Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Friday, April 15 is Go Blue Day. On that day, thousands of Missourians will wear blue, the official color of prevention, to show their support for children. Many other community events and activities are scheduled throughout the month to emphasize the importance of prevention. Reducing child abuse & neglect, keeping children safe and making Missouri families stronger remain the top priorities of the Children's Trust Fund (CTF), Missouri's Foundation for Child Abuse Prevention. This year alone, CTF awarded over $2.6 million in non-general revenue funding and donations to support community-based prevention programs such as home visitation, safe crib, crisis nursery, teen mentoring, parent education, family support, protective factors that strengthen families and many other prevention initiatives. CTF continued its Never Shake A Baby, Not Even For A Minute, Words Hurt and Parent with Patience public awareness campaigns. These programs directly impact and benefit thousands of Missouri children and families. Prevention is the key to keeping our children safe and building strong resilient families. Prevention is the insurance policy for good health, mental health, crime reduction, educational and economic prosperity for our next generation. Please consider investing in Missouri's children by supporting prevention efforts and organizations in your community in April and throughout the year. Our future, and our children's future, may very well depend on it.

Tax Checkoff Fights Child Abuse

The Children's Trust Fund (CTF), Missouri's Foundation for Child Abuse Prevention, was the first State Income Tax Check-off in 1984. This is the donation option given to each of us via our State tax returns. Since CTF receives no general revenue, the money received through the check-off program remains an important source of donations. Knowing we are the "Show-Me-State," you may be wondering where these funds go and what they are doing to help Missouri families. CTF uses the Tax check-off funding to support community-based organizations throughout the state that in turn support children and strengthen their families by incorporating five protective factors:

1. Nurturing and Attachment: A child's early experience of being nurtured and developing a bond with his parents or other caring adult affects all aspects of behavior and development.

2. Knowledge of Parenting and of Child and Youth Development: Discipline is both more effective and more nurturing when parents know how to set and enforce limits and encourage appropriate behaviors based on the child's age and level of development.

3. Parental Resilience: Parents who are emotionally resilient have a positive attitude, creatively solve problems, and effectively address challenges and deal with stress are less likely to direct anger, blame and frustration at their children.

4. Social Connections: Many parents often find themselves isolated. Trusted and caring family and friends provide emotional support to parents by offering encouragement and assistance in facing the daily challenges of raising a family.

5. Concrete Supports for Parents: Parents need basic resources such as food, clothing, housing, transportation and access to essential services to ensure the health and well being of their children. Many of the community-based prevention programs that CTF supports include: safe crib/safe sleep, crisis nurseries, home visitation, parent education, grandparent support, mentoring for teens, infant nurturing, as well as public awareness campaigns that address the dangers of shaking a baby, never leaving children unattended in vehicles, emotional abuse prevention, and parenting with patience.

You can help prevent child abuse and neglect by using the check-off box on your State tax return or making a tax deductible gift to CTF! Taxpayers not eligible to receive a refund may also make a donation when filing. Contact an accountant for additional information or visit www.ctf4kids.org to learn more. As a former foster parent, adoptive parent and mother of four, it is imperative that we protect, nurture and support our future generation. CTF and the children of Missouri thank you!

Patrice Mugg

CTF Board Chair

Kirkwood, MO

Donations Remain Major Source of Funding for CTF

The Children's Trust Fund of Missouri (CTF) was the first and only recipient of the Tax Check-off Program dollars in the state in 1984. In the years since the check-off program began, other worthwhile organizations have joined the program, which has increased the competition for funds. The money CTF receives through the Tax Check-off Program remains an important source of donations, which are used to fund child abuse and neglect prevention programs and public awareness that promotes strong families and safe kids. "CTF still counts on the tax check-off program as an extremely important source for revenue," said Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director. "We know budgets are tight for many Missourians, but we also know that Missourians are very generous, especially when it comes to helping children."

CTF uses the tax check-off funding to support the following:

-Parent education and support

-Mentoring

-Infant nurturing/infant massage

-Community education

-Grandparent support

-Home visitation

-Crisis intervention/respite care

-Safe crib programs

Missourians may choose to donate all or a portion of their refund to CTF. Look for the Children's Trust Fund handprints on the Missouri 1040 form and help check-off child abuse in Missouri. A $25 donation or more may be used to fulfill the requirement for obtaining a official CTF 'Prevent Child Abuse' license plate. Visit www.ctf4kids.org to learn more. Donations are tax deductible, and CTF receives no general revenue funds from the State. Taxpayers not eligible to receive a refund may also make a donation when filing. Contact an accountant for additional information.