and various other community and social service agencies.

Results
In June, HUGS was presented to a parenting class held at NLGH. Every participant of the program learned concrete ways to constructively intervene in a stressful parent/child interaction, and thus reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment. Participants also learned how to make a report of child maltreatment if they suspect abuse or neglect. In August, HUGS posters were posted at Southeast Med, Cambridge Guernsey County Health Department, Guernsey County Children Services, and the Lore City Community Center.

Get Involved
     *Initiate a HUGS training at your place of employment
     *Request HUGS for your place of worship, child's school, or daycare
     *Learn more about parenting and child abuse prevention
     *Be a positive role model for parents and children

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Shaken Baby Syndrome

The Community Outreach Education Coordinator presents a program describing the dangers, implications and alternative measures to the 100 % preventable disorder of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

What is Shaken Baby Syndrome??? It is a group of symptoms from injuries caused by shaking a baby .

What happens when a baby is shaken? A baby's head is larger and heavier than the rest of its body, and until a baby is about two years of age or older, his neck muscles are not strong enough to support his head. Shaking causes the brain to move around within the skull and to become bruised from hitting against bone. The bruising causes swelling, bleeding and pressure in the brain. Blood vessels can rupture and nerves can be permanently damaged.

Why would someone shake a baby? A parent or caregiver may shake a baby out of frustration or anger when trying to stop the baby's crying.

Participants in all SBS programs learn of the dangers and consequences of SBS and also proper techniques for quieting and calming a crying infant

Trainings will also be held at the Childbirth Center at SEORMC. All parents of newborns will take a pre-test, view the "Portrait of Promise" video, take a post-test, discuss any questions with a trained RN and sign a contract agreeing to never, under any circumstances, shake their baby.

Prevention
     *Shaken Baby Syndrome is a preventable form of abuse
     *Studies show that educating parents & caregivers can be effective in reducing the number of SBS cases

For more information or to schedule your group for a training contact:
Jamie Booth - Community Outreach Education Coordinator: 740-439-3945

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Safe Haven

Your baby is counting on you. If you are pregnant and afraid, you need to know that there are safe places for your newborn. There is an alternate to leaving an infant in an unsafe place.

In Ohio, under the Safe Havens for Newborn law, you can leave your unharmed baby, up to three days old, with a medical worker in a hospital, a medical worker at a fire department or other emergency service organization, or a peace officer at a low enforcement agency.

Guernsey County's Safe Haven for Newborns is the Emergency Care Department at Southeastern Med, 1341 Clark Street, Cambridge, Ohio. Don't abandon your baby.

House Bill 660, Deserted Babies Bill
Parents of a newborn, 72 hours or less, may safely deliver a newborn, no questions asked to specified entities with:

     *No threat of criminal liability, unless the child has been injured due to abuse or neglect
     *Aboslute right to remain anonymous

If you need more information, contact Guernsey County Children Services at 740-439-5555 or 1-800-296-3511.

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