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October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month, a month devoted to bringing awareness to safe sleeping practices for infants and babies. For many of us, going to bed is a time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. It is common for new parents to struggle with a sleep routine for their children, so make sure your babies are safe and relaxed at bedtime. Hands of a newborn baby on mother's fingers.

The ABCs of safe sleep is a simple acronym that stands for: Alone, on their Back, and in their own Crib. It was created to help parents remember the most important practices for ensuring a safe sleeping environment for their child.

It can be easy to follow the same routine you have seen your family members use to put babies to bed. While your mother, father, aunt, cousin, or other relative may have treated bedtime differently, we now know more about how to keep sleeping babies safe. We are trying to stop the spread of misinformation about infant sleep methods.

Several myths exist surrounding safe sleep practices with infants, including the safety of co-sleeping and which baby sleep products are OK to use. Co-sleeping and products like crib bumpers and inclined sleepers are very dangerous and can cause suffocation for infants. These practices and products should never be used.

There are many new laws that have been put in place to save babies’ lives. Last year, the “Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021” was signed into law, which prohibits the manufacture and sale of crib bumpers and inclined sleepers for infants. Some products included in this law are padded crib bumpers, supported or unsupported vinyl bumper guards, vertical crib slat covers, and inclined sleepers marketed or intended for infants.

The safest way for infants to sleep is in a crib that is free of blankets, pillows, loose sheets, and toys. Their crib should be in the same room as the parents for at least the first year of their life. Their crib mattress should be firm and flat. Remember that it is not safe to smoke in the room that the baby sleeps in.www.preventchildabusefl.org.

Suffocation and strangulation in an adult bed is the leading cause of injury-related death for Florida infants under the age of 1. The only way to protect your baby from the risk of suffocation or strangulation while sleeping is to follow the ABCs of safe sleep. Parents should use this technique every time their baby sleeps and inform anyone who cares for the child of this practicewww.healthyfamiliesfla.org.

At Prevent Child Abuse Florida, one of our primary campaigns is safe sleep, and we strive to provide families with information and resources so babies can be safe and healthy during sleep time. If you would like to request free safe sleep brochures or other resources, visit PreventChildAbuseFL.org.

Each time you put your baby to sleep, remember your ABCs

Last month, you may have noticed blue and silver pinwheels in your community in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Local landmarks like the Acosta Bridge, Wolfson Children's Hospital, the Florida Blue building and Daily's Place were illuminated in bright blue in honor of the occasion.

While April is over, it’s important for us to keep the spirit of healthy, safe and happy childhoods going throughout the year.

Working in child welfare for more than 30 years, I’ve seen families dealing with very difficult circumstances, but I’ve also met many inspiring people, and one thing stands out: everyone CAN play a role in protecting children and preventing abuse.

Every spring, we work with partners across the state to support their local Pinwheels for Prevention events. These groups see that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect children when they are young but also that these effects can last into adulthood. ACEs include abuse, neglect, and living with a parent who’s struggling with addiction or mental illness. Children who experience these issues often face psychological and physical health challenges later in life, like heart disease, diabetes, depression or substance abuse.

The good news, though, is just as it only takes a little wind to make those pinwheels spin, it only takes a small amount of effort from each of us to make a big difference in the life of a child. One caring adult CAN make a difference in the trajectory of a child’s life.

Caring for a child can feel overwhelming for any parent. At Prevent Child Abuse Florida, we offer resources like our Positive Parenting Guide and Circle of Parents peer support groups. We also offer safe infant sleep materials, tips for bonding with your baby, how to cope with crying and other tools to help parents, all of which can be found at www.preventchildabusefl.org.

Another program that we highlight throughout the year is the nationally accredited, evidence-based home visiting program Healthy Families Florida. Parents can learn more and find their local site’s contact information at www.healthyfamiliesfla.org.

Even though Child Abuse Prevention Month is over, please continue to notice when parents or children are stressed and consider how you could lend a helping hand. Maybe it’s keeping kids busy while a parent does household chores or grocery shopping. Maybe it’s bringing new parents a meal, encouraging an expectant mother to look into the Healthy Families program in her area or leading a peer support group like Circle of Parents. Each one of these efforts contributes to lowering stress and provides more opportunities for positive experiences between children and their families.

William Douglas Sessions Jr. has been a fierce advocate for countless important issues impacting Florida's children and families. For his tireless dedication to improving their lives, Sessions has been named the 2022 recipient of the Chiles Advocacy Award, presented by Children's Week Florida and administered by The Children's Forum.

Sessions will receive the award on Monday, January 31, at the Children's Week Florida Advocacy Dinner and Awards Ceremony. This annual tradition honors individuals who have dedicated an extensive amount of time and efforts working to advocate for statewide issues affecting the status and well-being of children, youth, and families.

As President and CEO of The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, Sessions has raised funds to support underserved and vulnerable children and young mothers, protected and leveraged those investments, and tirelessly called on state leaders to recognize that the wisest money spent is on prevention. His advocacy efforts resulted in an additional $42 million for The Ounce and the establishment of Healthy Families Florida, the state's largest evidence-based home visiting program that has proven to keep families together and out of the child welfare system.

The Tampa Bay Times' recent special report "Did These Parents Accidentally Suffocate Their Children? Or Did a Mysterious Ailment Cause Them To Die?" shines a spotlight on a heartbreaking reality. Death related to unsafe sleep conditions is the number one preventable cause of death in Florida infants under age one. In 2019, 44 infant deaths in Florida were designated as "sleep related" and 38 were attributed to SIDS/SUID..

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and its partners work tirelessly to educate parents and caregivers on the best ways to keep baby safe during times of sleep. Home visiting programs, such as Healthy Families Florida (HFF), play a critical role in ensuring parents have the knowledge and support they need to make the best decisions for their babies. HFF works to prevent these tragic deaths by offering one-on-one coaching and support to new and expectant parents.

HFF support workers help parents learn the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for safe sleep: babies should sleep alone, on their back, in a crib or bassinette placed in their parents' room for the first year of life. The crib or bassinette should contain only a firm mattress that fits snugly inside and is covered with an appropriately sized fitted sheet. Additionally, parents and caregivers can create a safe sleep environment by avoiding exposure to smoke, alcohol and illicit drugs, maintaining a comfortable temperature to avoid overheating, practicing breastfeeding, adhering to a routine immunization schedule and offering baby a pacifier.

These guidelines are based on decades-long research into sleep-related infant deaths. Though the recommendations have gone largely unchanged since the mid-90s, many new parents remain confused about safe sleep. Others know what they "should" do, but don't choose safe sleep every time baby sleeps.

HFF is a free, voluntary parent coaching and support program that provides weekly home visits to new and expecting parents. The program is available to families in every Florida county. Safe sleep is emphasized and reinforced before baby arrives, after baby comes home and at every developmental stage. Families are supported with literature, curriculum and role play. In cases where families do not have a crib or bassinette, HFF can engage community partners to help the family get the items they need.

The Ounce of Prevention Fund also supports Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, in the distribution of safe sleep literature. The materials are available free of charge to direct-care providers. In October 2019, PCA Florida circulated 39,000 brochures and other printed materials to educate parents about safe sleep.

You can help ensure babies sleep safely. Connect families you know to a HFF program near you at www.healthyfamiliesfla.org, provide families with reliable information about safe sleep by visiting www.ounce.org/safe_sleep.aspx, or donate to the Ounce of Prevention Fund to support parent education to prevent sleep-related deaths.

Each April, Florida observes Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this time, many communities throughout the state participate in the national Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. This year more than 50,000 pinwheels were planted from Pensacola to Key West and all points in between. Dozens of community events have been held to help remind Floridians that all children deserve to grow up in a nurturing, loving environment.

Florida was the first to use the blue and silver pinwheel as a symbol of the carefree childhood we want each child to have. Every pinwheel planted in our communities during this month is an opportunity to share a message of hope, health and safety for our children.

Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Department of Children and Families are proud to join together with many other organizations in the state working hard each day to stop abuse and neglect. Stopping abuse before it begins is critical to the health of our state because it saves lives and it saves money.

Trauma in childhood, also called "Adverse Childhood Experiences", can cause lifelong physical and behavioral health effects. Children are more at risk for experiencing this when their parents are stressed, socially isolated, and lack adequate health care and basic necessities. These experiences make the child more likely to suffer negative physical and psychological consequences. As the child carries these issues into adulthood, society is impacted through lost work time, higher health care costs, increased incarceration rates and poor mental health outcomes. Our businesses and service organizations feel the effects too but, thankfully, we have an antidote.

Research tells us that strong connections to supportive, nurturing adults in our lives, especially when we are young, can buffer the ill effects of these traumatic experiences. Every Floridian has the ability to be that one meaningful person in the life of a child. In fact, many of you already are and I commend you.

As we wrap up Child Abuse Prevention month, we ask all Floridians to commit to doing the types of activities you already enjoy in order to help children thrive. If you enjoy volunteering at a school, please do it more! If you like the feeling you get when you donate goods, services, money or time to an organization that supports children and families, please do it more! If you enjoy coaching a team or working with youth in your community please do it more! Making connections with children through these actions help make your community, and the families within it, more resilient.

We have an individual and collective responsibility to ensure Florida’s children grow up healthy, safe and happy. If we all take simple actions to help, our children and families will be stronger for generations to come.

First Lady Ann Scott hosted a group of students, child advocates, and local and state leaders to kick off the statewide Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month. First Lady Scott, Prevent Child Abuse Florida and guests planted a pinwheel garden on the Governor's Mansion lawn in support of the annual awareness campaign.

First Lady Ann Scott said, "Children are our state's most important asset. We must do everything we can to help them grow up feeling safe and loved. I encourage all Floridians to participate in activities that make families and communities stronger."

We must invest in programs and resources that help ensure Florida's children have the best chance for healthy development and a happy childhood. Prevention services are less costly to individuals and to society than trying to fix a child who has been traumatized. Prevention saves lives, saves money and strengthens families.

Pinwheels for Prevention is part of a national movement to change the way people think about prevention. Florida’s campaign emphasizes the importance of learning about healthy child development, reinforcing positive parenting practices and taking action to support children and families in our communities. The blue and silver pinwheels represent the safe, happy and healthy childhoods we want for all children. The campaign is sponsored by the Florida Department of Children and Families in partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, Prevent Child Abuse Florida and numerous partners throughout the state.

During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Floridians are urged take simple steps to prevent child abuse and neglect:
• Notice children and families in distress.
• Offer a helping hand.
• Give an hour of your time to help children and families.
• Connect a family with resources.
• Talk about healthy child development.

"The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign reminds us of our responsibility to put children first. When communities create protective factors for families, we build environments that help keep children healthy and safe. When you see pinwheels planted in your community throughout Florida, remember that children need you to take action to prevent child abuse and neglect," said Chris Lolley, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Florida.

6:43 pm EDT April 17, 2016

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to focus on Florida's children and acknowledge our role in creating communities where children can not only thrive, but excel. When we fail to provide much needed resources, children are at increased risk of abuse and neglect, which inhibits healthy brain development and can result in learning and behavioral problems and long term physical and mental illness.

We must invest in programs and resources that help ensure Florida's children have the best chance for healthy development and a happy childhood. Prevention services are less costly to individuals and to society than trying to fix a child who has been traumatized. Prevention saves lives, saves money and strengthens families.

Simple, everyday actions can promote the health and well being of every child in our community. Donating to children's causes, participating in youth focused organizations and supporting family, friends or neighbors who are under stress all help families prosper. When we take responsibility for creating healthy environments for our children, we lay the foundation for long term prosperity.

We must invest in programs and resources that help ensure Florida's children have the best chance for healthy development and a happy childhood. Prevention services are less costly to individuals and to society than trying to fix a child who has been traumatized. Prevention saves lives, saves money and strengthens families.

Simple, everyday actions can promote the health and well being of every child in our community. Donating to children s causes, participating in youth focused organizations and supporting family, friends or neighbors who are under stress all help families prosper. When we take responsibility for creating healthy environments for our children, we lay the foundation for long term prosperity.

Programs and strategies like home visiting, parent education, support groups, mental health services, sexual abuse prevention, substance abuse treatment and expanding the availability of affordable child care all play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. We each have a moral and civic obligation to ensure these programs are available to families and children who need them.

During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families spearhead the statewide Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. More than 70,000 blue and silver pinwheels will cover lawns at businesses, schools, churches and public offices across Florida. The pinwheel is a whimsical childhood toy that reminds us of our ongoing responsibility to ensure that every child has the equal opportunity for healthy growth and development and a great childhood. The campaign focuses on community activities and public policies that prioritize healthy child development before abuse and neglect ever begin.

When you see blue and silver pinwheels spinning in our community, consider actions you can take to ensure families succeed. Support community programs, talk to your legislator or lend a hand to a family in need. You have the power to make a difference in the life of a child.

Fred Baggett is managing partner and a shareholder of Greenberg, Traurig. He is co-founder and treasurer of The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida.

11:05 a.m. CDT May 19, 2016

As executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Florida, I ve been honored to attend Child Abuse Prevention Month observances throughout the state in April.

In reflection, I'd like to share some prevention and early intervention lessons I've learned while visiting Florida s communities during our 2016 Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.

Prevention of child abuse is a local issue

For years now, we ve recognized the importance of community ownership in keeping children safe and healthy. However, when we "drill down" to the next level, we cannot deny that the most critical prevention work happens in neighborhoods and homes. "Abuela," as she asked me to call her, described her struggles in persuading young parents in her neighborhood to reject previously held beliefs about raising children and get them to reach out for help when needed. Abuela suggested many parents fall into the generational trap of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, harsh discipline strategies and criminal behavior. Abuela is just one of thousands of concerned Floridians sharing their time and wisdom to help families succeed. Thank you, Abuela.

People need help when they need help

"Jon" (not his real name), a single father of three, approached me at a community event to tell me that he should have been a "statistic". Jon went on to tell me about some of the terrible choices he made early in his life. Drugs, guns and money were the things he desired most, and the combination of those eventually landed him in prison. When he got out, his children were in foster care. He immediately began the work necessary to regain custody and had succeeded only a few weeks before our meeting. Jon confided in me that he and his boys could use any kind of assistance available and said the main thing they needed was a place to live. Thanks to the outpouring of engaged community partners at this event, Jon was able to get help on the spot. To see him and his three boys laughing and smiling the rest of the day was worth every minute invested by everyone present. Finding help when one is ready to receive help is critical to success.

Healthy kids achieve more

We know from decades of research that children who have healthy, safe and nurturing experiences in their early years, free from abuse and neglect, perform better in school, require fewer community resources and avoid perpetuating negative behaviors. Children who have healthy childhoods are more likely to go to college, get jobs and generally achieve more in life.

Prevention saves lives, strengthens families and saves taxpayer money. Thankfully we can all do something to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Chris Lolley is the executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Florida, a program of The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida.

T. Wayne Davis, Board Chair of The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida

Monday is National Family Day, an observance that promotes awareness of the many benefits of sharing a family dinner. The ritual of the family dinner is about more than sharing your favorite foods. When families come together around the dinner table, they share the details of their day - their challenges and achievements as well as their values and beliefs. During family meals, parents and caregivers have an opportunity to help children develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida has partnered with the Florida Department of Health for more than 25 years to promote maternal and child health. Currently, the number one public health threat to Florida's future is unhealthy weight. One in every three children is overweight or obese. Obesity contributes to preventable chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer . To address this important public health issue, the Department of Health launched the Healthiest Weight Florida initiative. Healthiest Weight Florida is a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and entire communities to help Floridians make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.

For example, did you know that if your family eats dinner together regularly, your child may be 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating, 24% more likely to eat healthier foods and 12% less likely to be overweight?1 Children who take part in family meals are also more likely to experience academic success and improved psychological well-being.

Mealtimes have been noted as one of the most common times children communicate with parents, so guard your mealtimes from outside distractions. Turn off the TV and cell phones and ask questions to your children about their day, school, friends, goals, etc. Sharing healthy meals for your family is an investment in their long-term health; but, it doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. Check out www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for information on preparing quick, healthy meals on a budget. You can also visit www.healthiestweightflorida.com or a wide range of information on healthy eating and active living.

Every small step in the right direction will get us closer to the goal of a healthier Florida. This Family Day, commit to taking that first small step.

1Hammons & Fiese, 2011

T. Wayne Davis, Board Chair of The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida

The tragic story of the Spirit family in Bell is about more than just a single family or a single agency. It is a story about our collective failure as a society. The Spirit family was vulnerable, and Don Spirit was a very troubled man. While his acts were deplorable and defenseless, he was only the most recent personification of all that is wrong in our communities, in our state and in our society as a whole.

The Spirit case was not simply the result of a singular case of child abuse that wen unchecked. Unfortunately, tragedies of this magnitude aren't born of a few mistakes; they result from festering sores left unchecked for decades.

Important Questions

How many opportunities were there to intervene in Don Spirit's life long before he finally cracked?

Was he abused as a child?

Did he struggle in school and drop out in frustration when help wasn't there?

Was he a juvenile delinquent who received punishment rather than education and treatment?

As an adult felon, was he denied treatment and job training that would have enabled him to better provide for himself, his daughter and her children?

Is it unrealistic to expect that a single agency could make for widespread societal dysfunction.

Importance of Prevention

If we truly want to prevent more senseless tragedies, prevention at all levels must become a priority. This involves everyone from neighbors and family members to child welfare professionals, law enforcement and policy makers. Programs and strategies that strengthen our families and communities, including parent education through home visiting, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, sexual abuse prevention, child abuse prevention and expanded availability of affordable childcare, all play a role in systemic prevention.

Every small step in the right direction will get us closer to the goal of a healthier Florida. This Family Day, commit to taking that first small step.

More Mental Health Funding

the 2014 Florida Legislature took steps in the right direction by increasing funding for mental health services, substance abuse treatment and Healthy Families Florida, a highly successful home visiting program proven to prevent child abuse and neglect in high-risk families. Strengthened with recent legislation aimed at enhancing child welfare, Florida's Department of Children and Families is working tirelessly to adapt and improve services for our state's most vulnerable children and families. But they alone can't turn the tide.

Examine Child Welfare

I am encouraged that state Rep. Gayle Harrell and the Healthy Families subcommittee she chairs will continue to examine the entire child welfare system and offer legislative solutions where needed. But in the long run, the entire community must take responsibility for creating healthy and nurturing environments in which to raise our children. Do your part. Learn about the needs of children and families in your community, get involved in their lives and speak up on their behalf.

take Action

While we mourn for the victims of the Bell tragedy, we must move forward to insist and ensure that it doesn't happen again. together we can build a bright and prosperous future for Florida -- one child and one family at a time.

Posted Jul 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

We all know it; leading the Department of Children and Families is a difficult and thankless job. The front-line jobs in the state’s child welfare system are even tougher.

The learning curve is steep, every lesson is hard, and failure, as we are tragically reminded, is far too painful and costly.

In the wake of recent tragedies, everyone is searching for answers, trying to figure out what went wrong. From county sheriffs and local and community-based care providers to religious and community leaders, everyone wants to, and should, do whatever is necessary to prevent the loss of another vulnerable child.

Getting all of these partners to work together toward this worthy goal isn’t easy, but it is essential. Time and again we see that protecting vulnerable children is too big of a job for one person, or even one agency. We all have a part to play in solving this problem that is impacting our state; a philosophy that newly appointed DCF Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo has already embraced.

Complex social problems like child abuse involve multiple interrelated risk factors that sometimes develop over generations of family dysfunction, generally rooted in poverty and lack of education. There is no simple, quick-fix solution to these issues and drastic over corrections in our policies and practices following tragedies have historically made matters even worse.

While it is true that more must be done to recruit, train, supervise and retain qualified front-line staff responsible for responding to allegations of abuse, we will never achieve sustainable change in child protection services without a significant increase in prevention efforts that strengthen vulnerable families before abuse ever begins.

Strengthening parenting skills and improving family stability, sometimes even before the baby arrives, is paramount to eliminating many of the situations we have read so glaringly about over the past few months. Most at-risk expectant and new parents realize they need help, but help isn’t always available before tragedy strikes.

Ensuring children are safe and nurtured at home, while stemming the tide of kids coming into state care, has been the work of Healthy Families Florida since its legislative inception in 1998. Administered by the private, nonprofit Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida through a network of local providers, Healthy Families is the state’s preeminent child abuse prevention program. A rigorous independent evaluation revealed that Healthy Families is an effective prevention measure. Healthy Families is proven to prevent abuse and neglect in 98 percent of the children in high-risk families served. Recent analysis shows that 95 percent of children served also remained free from abuse and neglect three years following program services.

For the past 15 years, the Department of Children and Families has been an able and supportive partner. Thanks to an additional $3 million legislative allocation this year, the blessing of Gov. Rick Scott, and the support of local partners, Healthy Families reach has been extended to serve additional families in parts or all of 58 of Florida’s 67 counties, which is a big step in the right direction.

Bringing these proven prevention services to scale, so every at-risk family has access to the help they need, will require additional investment; but it is still far less costly than failure.

Healthy Families saves taxpayers millions of dollars in child welfare and other services needed to deal with the consequences of abuse, and even more importantly, it saves lives. Other changes to the child welfare system may certainly help to prevent more tragic deaths, but we know Healthy Families is a proven and effective up-front prevention program that helps lead us toward that important goal.

T. Wayne Davis is board chair of the Ounce of Prevention Fund

Guest post by The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Healthy Families Florida is a nationally-accredited family support and coaching program that helps parents provide the safe and stable environments children need for healthy growth and development. The program has proven to be highly successful in preventing child abuse and neglect. Healthy Families participants Shannon and Adam Sawyer share their experience.

When we enrolled in Healthy Families, Adam was incarcerated and fighting drug addiction. I was pregnant and bouncing between family members looking for a place to sleep. We were without jobs, without a home, and without much hope for our future.

Then I met Joan, our Healthy Families Support Worker. With her guidance, I learned positive ways to deal with stress and how to be the best mom I could be, even when times were tough.

When Adam was released from prison, he was connected to a residential rehab program. We knew that most addicts have a low rate of success and that we would face a lot of challenges when he came home for good. Joan helped us set goals for when he got out. It has been hard work, but I’m happy to say he has been sober for 3 years now.

We wanted a place of our own, so Joan taught us how to save money. Within five months we had saved enough to move into our own place with our children. Our family was doing much better but we knew we had a long way to go. Joan helped us get job training and today we both have good jobs.

Healthy Families also helped us become better parents to our children. Having little ones is tough, even when things are going well. Joan showed us how to discipline our children in positive ways, how to play with them and how to help them learn.

She helped us improve our own relationship, too. We learned how to communicate with each other, how to set goals and achieve them together.

We wanted to have a better life, and Healthy Families helped make that possible. They believed in us when no one else did. Now our family is stable and our children are thriving. We are so grateful for Healthy Families.

To learn more about Healthy Families Florida, voluntary program for expectant parents and parents of newborns, visit www.HealthyFamiliesFla.org.

This entry was posted in Child Welfare, Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse on April 12, 2016.