Parent Support and Crisis Nursery hotlines available year-round for immediate help

Editor's Note: As a service to the comminity, please post the flier "20 Ways to Cope With a Crying Baby" on your Web site along with the Parent Support and Crisis Nursery hotline number provided below. Click here for a copy of the flier.

December 21, 2005

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — In the past few weeks, UC Davis Children's Hospital has treated seven children who were victims of abuse, three of whom died from their injuries. UC Davis pediatric intensive care specialists today are joining forces with experts from the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento to raise awareness, prevent more injuries and remind families that community resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“We do not know exactly why spikes in child-abuse cases occur at the holiday season and other times of the year,” said Kevin Coulter, chief of child abuse and neglect and medical director of the CAARE Center at UC Davis Children's Hospital. “But we know intense family stress along with financial pressures are key factors. Increased alcohol and other drug use, depression or a reduced sense of worth, and feeling trapped at home can lead to feeling overwhelmed and contribute to momentary lapses in self-control. Those moments can be fatal.”

Shaken Baby Syndrome is among the most common injuries that Coulter treats. Caused by shaking infants and children, often to stop them from crying, it bruises and leads to bleeding in the brain, resulting in permanent brain injury and possibly death.

Coulter and Sheila Anderson, chief executive officer and president of the Sacramento Child Abuse Prevention Council, urge families to ask for help.

“Talking about the frustrations you are feeling has immediate beneficial results,” said Anderson, a longtime advocate for child-abuse prevention. “Call a friend or family member if you feel comfortable doing that, or please call one of two hotlines available in the Sacramento area, which provide caring and nonjudgmental support.”

Hotline numbers: The Parent Support Line (888-281-3000) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate counseling. The Crisis Nursery provides a variety of resources and referrals, including short-term child care in crisis situations, in north (679-3600) and south (394-2000) Sacramento.

The CAARE (Child and Adolescent Abuse Resources and Evaluation Diagnostic) Center at UC Davis Children's Hospital provides medical and psychological services to children who become ill or injured as a result of parental abuse or neglect. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/children/pss/caare . The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento protects children throughout Sacramento County from the risk or impact of abuse, neglect or abandonment. For more information, visit  www.capcsac.org  .