Program offers training in prevention of child abuse

Child abuse cases are on the rise in Nevada, says Debbie Ruiz, manager of Area Health Education Center's child abuse prevention program.

Last year, there were 10,148 reported cases in Clark County alone, up from 8,174 in 2002. That's why the center's program, called To Prevent Child Abuse Nevada, is so important, she says.

The nonprofit program strives to provide education, outreach and training to prevention professionals such as teachers, day care workers and health care professionals.

Five years ago, before the program was created, it was difficult to establish a unified prevention effort in the state, Ruiz says. There were many organizations in the community providing primary prevention resources, and they were all doing it in different ways.

The center was able to establish To Prevent Child Abuse Nevada with a $75,000 state grant. Now, the program's annual operating budget is $220,000.

Its purpose is to teach professionals how to recognize child abuse, how to report it and how to prevent it, Ruiz says. In April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the nonprofit creates and distributes materials about child abuse prevention to local schools, health fairs and other areas based on the number of reported incidents, she adds.

The center also provides limited programming for parents, such as classes on managing parental stress.

"We distribute information on how to discipline your children without using violence," Ruiz says. "We know when parents' stress factors are down abuse goes down. It's important we let people know that what they are doing is part of the solution to end the problem. It just isn't Child Protective Service's responsibility to solve the problem. It's a community responsibility."

The nonprofit organization seeks volunteers on an informal basis, Ruiz says. The need is especially high during April.

For more information about child abuse prevention or to volunteer, call 318-8452.