PCA Florida logo
June 2014 
Pinwheels in the Park 2014
pinwheels in the park logo  
 
Local Event Launches Child Abuse Prevention Month by Highlighting Community Resources for Families
Dozens of children and families came out for the inaugural Pinwheels in the Park event held at E. Peck Greene Park in Downtown Tallahassee. This event was sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Florida (PCA Florida) and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) as part of their annual Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign. The year-round campaign includes the broadcast of public service announcements, distribution of printed parenting materials, and the coordination of community events during April in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
children with pinwheels
First Lady Ann Scott attended and participated in this morning's event by reading the storybook Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar to a group of children as part of the Scholastic story time presentation, which also featured a special appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog. First Lady Ann Scott said she was proud to participate in Pinwheels for Prevention for the fourth consecutive year and enjoys sharing her passion for reading with Florida's children.
First Lady Ann Scott
Leon County School Superintendent Jackie Pons also came out to show his support saying, "Community awareness- that's what it's all about! I love the fact that this event allows for our community to come together and share important resources and services that could make a difference in our children's lives."
 
In addition to the story time, children and families enjoyed face painting, Karate demonstrations and many other activities provided by more than a dozen organizations. The Bikers Against Child Abuse were well represented and children and adults alike were treated to press-on tattoos.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
All those in attendance were also invited to participate in the planting of a public pinwheel garden in the park. The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention and communities throughout Florida are planting pinwheel gardens during April as a reminder that we all have a role to play in ensuring every child has an equal opportunity for a happy childhood and a bright future.
Children
"The fact is, when we invest in healthy child development, we are ultimately investing in community and economic development. While there are many innovative child development efforts being implemented in Florida, we can and should increase our investment in effective prevention," said Anita Odom, Executive Director of PCA Florida.
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Circle of Parents
Circle of Parents logo   
To schedule an initial or refresher facilitator training contact Jean Gibson at jgibson@ounce.org or 
850-921-4494, ext. 202 
Children's Week 2014
Children's Week logo 
Join us for Children's Week at the Florida Capitol April 6-11, 2014.  For detailed information on events/activities, keynote speakers and partners please visit their website:
http://www.childrensweek.org/
Child Abuse Prevention Month
people with pinwheels
This year, PCA Florida distributed 47,280 pinwheels throughout the state of Florida and received 84 child abuse prevention month event submissions that were planned by our child abuse prevention month partners during the month of April.  Our office also distributed 85,000 copies of the Family Caregiver's Guide in English, Spanish and Creole languages.  These guides provide the most up to date information on child development and keeping kids safe. National, state and local telephone and internet resources for family support are also located within the guide. This year we were able to plant a pinwheel garden in front of the Florida State Capitol and were able to partner with a few state agencies who planted their own pinwheel garden to bring awareness to this public health issue.  We want to thank the leadership and employees of the following agencies: Department of Education, Department of Economic Opportunities, Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of State. 
Pinwheel Garden at State Capitol Pinwheel Garden in shape of PinwheelWe would like to thank Heartland for Children in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties for sending us this photo of their extraordinary pinwheel garden!  Each year, during the month of April, Heartland for Children partners with other child service agencies to implement the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign for Child Abuse Prevention Month.  This year, they planted a pinwheel garden in the shape of a pinwheel using a total of 650 pinwheels. Congratulations Heartland for Children!
 The National Conference for America's Children 
National Conference for America's Children logo
In May, the Prevent Child Abuse National Conference was held in Jacksonville, Florida. The conference featured lectures from world-renowned experts, Dr. Bruce Perry and Robin Karr-Morse. Attendees participated in training and workshops on timely topics spanning brain architecture, home visitation, adverse childhood experiences and organizational development. It was a wonderful coming-together in order to network with like-minded professionals equally committed to healthy starts for our nation's children!
Zachary Gibson, Anita Odom, James Hmurovich, Doug Sessions
Zachary Gibson, Anita Odom, James Hmurovich, Doug Sessions
Summer Safety Tips
Hydration & Sunscreen
How much water should a child drink while playing outside?  Kids perspire less and produce more body heat than adults, which makes them more prone to dehydration.  That risk increases on a hot or humid day, especially when kids are playing hard. A young child who weighs around 90 pounds should drink about 10 gulps of water every 20 minutes when playing sports, and older kids or teens weighing around 130 pounds, should drink about 20 gulps of water during that same time frame. (1 gulp=1/2 oz. of fluid)
Use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater daily that protects against UVA and UVB rays, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen every 2 hours and again after swimming or sweating. Try to limit sun exposure between the peak intensity hours of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Water Safety 
Girls in Pool
Pools and Open Water
  • Keep your eyes on the kids! Never leave a child unsupervised in or around water (including pools, spas, bathtubs, buckets, beaches or ponds), not even for a second!
  • Teach children the difference between pools and open water: Open water has uneven depths, currents, undertows and changing weather
  • Teach children to swim ONLY in areas designated for swimming, and only with buddies, NEVER ALONE!
  • Teach children never to dive into oceans, lakes or rivers because one never knows how deep the water is or what might be under the surface
  • Teach children how to tread water, how to float, and to stay by the shore
  • Always keep rescue equipment i.e. safety ring near the pool for emergencies
Boat Safety
Although "water wings" and "noodles" are fun toys for children, they should never be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while around open bodies of water, participating in water sports or while on boats. Children should keep hands and feet inside Girl on Boat the boat at all times. Always have a working carbon monoxide alarm on motorboats to alert you to buildup of toxic engine fumes. Make sure life jackets fit snugly.  Have children make a "touchdown" signal by raising both arms straight up; if the jacket hits a child's chin or ears, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose and may need adjustment.
Car Safety
In just 10 minutes, a car's temperature can increase by 19 degrees.  A body temperature of 106° or 107° can result in severe brain damage or death of a child. If you are capable of forgetting your cell phone, house or car keys, you are potentially capable of leaving your child in the car on the way to work, school or home.  Here are some tips to prevent this from happening:
  • Place something in the back seat that you will need at work, school or home (laptop, lunch)
  • Make it a habit to always check the backseat before you leave your car
  • Never leave your child alone in a car and call 911 if any child is locked in a car
Driveway Safety
Before you get in your car, walk around it to make sure children are not under or behind your car. Identify and use safe play areas for children away from parked or moving vehicles and teach children to play in these areas, not near cars.  Consider making your driveway a "toy-free zone" to help minimize the risk of injuries. 
 
Summer Camp

Summer Camp logoThere are many different kinds of summer camps.  Traditional camps offer a little bit of everything, while specialty camps focus on one main area such as academics, adventure, creative arts, sports or faith-based activities. A few things parents and caregivers should consider when choosing a summer camp:
  • Are you interested in a day camp or a sleep-away camp?
  • How far away is the camp? What is the duration of the camp? Do day camps fit within your family's schedule?
  • How big is the camp? Would your child prefer a big camp with lots of kids and a variety of activities or a smaller camp with just a few dozen campers who will do most everything together?
  • What activities would your child enjoy? How structured is the camp experience?
  • What can you realistically afford? Camps run by non-profit or community organizations may be less expensive.  Many camps offer scholarships or financial aid to deserving campers so be sure to explore this option, too!
Here are some questions you may want to ask when comparing camps and narrowing your choices:
  • What is the director's age and background? How long has the director run this camp?
  • What are the camp's goals and philosophy?
  • What is the schedule like? What facilities does the camp have and how convenient are they for campers to get to?
  • What is the camper-counselor ratio and what are the characteristics of most of the staff?
  • What kind of staff training is provided? Are background checks conducted on staff and counselors?
  • What percentage of campers return each year?
  • How does the camp insure the safety and security of its campers?
  • What medical facilities are available and what medical staff is on campus?
  • How does the camp program meet individual needs and differences?
  • What kind of insurance coverage is there?