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Cherish our Children needs to become this community’s slogan. The loss of so many little sweethearts
at the hands of their caregivers is a tragedy.
Thanks to the commitment of the Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL), Rainbows United, Child Start and the Wichita Child Guidance Center, the Early Childhood Coalition of Visioneering is applying for funding to expand programs for 0-5 year olds. They will conduct focus groups with parents and expand child care and visitation programs.
Each of us may help keep children safe by doing the following:
- Know the children on your block.
- Realize when families are stressed or isolated.
- Offer to baby sit or suggest that the parent call United Way’s 211 line for services.
- Develop a Mom’s Day Out child care program, and/or parent education program in your church or neighborhood.
- Put up posters or buy billboards about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
- Call KCSL, 316-942-4261 for all kinds of information on child abuse prevention and child development.
- Promote education about childhood ages and stages.
Babies cry, they have colic, they do not know what you are saying, toodlers are fast and furious.
The Wichita Children’s Home is able to help parents when they are stressed or have no one to lend them a hand, by providing emergency respite care. Our United Way allocation and community donations support this program. If you know a family who we may help, please have them call us 24/7 at 684-6581. If you would like to be a foster parent to provide this care, give us a call.
The Home also provides care to teen parents and their children in our BRIDGES program. Our goal is to break the cycle of abuse. It is not an easy or quick fix. Many of the parents have not had good parenting role models.
We can work together to make Wichita the best place for families. Please take some action to Cherish our Children.
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