Children's Advocacy Center of Erie CountyChildren's Advocacy Center of Erie County
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A Community Tragedy

The reality of child abuse in America is staggering. Across the country, approximately three million reports of alleged maltreatment are made to child protective service agencies annually. Yet the actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be at least three times greater.

Each year, more than 400 child abuse cases are reported in Erie County alone. The average age of these blameless victims is between seven and nine years old.

Over 90 percent of the children are abused sexually. What's more, the perpetrators of these violent crimes often know, are related to, or are even living with the children they so callously abuse.

To its young victims, the effects of abuse can be lifelong and devastating. To our community, the toll can also be profound.

The CAC

In 2006, 352 children were referred to the Center.  70% were girls and 30% were boys.  79% of the children were referred for allegations of sexual abuse, 15% for physical abuse and 5% were for other referral reasons like severe neglect.  56% of the children were age 12 or less, and 32% of children seen at the Center were age 6 or less.

Shaken Baby SyndromePicture of a baby boy

Many of you have seen this message on billboards in Erie over the past several months. It is part of the CAC’s Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project. Funded by the Erie Community Foundation, the Foundation’s Fund for New Leadership, the Rotary, and Erie County Medical Society Alliance, this project is going into it’s third year.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) occurs when an individual violently shakes an infant or toddler and causes physical damage. The shaking may only occur for seconds. Or a minute, but the physiology of the young child can not withstand it. The neck muscles are weak, the child’s still growing brain hits against the sides of the skull, and nerves connecting the eyes to the brain easily sear. In 25% of SBS cases, a fatality results. 40% of the cases result in severe and permanent injuries such as paralysis, blindness, and severe learning problems.

In 2001, seven SBS cases came to the attention of the District Attorney’s Office. The CAC launched a three-year community education program.

Year one resulted in all area hospitals agreeing to have their mother-baby staff trained to providing education on Shaken Baby to each new parent, including fathers. The CAC was able to provide a nationally acclaimed eleven-minute video (Portrait of Promise) for each unit, as well as thousands of information cars that went home with new families.

Year two saw the CAC involved in going out to daycare centers throughout the community and providing a educational program to day care workers and aides regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome. Each day care center received a copy of the Portrait of Promise video and literature for families. The program was approved for one credit accepted as part of the continuing education requirement by the Department of Public Welfare. Programs were also provided in the teen parenting programs of Erie School District.
There have been no reported cases since January 2003. We are excited at the apparent progress. The CAC will continue to focus on community awareness this year.

If you are interested in a speaker on SBS or you have a parenting or community group that would like to see the video “Portrait of Promise”, please call the Center at 814-451-0202. The Center will be glad to provide a video to any library in Erie County, or any video store that would agree to make it available to the public at no cost. We are still available to provide training or supplies to any daycare wishing that assistance.

For more information on Shaken Baby Syndrome, contact the National Shaken Baby Center at http://www.dontshake.com