Salt Lake City, UT -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/04/2022 --Parenting is hard – and Primary Children's Hospital in Utah wants everyone to know it's OK to ask for help.
"It takes an entire community to help strengthen families and protect children from child abuse and neglect," said Dr. Antoinette Laskey, division chief of child protection and family health for University of Utah Health, and medical director of Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital's Center for Safe and Healthy Families. "We want families to know about the many free resources available to them that can help them get through the stresses and challenges they face."
In Utah, more than 9,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect, according to state data. Parents' high stress, social isolation, substance abuse, and lack of support are among the most common risk factors for child abuse and neglect.
Focusing on ways to strengthen families to safely care for their own children is one way to help prevent child abuse.
Research from the Center for the Study of Social Policy shows that families who demonstrate five strengths, or protective factors, often are better able to navigate life's challenges. These strengths – parental resilience, social connection, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and the social and emotional competence of children – are key to helping families cope in times of stress.
Here are some free, community resources to support families:
Family Support Centers of Utah has 17 locations with a 24-hour crisis and respite nursery, information and referral services, and parenting and youth education programs.
The Utah Department of Health Office of Home Visiting helps pregnant women and young families receive support and information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and more.
Help Me Grow Utah is an information and referral help line from the United Way of Utah for parents, physicians, and providers seeking ways to help children grow and develop and to access parental mental health screenings.
Prevent Child Abuse Utah offers home visits in Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties. These visits include parent educators offering support, education, and fun connective activities for families with young children. Statewide, PCAU offers free online courses, as well as virtual and in-person training about protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex-trafficking.
Help with housing, utilities, food, transportation, employment, domestic violence and abuse and more is available by calling 211 or visiting 211Utah.org.
Anyone experiencing an emergency should call 911.
People who have a concern that a child has been abused or neglected, and it is not an immediate emergency, should call the Utah Division of Child & Family Services at 1-855-323-DCFS.
"By coming together as a community, we can avert crises and give families the help they need to be successful," Dr. Laskey said.
More information can be found at PrimaryChildrens.org.
Dr. Antoinette Laskey is division chief of child protection and family health for University of Utah Health, and medical director of Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital's Center for Safe and Healthy Families.
Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital is a nationally ranked pediatric acute care children's teaching hospital located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The hospital has 289 pediatric beds and is affiliated with the University of Utah School of Medicine. Primary Children's is part of Intermountain Healthcare, a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,800 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, a health plans division with more than one million members called SelectHealth, and other health services. Based in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information, see Intermountain Healthcare.