RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Randolph's Family Advocacy Program will reinforce its daily mission by participating in several special activities during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
The events - Kids Day in the Park, Randolph Youth Programs' Famaganza and the Randolph Field Independent School District's health and wellness fair - all promote this year's Child Abuse Prevention Month theme, "Strengthening Families and Communities."
Kids Day in the Park celebrates and encourages early childhood development. A free event for the San Antonio community, it takes place April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at San Pedro Springs Park, 1315 San Pedro Ave.
"This fun-filled day helps promote happy, healthy families, which reduces the number of children at risk for abuse or neglect," said Mitzi Wood, 359th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight family advocacy intervention specialist. "It's a huge event, and it gets bigger every year."
Ms. Wood, who serves as the event's volunteer coordinator, said last year's Kids Day in the Park drew more than 10,000 people. She said members of the child care, arts, cultural, health and social service communities provide fun, developmentally appropriate activities and events for young children through 10 years of age and their families.
"There will be many new and exciting booths this year, with art projects, games and special activities as well as many performances and many other surprises," she said.
Youth Programs' Famaganza, planned for April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will focus on the theme "Growing Healthy Children Today."
Ms. Wood said the Mental Health Flight will have a booth at the event and provide informational items.
"We will talk about stress and wellness," she said.
Family Advocacy will focus on anti-bullying efforts during Randolph Field Independent School District's health and wellness fair April 30 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Randolph Elementary School commons area.
"We're excited because it's a collaborative effort involving the Randolph ISD, Youth Programs and Family Advocacy," Ms. Wood said. "There will be information booths and videos. We'll show parents how they can help their children cope with bullying."
She said children who see abuse at home are more at risk for becoming perpetrators or victims of bullies. One way parents can help their children avoid bullying is by teaching them how to interact socially.
Ms. Wood said child abuse prevention starts with five protective factors - conditions in families and communities that increase the health and well-being of children and families.
"One is the parents' connectiveness to their children, which should start when the child is born," she said. "They need to develop that bond. The father has to make sure he's hands-on as well. If there is a bond in the early years, and parents continue with positive regard for their children, respecting them and listening to them, they are more likely to have a good relationship with their children as they move into their teenage years."
Other protective factors are understanding children's development stages, parental resilience, creating a social network and connecting with resources, which for military parents include Military OneSource and Family Advocacy.
Ms. Wood said parental resilience is important because parents who successfully manage stress and anger and handle relationship issues are healthy role models for their children.
"If you're not managing stress well, your children won't know how to, either," she said.
For more information about the Family Advocacy Program and Child Abuse Prevention Month events, call Ms. Wood at 652-3828.