April is Child Abuse Prevention month. Therefore, it is appropriate to take a look at the data and see what it tells us about child abuse and neglect in Washington County (W.C.). Review of this data should be prefaced with the understanding that it only reflects what is reported, not necessarily what is actually occurring.

In 2004, W.C., as shown in the chart above, ranked 22nd in the State of Maryland for the rate of indicated child abuse and neglect investigations per 1000 children. It is important to note that these investigations may have included more than one child. The actual rate, which was 13.35 indicated investigations, means that for every 1000 children in W.C., there were 13.35 child abuse and neglect investigations in which there was irrefutable credible evidence found. The total number of investigations in which there was irrefutable credible evidence found was 426.

The Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) partnered with several other community partners for the successful presentation of Washington County’s Eighteenth Annual Workshop on Child Abuse and Neglect. Stephanie Stone, WCCP Director, served on the workshop planning committee and co-presented a workshop on Dr. Ruby Payne’s “Bridges Out of Poverty” with Carol Costello, Washington County Public Schools. Additionally, Melissa Nearchos, WCCP Project Coordinator, co-presented a workshop on the impact teen pregnancy has on child abuse and neglect with Carrol Lourie, Consultant, Washington County Health Department.

Other workshop topics included were Internet crimes against children and youth, drugs in our community, intervention planning for non-custodial caregivers of abused children, improving the professional’s comfort level for court testimony, the myths and realities of sex offenders, bully prevention and gangs in our community.

The workshop, which took place at Bethel Assembly of God in Hagerstown, was extremely well-attended with over 400 regional community partners in attendance.

Workshop Sponsors:

• Child-Care Administration
• Washington County Family Violence Council
• The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc.
• Washington County Public Schools
• Washington County Department of Social Services (DSS)
• Washington County Health Department
• Washington County Hospital Association
• WCCP
• Washington County Community Action Council, Inc.
• Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc.

• Melissa Cline, Program Manager, Child Protective Services, DSS
• Janet Cole, Shelter Case Manager, Washington County Community Action Council, Inc.
• Dolores Harmon, Western Md. Regional Manager, Region VII, Child Care Administration
• Keith Hoffman, Supervisor, Child Protective Services, DSS
• Brooke Kerbs, Director, Child & Adolescent Services, Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc.
• Mark Lannon, Executive Director, The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc.
• Michael Markoe, Director, Student Services/Special Education, Washington County Public Schools
• Loretta Mauck, Administrative Secretary, Washington County Public Schools
• Mike Shea, Director, Behavioral Health Services, Washington County Hospital
• Stephanie Stone, Director, WCCP

Congratulations to the recent recipients of the Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families’ Strategies to Promote Children Safe in Their Families & Communities Funds. Below, is a listing of the vendors and a brief description of their awarded project.

Washington County Health Department/Court Appointed Special Advocates - Awarded: $15,864.00

The Washington County Health Department was awarded funds to promote community awareness and capacity building of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Washington County program through a mass mailing campaign, development of a program Web site and development and certification/classification of program non-profit status. All three concepts will raise standards of child, family and community welfare in the County through an increased understanding of child abuse and neglect issues, as well as offer opportunities to volunteer in prevention and intervention programs for child abuse and neglect in the community.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Washington County is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA), Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocates, and CASA Network of Maryland. As such, the program can access model activities of other associated programs as well as benefit from a marketing resource of pictures, support information and program guidance.

Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, Inc/ NetSMARTZ – Awarded: $55,333.00

The Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, Inc. was awarded funds to address the challenges facing local children pertaining to Internet safety through a combination of community awareness activities and direct service programs. The Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, Inc. and its partners (Susquehanna Bank, the Housing Authority of the City of Hagerstown, Hancock Middle-Senior High School, Cascade Elementary School, the Valley Mall and Antietam Cable) will provide a minimum of five (5) public awareness seminars to local parents and youth, demonstrating the NetSMARTZ program. NetSMARTZ is a multi-level approach to online safety. It is divided into three (3) age-appropriate levels: Clicky’s Web World for 6 – 7 year olds, NetSMARTZ for 8 – 12 year olds, and I-360 for teens. Clicky’s Web World emphasizes basic safety skills for navigating the Internet through the use of simple and entertaining games and puzzles. NetSMARTZ teaches children to identify and watch for different Web characters and situations. Session titles include Protect your Personal Information and Who’s Your Friend on the Internet. I-360 offers a self-directed study for teens, encouraging them to avoid personal safety dangers and to be smart online consumers, as well as the rules for appropriate and considerate online behavior. Program modules are entitled Blind Spots, Detours, and Speed Limits.

In addition to the awareness seminars targeting the public at large, community awareness meetings will be scheduled in Cascade, Hancock, and the public housing communities, targeting children and families in those areas. Children and adults will be recruited for more intense Internet safety programs to be offered at Hancock Middle-Senior High, Cascade Elementary, Elgin Station, the Pennsylvania Ave unit of Boys & Girls Club and the Valley Mall.

Finally, Boy’s & Girls Club and its partners will implement a community-wide survey to gather data regarding local Internet usage. This data will be shared with the community and other agencies that could provide positive opportunities to keep children safe online. Surveys will be conducted at the Valley Mall through the efforts of a youth advisory council consisting of Boys & Girls Club members, partner agencies and volunteers.

Head Start of Washington County, Inc./Grief Training – Awarded: $8,234.00

Head Start of Washington County, Inc. was awarded funds to present an evening training and full day seminar through Grief, Inc. to approximately 400 Washington County human service providers, professionals, community members and/or parents. These prevention/intervention trainings are targeted to improving mental health outcomes for families by 1) providing information directly to families about their child’s emotional development, and 2) increasing the knowledge and skills of service providers working with families who have experienced the destabilizing effects of domestic violence and/or loss due to death, divorce, incarceration of a parent, relocation, homelessness, etc.

Grief, Inc. has 30 years of experience providing community seminars and training. Due to its widespread relevance, the two-hour training, “How to Talk with Kids about Death,” will target the community at large. Following the training, it is anticipated that 70% of participants will report an understanding of the myths related to children and grief. Sixty (60) percent will be able to identify two needs of grieving children.

Most human service providers in the Washington County community serve families who are economically disadvantaged and have demonstrated a high level of need. Children in these families are at higher risk for exposure to violence. The 6-hour seminar, “The Tornado Within: Exploring the Connections Between Children’s Anger, Unresolved Grief and Escalating Violence,” targets these service providers and professionals. The presenter will focus on the connections between unresolved grief and violence as well as how the lack of adequate coping skills and support can lead to escalating violence among children. Information will be presented on the progression of anger, types and targets of anger, and techniques for channeling destructive anger into constructive expressions. Following the seminar, it is anticipated that 70% of participants will report an understanding of the differences between chronic and grief-related anger and be able to identify three strategies for anger/violence reduction. Sixty (60) percent will be able to list at least two ways they can apply the information to their work with children and families.

Head Start of Washington County, Inc. will work in collaboration with Hagerstown Community College (HCC) and the Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc. (MHA). Both the training and the seminar will be held at the HCC Atlee Kepler Theatre. CEUs will be offered. The three agencies will work together to identify training and seminar participants and to market the events.