NCJ Number
208655
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 13 Issue: 6 Dated: November-December 2004 Pages: 384-398
Date Published
November 2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article describes the United Kingdom's Tilbury Safe Kids project, which is focusing on involving children and families in identifying local needs and organizing to meet them.
Abstract
The community was involved in various stages of the project, from the appointment of a community worker to the management of parent-toddler groups and protective behavior programs for children in schools. An important component of the project was the use of the findings from an independent market research company regarding the views of parents and children regarding their needs and the community's response to those needs. Survey findings were used as the focus of a community conference that was attended by community residents, local policymakers, and child-welfare professionals. The conference stimulated the establishment of a Youth Forum, which provides a channel for the community's youth to influence local decisionmaking about issues that pertain to their safety and healthy development within the community. Direct-service operations have increased and been delivered in response to suggestions and requests from community members. These have included support for community groups that work with children; the development of training programs and workshops on specific child-protection issues; and the development of a "community library" of resources for parents, children, and community groups interested in addressing child protection issues individually or as a group. 14 references