In talking about Protective Factors, we refer to parental resilience, but did you know that we can build resilience in our children as well? We know that children experience stress and are at risk for poor outcomes in the areas of emotional, physical, social and delayed cognitive development.

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. It means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences.

Research has shown that resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary. People commonly demonstrate resilience. Being resilient does not mean that a person doesn't experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common in people who have suffered major adversity or trauma in their lives. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress.

Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.

For parent tips on fostering resilience in children, please click on the following link and download the Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool. www.apa.org/topics/parenting/tip-tool-brochure.pdf 

Each year for one week during the legislative session, it's all about the children at the Florida Capitol. Children's Week brings children's advocates from across Florida to Tallahassee to champion the issues of our state's young people and families. 

At the beginning of the week, thousands of cut-out hands made by children of Florida are hung in the rotunda, where they make an incredible statement throughout the week long activities. The hands are meant to convey a message to lawmakers to "give children a hand" in funding and policy decisions that promote their health, safety and well-being.

Did you know that Florida is the only state that does this? Throughout the week, more than 5,000 children, teachers and family members and 120 organizations participated. Some of the many activities during the week included Children's Week Awards Dinner and Reception, Press Conference and Hanging of the Hands Dedication, Children's Week Breakfast, Florida Youth Commission Town Hall Meeting, Guided Tours of the Capitol, Storybook Village, and Children's Week Luncheon. Many fun and interactive activities were ongoing each day.

Next year Children's Week will be January 24-29th. Mark your calendars and plan to travel to Tallahassee and join the fun!

National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities and promote prevention across the state.

Pinwheels for Prevention, a national campaign creating a community-wide commitment to healthy child development, is implemented annually in Florida by Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

PCA Florida believes all families deserve to live in communities that have resources to support families and provide safe and healthy experiences for children. To draw attention to and encourage involvement in these efforts, communities throughout Florida display pinwheels promoting individual action to make children a priority.

Florida's Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign includes the development and publication of a Family Development Guide, a Family Advocacy Guide and a Campaign Toolkit; broadcast of television and radio public service announcements; pinwheel displays and a variety of special events in Tallahassee and throughout Florida.

A number of sponsoring agencies of Circle of Parents groups purchased pinwheels from PCA Florida, including Franklin County DOH, ELC of Marion County, Pasco Kids First, Children's Home Society of Marion County, Family Support Services of North Florida and ELC of Orange County.  As many of you know, this year our national supply of pinwheels was delayed due to the dockworkers strike at the port in Ca. Even though the pinwheels were not received until later in April, events in Florida still took place and we worked very hard to make sure there was a supply of pinwheels to represent the campaign.

The school year is coming to a close and kids will be playing around water. This time of year is the time to stress water safety, as we live in a state surrounded by water and within our state are many lakes, ponds and swimming pools.

Kids need constant supervision around water - whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach or a lake.

Young children are especially vulnerable - they can drown in less than 2 inches of water. That means drowning can happen where you'd least expect it - the sink, the toilet bowl, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or small bodies of standing water around your home, such as ditches filled with rain water. Always watch children closely when they're in or near any water.

 If you don't already, it's a good idea to learn how to swim, and kids older than 4 years should learn too. Kids who are younger (but older than 1) also might benefit from swimming lessons, but check with your doctor first.

Don't assume that a child who knows how to swim isn't at risk for drowning. All kids need to be supervised in the water, no matter what their swimming skill levels. And infants, toddlers and weak swimmers should have an adult swimmer within arm's reach to provide "touch supervision".

To find swimming lessons in your area, contact your local YMCA or check with your city's Parks & Recreation Dept.

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Training Request!

To schedule an initial or refresher facilitator training, contact Training Specialist, Jean Gibson at jgibson@ounce.org or 850.921.4494 ext. 202

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Circle of Parents is an initiative of Prevent Child Abuse Florida

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