Mariposa Safe Families

Promoting Safe & Healthy Families

4971 8th Street • PO Box 545 • Mariposa, CA 95338 • 209-966-2211 • FAX 209-966-7594 • msf@sti.net

News

National Parent Leadership Month
In honor of February as National Parent Leadership Month Mariposa Safe Families would like to honor both a Parent Leader and a Professional Parent Partner. If you are interested in nominating someone for either one or both of these roles please fill out the attached documents and return to our office. Nomination forms are due January 29, 2010.
Nomination Form for Parent Leaders
Nomination Form for Professionals

Bread Bowl Fundraiser
The Bread Bowl Fundraiser is Thursday February 4, 2010. Order forms are due by January 28, 2010.
Bread Bowl Fundraiser order form

Neighborhood Information Center
Mariposa Safe Families would like to announce the arrival of the Neighborhood Information Center, a place where you can find free access to computers with high-speed Internet service. The Neighborhood Information Center will be open to everyone from 9:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Mariposa Safe Families Family Enrichment Center. Residents are encouraged to come in for a visit and use our computers to write letters, send email, to work on resumes, homework and research, or to look for services like housing, food, employment, medical care and other assistance.

MSF Expands Program
Family strengthening services offered by Mariposa Safe Families will be expanded to provide substance abuse prevention. Through a contract with Mariposa County, MSF will conduct a variety of community awareness efforts.

Events, Meetings

Friday Night Live Mentoring
Mariposa Safe Families will host the Friday Night Live Mentoring dinner and orientation on Wednesday, January 13 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the Best Western Banquet room.

The Mariposa Safe Families, Inc. Board of Directors meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Please call 966-2211 for meeting location.

Shared Leadership Committee meets from 12:00–1:00 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Mariposa Safe Families, 4971 8th Street, to provide a venue for parents and staff to work in partnership to improve services offered to children and families.

Child Abuse Interagency Coordination Committee meets from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. the 1st Wednesday of Jan., Feb., April, May, July, Aug., Oct. and Nov. at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. The committee’s purpose is to provide a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination in preventing and responding to child abuse in Mariposa County. Call MSF for information.

Sponsors

Mariposa Safe Families receives funding and support from Mariposa County, the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention, the California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs, and Stonecutter.

PARENTING TIPS
Soothing a crying infant
Surviving toilet training

Time out
Understanding your child's behavior
Dealing with temper tantrums

Being a nurturing parent
The power of choice
Grandparents raising grandchildren

Setting rules & consequences
Winning the chore war
Sibling rivalry

Recognizing child abuse and neglect
Reporting child abuse and neglect
Adobe Reader opens these tips.

Mariposa Safe Families promotes safe and healthy families in order to prevent child abuse in Mariposa County by guiding effective prevention efforts and strategies and advocating for a coordinated community response.
Partnerships Create Family Enrichment Center

Mariposa Safe Families (MSF) is pleased to announce the opening of their Family Enrichment Center, the product of years of community planning and partnership development. The Center provides opportunities for family enrichment and support in a friendly place that affords drop-in availability. The Family Enrichment Center (FEC) would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of partner agencies. Mariposa County Unified School District demonstrated its dedication to supporting families by sharing a vision for the Center. The FEC is conveniently located on MCUSD property adjacent to Mariposa County High School, Sierra Home School (new location), Mariposa Elementary School and Head Start.

The Mariposa County Human Services Department contracts with MSF for Child Abuse and Substance Abuse Prevention supporting the family strengthening services MSF provides. Mountain Crisis Services has partnered with MSF in the development of family support services in Mariposa and in North Mariposa County. A grant from First 5 Mariposa County supports child development and parent education services in North Mariposa County. Other partners that have joined MSF in providing family support activities include Community Action, Local Child Care Planning Council, Mariposa County Health Department, UC Extension Nutrition Education, Early Start Family Resource Center, Infant Child Enrichment Services and Job Connection.

Community Link has a new look

Although it looks a little different, Community Link still connects people to services and opportunities throughout Mariposa County. It is available in multiple forms: website, call-in and walk-in.
It Only Takes a Minute ...to make a difference in the life of a child...Read more

Keeping Your Children Safe on the Internet...Read more

Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project for Mariposa County...Read more



Definition of Child Abuse

Child abuse includes physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment and exposure to violence and the abuse of others.

The numbers

Each day in the United States, more than 3 children die as a result of child abuse in the home and most of the children who die are younger than 5 years of age.

More children (age four and younger) die from child abuse and neglect than any other single, leading cause of death for infants and young children.

In the year 2001, an average of 2,475 children were found to be victims of child abuse each day. And this abuse and neglect is associated with short- and long-term consequences that affect not only the child and family, but society as a whole.

Prevent Child Abuse America has estimated the costs of child abuse and neglect based on data from a variety of sources, at $24,384,347,302 for hospitalization, chronic health problems, mental health care, child welfare services, law enforcement and judicial system.

Substantiated Counts of child abuse in Mariposa County over a five year average = 20.88 per 1000 per year. Close to every other week there is a substantiated case of child abuse in Mariposa. To put Mariposa's statistics in relation to the state: Mariposa has 20.88 cases per 1000 of children 0-17 per year, for years 1998 to 2002, as compared to California's 12.1 per 1000.

What you can do

Report child abuse or neglect if you suspect it by calling Mariposa County Department of Human Services-Family Services at (209) 966-7000 or toll free at (877) 866-7047 24 hours a day. You may also call the Mariposa County Sheriff's office at 966-3615.

Educate yourself and others by reading brochures and pamphlets from Mariposa Safe Families, First 5, Child Welfare Services, and other agencies. Check out the Library and the Web under the topic.

Strengthen your community by supporting local activities, service clubs and organizations and by connecting with others. Activities that strengthen communities contribute to the wellbeing of children.

Participate in Mariposa Safe Families as a Community Partner, Committee Member or Board Member.

Donate to Mariposa Safe Families and other organizations that support children.

Purchase a California Kids Plate at the DMV or visit www.kidsplates.org. Your vehicle license plate will show that you ♥ kids while promoting their safety and preventing child abuse.
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