Family First 2016

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2 0 1 6 2up

Be like family to a child in need of a mentor

Adrienne & Sam

Mackenzie & Suzzi

Right now, 400 children in Greater Cincinnati are on a list, waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters is working to find volunteers to mentor these kids-to be a friend to a child who needs a positive role model.

Staff members of the agency are available to come to companies and organizations to do a brief presentation for people who may be interested in learning about the importance and impact of mentoring.

For example, 99 percent of children involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati are in school, not pregnant or parenting, and not involved with the juvenile justice system.

Two current Dearborn County residents, and one former Lawrenceburg residents, are trying to do their part to help.

Suzzi Romines,Lawrenceburg, Adrienne Flannery, a Lawrenceburg native now living in Cincinnati, and Nancy Ray of Aurora were honored Sunday, July 17, for their volunteerism during the annual awards day for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati.

Romines was honored with a 30year award for her commitment to seven Little Sisters over three decades.

During her acceptance speech she said, “When I was young, I could have benefited from time with a Big Sister; someone to help with homework, and someone extra to encourage me when I needed it most.”

Romines also recited one of her favorite quotes, “To the world you may only be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.”

Romines is currently matched with 10-year old Mackenzie and they enjoy swimming, playing board games, and participating in Zumba at the Lawrenceburg Community Center.

Adrienne Flannery received the

Brooklyn & Nancy Site-Based Big Sister of the Year award. Although she lives in Cincinnati now, her little sister Sam goes to Greendale Middle School, and Adrienne drives there once a week during the school year to meet with her.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati offers two programs. The community-based program gives bigs and littles an opportunity to experience a wide range of activities all over the Tri-State. This is what you probably think of as the more traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters program with your match meeting a few hours a week for an incredibly fun and bonding experience.

Site-based is a mentoring opportunity for you to meet with a little once a week at their school or Boys & Girls Club to help with homework, play games, share lunch and build a friendship.

Flannery and her little sister enjoy “bedazzling” craft projects and books.

Sam is an aspiring author!

“She is developing the confidence to own who she is, which shows

wisdom beyond her years. I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to be a small part of Sam’s life and watch her become such an amazing individual,” said Flannery.

Nancy Ray was the recipient of the Hall of Fame award. She’s been matched with her little sister, Brooklyn, since 2009. They enjoy going to movies and going out to eat. Ray also encourages Brooklyn’s love of writing and illustrating and even had a book made of her drawings.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati serves over 1,000 matches in the Tri-State now. They could match almost 50 percent more children if volunteers were available to spend a little time with a child each week for at least one year, which is the needed commitment.

Consider starting something big! It would be a great opportunity to create life-changing friendships and impact the community in the area in which you work and live. Contact Kristi Eberhart at 1-513-608-8930 or Eberhart@bigsforkids.org to learn more.

The Dearborn - Ohio County Child Advocate program is looking for volunteers to be the “Voice of A Child”.

Regina Hizer CES Miss Smith ♥

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For more information visit: www.dearborncountycasa.com or call 812.532.3538 Funded through the generosity of the City of Lawrenceburg This ad sponsored by:

You can always...

Rely on Friendship Equal Opportunity Lender

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Every neglected or abused child deserves a voice - someone to speak for them in court. Children have rights; we fight for them.

If you have the time, compassion and a love for children, please consider volunteering.

To find out more, visit us at VoiceOfAChild.net or call 812-537-8741.

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world”

2

FAMILY FIRST 2016

Learn how to cut down screen time No matter where you look, screens are everywhere. The proliferation of easily portable tablets and smartphones means many people, adults and children alike, are never too far from the nearest screen.

While that accessibility has dramatically changed the way many people live their lives, excessive exposure to screen time can produce a host of unwanted side effects.

Steven Gortmaker, a professor of the practice of health sociology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has studied the negative effects of excessive screen time on children since the 1980s.

According to Gortmaker, such effects include higher rates of obesity among kids who watch too much television and difficulty sleeping among youngsters with access to small screens, such as the screens of smartphones.

In addition, a 2012 study published in the journal Psychiatry Research linked screen time with impaired cognitive function in young males.

But adults are not immune to the effects of excessive screen time, either.

Spending significant time

being sedentary and staring at screens can increase adults’ risk for cardiovascular disease.

An Australian study published in the December 2012 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that, compared with persons who watch no television, those who spend a lifetime average of six hours per day watching television can expect to live 4.8 fewer years.

So what can families do to cut back on their screen time? While it likely won’t be easy to put down smartphones and tablets and turn off laptops and televisions, the following are a handful of ways for families to spend less time staring at screens.

■■Remove■televisions■from■ bedrooms.■Parents■may■ find■it■impossible■to■ gauge,■much■less■control,■ how■much■time■their■kids■ spend■watching■television■ when■youngsters■have■ TV’s■in■their■bedrooms.■ Though■this■will■likely■be■ met■with■considerable■resistance,■remove■televisions■from■bedrooms■in■ your■home.■Set■a■positive■ example■for■kids■by■removing■your■own■bedroom■ television■as■well.■Come■ kids’■bedtimes,■make■sure■ all■devices,■including■

smartphones■and■tablets,■ are■left■in■common■areas■ of■the■home■rather■than■ bedrooms■so■kids■are■not■ tempted■to■watch■videos■ instead■of■falling■asleep.

■■Institute■a■“no■screens”■ rule■during■meals.■Many■ parents■grew■up■in■households■that■did■not■allow■ televisions■to■be■on■during■ meals,■and■while■the■times■ might■have■changed■with■ respect■to■the■technology,■ similar■rules■can■still■prevail■today.■A■“no■screens”■ rule■during■meals■gives■ parents■and■their■kids■time■ to■catch■up,■bond■and■foster■stronger■relationships.

■■Do■not■use■the■television■ for■background■noise.■ Turn■the■television■off■ when■it’s■serving■as■just■

background■noise.■If■you■ need■background■noise,■ turn■on■some■music■instead.

■■Log■screen■time.■Logging■screen■time■for■each■ member■of■the■family■can■ provide■an■estimate■of■just■ how■much■time■the■whole■ family■spends■staring■at■ screens.■Encourage■each■ member■of■the■family■to■ spend■as■much■time■being■ physically■active■as■he■or■she■ spends■staring■at■screens.■ Set■goals■for■each■member■ of■the■family■to■reduce■their■ screen■time,■even■rewarding■ those■who■reach■their■goals.

Reducing screen time can improve overall health and help family members reconnect with one another.

Make weeknight meals healthy Households in which both parents work and kids have school and extracurricular commitments can get a little hectic, particularly on weeknights.

Parents who want to prepare nutritious dinners may feel it’s impossible to do so without making elaborate, time-consuming recipes.

But there are ways for busy, time-strapped parents to make sure weeknight dinners are both healthy and simple.

Stock a healthy pantry When grocery shopping, purchase some healthy nonperishable foods that you can rely on in a pinch. Instead of stocking the freezer with unhealthy yet easily prepared frozen foods that are often loaded with saturated fat, stock your pantry with whole grain pastas. Whole grain pastas are lower in calories and higher in fiber and contain more nutrients than refined white pastas. And once water is boiled, whole grain pastas can be prepared in roughly 10 minutes.

Rely on a slow cooker One of the simplest ways to prepare healthy meals that won’t take much time to prepare each night is to use a slow cooker. Set dinner in the slow cooker in the morning before leaving for work, and by the time you arrive home each night you will have a fully prepared, healthy meal ready to be served.

Make meal prep a family affair Families who share the responsibility of making dinner on weeknights may find it easier to prepare healthy meals. Younger children may not be able to join in the preparation of too many dishes, but middle school and high school students can help out by chopping vegetables while their parents work on other parts of the meal. Preparing meals can take as much time, if not more, than cooking meals, so making meal prep a family affair can save a substantial amount of time.

Cook meals in advance Families who are hesitant to use slow cookers may benefit by preparing healthy meals over the weekend and then refrigerating or freezing them so they can be cooked on weeknights. If you plan to freeze meals prepared in advance, remember to remove them from the freezer the night before and place them in the refrigerator so they are thawed out when you arrive home from work to place them in the oven.

of the joys of cooking. But trying new recipes on weeknights can be time-consuming because cooks have yet to grow accustomed to each step in the recipe. When looking for new weeknight recipes, look for meals that can be prepared in five steps or less, leaving the more complicated recipes for weekend meals.

Choose simple recipes Trying new recipes is one

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Find more time for your family

Balancing professional responsibilities with commitments at home is challenging for many working parents, the majority of whom admit to feeling stressed about juggling work and family life.

A 2013 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of working mothers and 50 percent of working fathers find it difficult to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.

While the same survey found that only 23 percent of mothers feel they spend too little time with their children, those figures doubled for fathers.

Finding more time for family can seem impossible, especially as children get older and get more involved in school and extracurricular activities.

Kids growing up and getting more active in school and in their social lives tends to coincide with parents advancing in their careers and taking on more responsibilities at work.

But no matter how hectic family schedules become, parents and kids can work together to find more time for each other.

Commit to nightly family dinners Family dinners do more than just ensure kids are eating healthy meals each night.

In its “The Importance of Family Dinners VIII” report, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that, compared to teens who have fewer than three family dinners per week, teens who ate dinner with their families five or more times per week were one a half times more likely to say their parents knew a great deal or a fair amount about what’s really going on in their lives.

The report also found teens who say their parents know very little or nothing at all about their lives were one and

a half times more likely to have used marijuana and one and a half times more likely to have used alcohol than teens who said their parents know a great deal or a fair amount about their lives.

Nightly family dinners need not include elaborate meals, but parents who find time to have dinner with their children at least five nights per week may end up knowing their kids better and helping their kids avoid risky behaviors.

Inquire with your employer about telecommuting Telecommuting can be very family-friendly, allowing parents to cut out potentially lengthy commutes and spend more time with their children as a result.

George Washington University in Washington, D.C. cites encouraging a better work-life balance for its employees in support of its telecommuting policy.

The university notes that employees who have a better balance between their personal and professional lives may benefit from reduced stress and stronger overall health, which benefits the university by reducing healthcare costs.

Parents who want to find more time for their families should inquire about telecommuting. Even if it’s just one or two days a week, the benefits can be considerable for both employee and employer.

Move closer to work Commuting consumes a considerable amount of time.

In its 2015 ThankYou Premier Commuter Index, Citi found that the average commute in the United States is 45 minutes, and that those commutes cost workers nearly $2,600 per year.

By moving closer to their offices, workers can create more time for their families and potentially save themselves considerable amounts of money.

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

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Stronger families, make stronger communities and safer children Denise Freitag Burdette Assistant Editor

newsroom@registerpublications.com

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Dearborn and Ohio counties council of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.

It also has bee the toughest, said event coordinator Suzzi Romines.

The loss of two key board members has left the council struggling, but she hopes the community is ready to step up and keep the local council thriving.

Romines made the plea during a community forum about Prevent Child Abuse Wednesday, July 13, at the Lawrenceburg Public Library.

The speaker for the event was Sandy Runkle, director of programs for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, who gave an overview of the organization’s mission.

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana is a division of The Villages of Indiana. Unlike other organizations that deal with the aftermath of abuse, this organization is focused on the prevention, she said.

Each state has its own Prevent Child Abuse chapter with councils throughout each

state. In Indiana 42 council represent 44 counties, said Runkle.

The state chapter does not dictate what the councils such do, as long has efforts are focused on prevention.

The local council know their communities best, she said.

Child abuse can spring out of witnessing domestic abuse, neglect and too often recently from drug addiction- a problem that is “almost to a boiling point in the State of Indiana,” said Runkle.

From the foundation of prevent, the organization also has branched out to other programs, such as safe sleep and firearms safety, to do whatever possible to keep children safe, she said.

“What small things can we do to make a big impact on the life of a child?,” asked Runkle.

Many people feel like they do not have any control, no

power to prevent child abuse. But each person can help play a role in prevention, she said.

A lot of people think they have to wait until something bad happens, she said.

For example, if someone saw a child floating down a stream, they would go in and save them. Then if another came along they would go in and save that child. But after awhile, someone needs to go up stream and find out how to prevent these children from falling into the stream in the first pace, said Runkle.

Well-functioning family often has a lot of helpers. You can be one of those helpers but simply giving a compliment to a parent in a grocery store, she said.

There is a lot at stake. Adverse childhood experiences have shown to have toxic results in the braid of a child later in life, she said.

Help the Dearborn and Ohio councils of Prevent Child Abuse make a difference in the lives of children. Signature events of the local council include Movies with Mom, Bowling with Dad, Games with Grandparents, in-school workshops and bookmark contests have been offered to remind children of how important they are to this world.

Prevent Child Abuse is in need of more professionals, parents, older students, grandparents and organizational leaders to get involved. There is a need for grant writing, manning booths, activity planning, newsletter coordination, marketing a more.

Meetings are held from noon to 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at SIEOC in Aurora unless otherwise noted. The upcoming dates are Aug. 11, Sept. 1, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

For more information contact Romines at 1-513-260-5252 or email suzziromines2gamil.com. Friend the organization of Facebook for up-to-date announcements, events and activities.

How kids can help out more around the house

Dual-income households have become the norm, replacing households in which only one parent works.

In an analysis of the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample files, the Pew Research Center found that 60 percent of married couples with children under 18 lived in dual-income households in 2012.

That’s nearly double the amount of households where only fathers worked, and 10 times the number of households where only mothers worked.

While there are many financial benefits to dual-income households, managing a household in which both parents work full-time can be difficult.

Parents who both work full-time have less time to maintain their homes, and few may have the energy to keep up with the chores and cook dinner each night. Involving the kids with helping out around the house can be a great way for parents to instill

a sense of responsibility in their youngsters while also taking some of the burden off Mom and Dad. How much kids can help out around the house depends on there ages. The following are a few age-specific chores kids can do to make life at home a little easier on their parents.

Toddlers Toddlers and preschoolaged children might not be able to do too much to lighten their parents’ loads, but simple chores like cleaning up their play areas can make things easier. Make kids responsible for putting their toys away after play time.

Kids between the ages of two and three also can help set the table for dinner by laying out placemats, but make sure such youngsters steer clear of utensils.

4- to 5-year-olds Children finishing up preschool and those currently enrolled in kindergarten can pitch in a little more around

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the house than they did as toddlers, setting the table for meals (prevent kids from accessing sharp utensils like steak knives) and even helping with some simple meal prep. Such youngsters can put their folded laundry away and clean their rooms as well.

6- to 9-year-olds First, second, third and fourth graders are old enough to be given more significant chores than they had when they were younger. Kids between the ages of six and nine can be trusted to feed the pets, though parents should teach them the appropriate times to feed pets each day and the correct amount of food to place in bowls so pets don’t overeat. Kids in this age group also can rake leaves and water plants around the house after being taught how to properly water each plant.

Folding laundry, dusting furniture and bookshelves and taking out the garbage are a few more tasks kids between the ages of six and nine

should be able to handle.

Children 10 and older Kids who are 10 and older can help out in ways that can make parents’ lives much easier. Such youngsters can clean bathrooms, do laundry, vacuum the floors, and load and unload the dishwasher. Such chores are time-consuming and complex, and parents

may want to give older kids allowances or increase their allowances to show their appreciation.

Adolescents Adolescents can be trusted to make simple meals and babysit their younger siblings, saving parents time and money. If adolescents babysit, consider paying them for their

time even if they already receive an allowance.

When giving kids additional responsibilities around the house, parents should realize that kids won’t always be perfect when doing their chores.

Resist the temptation to do chores for them, and praise and encourage kids when they do things right.

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

Are My Aging Parents Safe at Home?

Donna Davidson

“I’m really worried about mom. She had another fall last week. I’m concerned that next time it will be a broken hip we’re dealing with.”

“Dad seems to be forgetting things a lot recently. He asked me the same question three times while I was visiting on Saturday. And he looked like he hadn’t bathed or shaved all week.”

“I’m pretty sure my parents need more help at home, but I don’t even know where to begin.”

Have you found yourself in the midst of conversations like this? You suspect that your aging parents are having more difficulty managing at home and you want to help them maintain their dignity and independence, but you are struggling with how to offer assistance and find resources to help them.

As parents get older and begin to notice limitations caused by aging, illness, or accidents, independence takes on a different meaning. If their sight, hearing, mobility or mental function has been affected, it can be challenging to find alternate ways to stay independent and maintain their lives the way they always have. In these instances, family members find themselves in the position of deciding how to provide the best care for their parents. As a family member, there are things you can do to help your aging parents maintain independence at home for as long as they can.

First, address the fall risks in the home, room by room. You both may be so accustomed to the layout of their home that you don’t initially notice the risks. Second, have your parents perform activities of daily living that can enlighten you to what their physical and mental capabilities are in day-to-day tasks. Be prepared for some push back, particularly if they are resistant to you stepping in and “taking over.” When you kindly, but openly, approach these concerns, it gives you a great opportunity to work together to identify risks and solutions.

Remember that your aging parents also feel the stress of their declining abilities. Loss of independence can be extremely frustrating to a person who has been in control of their daily lives for decades.

Observing tasks and ask questions

Utilizing the “Show Me” Checklist provides you with an outlined way to assess how your aging parents are doing with routine daily activities and can help determine if in-home assistance may be needed.

When walking through the checklist, here are some additional questions to consider as you watch your parents perform the tasks.

1. Are your parents able to take care of themselves?

Pay attention to your parents’ appearance. Failure to keep up with daily routines - such as bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate dementia, depression or physical impairments. Also, pay attention to their home. Are the lights working? Is the heat on?

Is the yard overgrown? Any changes in the way your parents do things around the house could provide clues to their health. For example, scorched pots could mean your parents are forgetting about food cooking on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression, dementia or other physical concerns.

2. Are your parents experiencing memory loss?

Everyone forgets things from time to time. Modest memory problems are a fairly common part of aging, and sometimes medication side effects or underlying conditions contribute to memory loss.

There’s a difference, though, between normal changes in memory and the type of memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Are your parents’ memory changes limited to misplaced glasses or an occasionally forgotten appointment? Or are the changes more concerning, such as forgetting

Donna Davidson common words when speaking, getting lost in familiar neighborhoods or being unable to follow directions?

3. Are your parents safe in their home?

Take a look around your parents’ home, keeping an eye out for any red flags. Do your parents have difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Are floor surfaces slippery or uneven? Has either parent fallen recently? Are frequently used items within reach? Are they able to read directions on medication containers? When asked, do your parents say they feel safe at home? Are the steps even and balanced, not crumbling and not too high? Is the floor free of trip hazards? Are walkways well lit, especially for nighttime walks to the bathroom?

4. Are your parents losing weight?

Losing weight without trying could be a sign that something is wrong. Weight loss could be related to many factors and give you insight into other problems. They may have difficulty cooking - your parents could be having trouble finding the energy to cook, grasping the tools necessary to cook, or reading labels or directions on food products. They could be experiencing a loss of taste or smell - your parents might not be interested in eating if food doesn’t taste or smell as good as it used to. Weight loss may reveal underlying conditions - sometimes weight loss indicates a serious underlying condition, such as malnutrition, dementia, depression or cancer.

5. Are your parents able to get around?

Pay attention to how your parents are walking. Are they reluctant or unable to walk usual distances? Have they fallen recently? Is knee or hip arthritis making it difficult to get around the house? Can they negotiate up/down stairs?

Could they exit the home in case of an emergency? Would either parent benefit from a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle weakness and joint pain can make it difficult to move around as well. If your parents are unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk of falling — a major cause of disability among older adults.

Taking Action

There are many steps you can take to ensure your parents’ health and well-being. For example: Share your concerns with your parents Talk to your parents. Your concern might motivate them to see a doctor or make other changes. Consider including other people who care about your parents in the conversa-

tion, such as other loved ones, close friends or clergy. Remind your parents that they aren’t alone in this process and the whole reason for this conversation is because you love them and care about their future and safety.

Encourage regular medical checkups.

If you’re worried about a parent’s weight loss, depressed mood, memory loss or other signs and symptoms, encourage your parent to schedule a doctor’s visit. You might offer to schedule the visit and accompany your parent to the doctor. Ask about follow-up visits and treatment plan.

Address safety issues Point out any potential safety issues to your parents — then make a plan to address the problems. For example, your parents might benefit from moving frequently used items in the kitchen to lower shelves.

A higher toilet seat or handrails in the bathroom might help prevent falls. Scheduling a repairman to fix the uneven front porch steps could prevent an injury. Eliminating throw rugs could prevent tripping.

Consider home care services If your parents are having trouble taking care of themselves, you could hire someone to clean the house and run errands. A home health care aide could help your parents with daily activities, such as bathing and dressing, providing you with peace of mind, knowing that they are being helped and decreasing their chances of getting injured. An attendant could spend time with your parent to ensure their safety when you are unable to be present with them.

Pursue skilled therapy services Often times, there are strategies and equipment that can be put in place to help your loved one succeed at home. One of the best means to achieving a safer home environment and ensuring your parents are functioning to their best potential is to receive in –home therapy services. This way, a trained professional can assess your parents’ physical and cognitive abilities, as well as the home environment. Specific recommendations for treatment, exercise programs, assistive devices or home modifications can then be made. This can allow your loved ones to decrease their fall risk, improve their strength, and continue aging in place in their own home. You can contact a local home health agency or your parents’ physician’s office to see if home health services are appropriate for their needs.

■■Physical■Therapy■–■can■evaluate■your■parents’■muscle■ strength,■coordination,■balance■ and■gait.■■A■physical■therapist■ can■help■determine■an■appropriate■home■exercise■program,■ treat■balance■problems■and■recommend■the■appropriate■ambulation■device■to■maximize■ your■parent’s■mobility■and■reduce■fall■risk.

■■Occupational■Therapy■–■can■ evaluate■your■parents’■ability■to■ perform■activities■of■daily■living■ –■such■as■bathing,■dressing,■ grooming,■feeding,■cooking,■ and■homemaking■–■taking■into■ account■the■cognitive■and■ physical■abilities■needed■to■per-

form■these■tasks.■■An■occupational■therapist■can■make■recommendations■regarding■adaptive■equipment■to■help■your■ parent■perform■daily■tasks■ more■independently.■■ ■■Speech■Therapy■–■can■evaluate■your■parents’■speech,■cognitive■and■swallowing■abilities.■■ A■speech-language■pathologist■ can■help■your■parent■improve■ or■compensate■for■communication■difficulties,■teach■them■ strategies■for■safe■swallowing■ and■facilitate■cognitive■functioning.■■ ■■Skilled■Nursing■–■can■provide■ assessment,■monitoring■and■ teaching■on■various■medical■diagnoses,■medications■and■IV■ treatments.■Nursing■can■communicate■with■your■parents’■ physician■regarding■medical■ concerns,■changes■of■signs■and■ symptoms,■and■progress■in■recovery.■ Contact the doctor for guidance If your parents dismiss your concerns, consider contacting the doctor directly. Your insights can help the doctor understand what to look for during upcoming visits. Keep in mind that the doctor might need to verify that he or she has permission to speak with you about your parents’ care, which might include a signed form or waiver from your parents.

Seek help from local agencies Your local agency on aging can connect you with services in your parents’ area. For example, the county in which your parents live might have

case managers who can evaluate your parents’ needs and connect them with additional resources. The local agency serving Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland and Jefferson Counties is Lifetime Resources, located in Dillsboro. Their contact information by website is www.lifetime-resources.org or by telephone at 1-812-4326200.

In Franklin County, the local agency is Area 9 In-Home & Community Services and can be contacted by website at www.iue.edu/area9 or by telephone at 1-765-647-1795.

Sometimes parents won’t

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admit they need help and others don’t realize they need it. That’s where you come in. Make sure your parents understand the problem and your proposed solution. Remind your parents that you care about them and that you want to help promote their health and well-being, both today and in the years to come. Aging gracefully is preferable, but aging safely is essential.

Donna Davidson is an occupational therapist and community liaison for Caring First Home Health.

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

5

T E ME Artists THE

4th graders at Aurora Elementary, Bright Elementary, Central Elementary, Ohio County Elementary - Middle School, and St. John’s in Harrison supplied the artwork for some of the ads in this section! Look for photos of each class on the next few pages!

Central Elementary

•

Kiersten Smith

Willy M. Schaub Central Elementary Miss Smith

RJ Acey Aurora elementary Mr. Rogers

Matthew Bujak Aurora elementary Mr. Rogers

Avery Wuestefeld Aurora elementary Mrs. Caudill

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

T E E M Artists THE

Aurora Elementary

Bright Elementary

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Nina Litchfield

Carla Daugherty

Kaylee Thies Aurora elementary Mrs. Caudill

Nolan McLane Aurora elementary Mrs. Hart

Alanna Miller OCEMS DiMuzio-Cole

Hunter Gates Aurora Elementary Mrs. Hart

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

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T E E M Artists THE

OCEMS

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LYNNE DIMUZIO

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Lucy Chenault Bright elementary Mrs. Daugherty ♥

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STACIE COMBS

Jordan Wert Bright elementary Mrs. Daugherty ♥

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FAMILY FIRST 2016

Our kids are not for sale Nominations open for youth Child sex trafficking is a hidden but persistent form of child abuse in Indiana and nationwide. Recent incidents involving the sexual exploitation of children have been reported in Lafayette, Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Muncie. While awareness and prosecution rates are rising, the young victims of this horrific crime need our support and assistance. To help prevent these crimes, we must better understand how Indiana children are being exploited, as well as the responsibility and resources available to help us take action when we suspect a child is in danger.

The commercial sexual exploitation of children happens when someone buys, sells or trades something for sexual acts involving minors. This may include selling a child for sex acts, child pornography, or sexually explicit videos or pictures. Survival sex, another form of this crime, preys on runaway teens by promising them food, clothing or shelter in exchange for sex acts.

It’s difficult for many of us to understand why child sex trafficking ever happens. Some reasons include money, power, customer demand and the persistence of underreporting.

The recruiter – also known as the trafficker, abuser and/or pimp – typically profits from the exchange.

While child sex crimes are reported as occurring on the street, in homes and through businesses such as escort services and some massage parlors, more cases are being facilitated through social media and the internet. This technology has removed some of the geographic barriers.

Melissa Snow, a child sex trafficking expert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, says the change enables traffickers to “literally throw hundreds of

lines in the water” and not person’s insecurities. be limited only to those Tragically, it’s also not un“they can recruit at their common for victims to be local mall or bus stop.” exposed to trafficking by Teens are specifically their families. Robin Dontargeted because they are aldson of the Indiana Youth more easily inServices Associafluenced, less tion says a large experienced and share of traffickmore vulnerers in Indiana are able. Victims are family members, often runaways specifically paror homeless, ents. This is seen have likely exmost often as a perienced prior consequence of abuse or vioa heroin or meth lence, and may addiction, when lack confidence Tami Silverman parents might reor struggle to fit sort to trafficking in with peers. As their children as a with many youth-related way to secure more drugs. issues, teachers may be a Every adult Hoosier is a first line of defense. To legally mandated reporter help schools identify po- of child abuse and neglect. tential victims, the U.S. You can call 1-800-800Department of Education 5556 to file a report. In outlines indicators includ- addition to reporting susing students who lack con- pected cases, we can all trol over their schedule, address this crime through have unexplained absenc- sharing accurate informaes, show bruises or signs tion, prevention strategies of physical trauma, and and victim resources. We have seemingly rehearsed must educate kids about answers to questions. the potential risks of sharThis heightened aware- ing too much information ness means more cases of on social media. Parents child sex trafficking are need to actively monitor being identified and pros- their child’s online activity. ecuted. Media attention on If you recognize a child in these cases has also in- urgent need of assistance, creased. Experts note that contact police or Child Prothe increased coverage has tective Services. For more positive and negative im- assistance and information pacts. One upside is the on human trafficking, call number of people and orga- the National Human Trafnizations now involved in ficking Resource Center awareness and prevention at-1-888-373-7888 or the efforts. However, movies National Center for Missand TV shows often por- ing & Exploited Children tray an unrealistic picture at 1-800-THE-LOST (1of trafficking that focuses 800-843-5678). on dramatic kidnappings.

By talking to our chilAubrey Lloyd, a traffick- dren, raising awareness, ing survivor and victim expanding resources, supadvocate with Uncaged porting the victims and Ministries, reports that reporting abuse, we can less than one in ten child make it clear that our kids sex trafficking cases in- are not for sale. volve kidnapping. She says Tami Silverman is the in most cases -- including president and CEO of the her own -- it starts with Indiana Youth Institute. someone building an in- She may be reached at tense relationship with the iyi@iyi.org or on Twitter child, investing significant at @Tami_IYI amounts of time focused on exploiting the young

Rachel Schwing OCEMS DiMuzio-Cole ♥

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worker of the year award

Indiana’s youth workers make lifelong investments in the futures of young people across the state. But often times, their jobs can be thankless and difficult. That’s why the Indiana Youth Institute is opening nominations for its annual award to honor one youth worker’s service and commitment to Hoosier children.

The “D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year” award will honor one exceptional youth worker every year by providing: ■■A $2,500 cash prize to be used toward the winner’s professional development.

■■Free registration and travel accommodations for two to IYI’s 2016 Because KIDS COUNT Conference (BKCC), Nov. 29 and 30 in Indianapolis.

With more than 10,000 youth workers in Indiana, choosing just one will pose a challenge, said Tami Silverman, CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute.

“Youth workers are dedicated individuals who give of themselves to help shape the lives of the young people with whom they work. The award not only will recognize the recipient’s selfless commitment, it also will provide a way for that person to gain more knowledge or skills and make an even greater impact on Indiana’s youth,” said Silverman.

The nomination process may be initiated by either the nominator or the nominee, but all forms and information must be submitted

together.

■■Nominees must be committed direct-service youth workers who have at least five years of distinctive achievement in service of Indiana youth ■■Nominees must complete a form explaining the professional development they will seek with the monetary award.

■■Award applications are due on August 15 and are available online at www.iyi.org/dswaward.

■■The winner will be notified on October 3 and will be recognized at IYI’s 2016 BKCC in November.

Online registration for BKCC is now open.

The early-bird cost to attend is $150 for Indiana residents who sign up by Sept. 9.

In addition, attendees may now take advantage of one-day rates that start at $85 for those who register by Sept. 9. Additional registration and pricing details can be found at www.iyi.org/ conference.

Funding for the award comes from the D. Susan Wisely Leadership Legacy Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

Those wishing to contribute to the fund may do so online at www.cicf.org, by mail or in person at 614 North Alabama Street, Suite 119, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of Indiana children and youth by serving the people, institutions and communities that impact their well-being.

Matthew Hildebrand Central elementary Miss Smith ♥

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Luke Klare St. John The Baptist Mrs. Combs ♥

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