Dorchester Cares

Lead: It’s never too late to learn better parenting practices.

"It changed my life. I’m doing so many things I have never done before," declares Yvonne Diaz. She is talking about Dorchester CARES, a family support program that offers a continuum of family strengthening services. Diaz was a two-year participant in the Nurturing Program, which provides a series of classes that families take together; subjects addressed by the program include dealing with anger, alternatives to hitting and spanking, child development/appropriate expectations of children, communication, and nurturing touch. Children learn about the same topics as their parents so the family can work together at home on things like discipline and communication. The philosophy of the program is that it is never too late to start changing the ways parents interact with their children. Executive Director of the Program Joanne Lupino says that the Program is based on "communication, praise, criticism, personal empowerment, and self esteem, which come together to form the basis to prevent child abuse."

Yvonne Diaz embodies the success of the Nurturing Program, showing how education can help make a better parent. Two years ago, Diaz joined the Nurturing Program with her four children after hearing about it through the Dorchester CARES sponsored GED program; Dorchester CARES initially reached Diaz by going door to door in her neighborhood, offering various programs. After graduating from the Nurturing Program, Diaz volunteered for Dorchester CARES. Last summer when she was looking for a job, she was hired as a family advocate at the Denison House, a family cooperative living arrangement. Her position now enables her to reach out to families like her own and make a difference in parenting skills. Diaz asserts that her children have enjoyed the Program so much that they have participated in each session since they joined, now helping out with younger children and providing support for their peers.

Programs such as Dorchester CARES are important today because they reach out to parents and children and identify problems that can be stopped. Research shows that children who grow up around violence are more likely to act out behavior they have seen, whether it is physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. But programs like the Nurturing Program can help to interrupt that cycle of abuse by reaching out to both parents and their children.

Dorchester CARES
200 Bowdoin Street
Dorchester, MA 02112
(617) 474-1143
Fax: (617) 474-1261

Story Contacts

Yvonne Diaz
Participant in Nurturing Program
The Denison House
232 Center Street
Dorchester, MA 02112
(617) 287-8941

JoAnne Luppino
Executive Director
Dorchester CARES
200 Bowdoin Street
Dorchester, MA 02122
(617) 474-1143
Fax: (617) 474-1261

Expert Contacts

Dr. Roger Weissberg
University of Illinois, Chicago
(312) 996-7000

Professor Sam Vuchinich
Professor in Human Development and Family Sciences
Oregon State University
(541) 737-1081

Background

Three children a day die from physical abuse or chronic neglect in the United

States. (Prevent Child Abuse America 200 South Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604-2404. Tel: (312) 663-3520, Fax: (312) 939-8962)

While the nation's overall crime rate fell 22 percent from 1993 to 1997, reports of child abuse and neglect grew by 8 percent and confirmed cases increased 4 percent. In 1997, forty-seven out of 1,000 children were reported as abused and neglected and 15 children out of 1,000 were confirmed as abused or neglected. (Prevent Child Abuse America 200 South Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604-2404. Tel: (312) 663-3520, Fax: (312) 939-8962)

A study examining how childhood history of discipline predicted parents' use of discipline techniques found that indeed childhood history of a discipline was related to the parent's use of that method, and the parents judged techniques they used with their own children as less severe and more typical of methods of discipline. (Rodriguez, Christina M. Sutherland, Dougal. (1999). Predictors of parents' physical disciplinary practices. Child Abuse & Neglect, 23(7). 651-657.)

A national survey conducted by Prevent Child Abuse America early in 1995 suggests that the number of confirmed child abuse fatalities increased 39% over the last 10 years. This trend is not surprising given the increase in poverty, substance abuse, and violence experienced by many communities. (Lung, C. & Daro D. (1996) Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1995 Annual Fifty State Survey. Chicago: National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.)

Other studies have found that child abuse ranks as the second leading cause of death, after accidents, for children between one and five years old. ("Child Abuse Fatalities," Virginia Child Protection Newsletter, Vol. 32 (Fall, 1990), 1-16.)

One of the most promising prevention strategies for reducing early childhood injuries is the provision of comprehensive home health visitors to all expectant and new mothers, or at the very least, to mothers in high risk neighborhoods.( Daro, D. (1988) Intervening With New Parents: An Effective Way to Prevent Child Abuse. Chicago: National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. February.)

Programs to prevent child abuse should ideally begin with the prenatal period, and offer a continuum of educational, supportive and therapeutic services for parents and children that endure throughout the school years. (Prevent Child Abuse America 200 South Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604-2404. Tel: (312) 663-3520, Fax: (312) 939-8962)

Children raised in violent homes are 74% more likely to commit assault (Felicia C. Correai, "Domestic violence can be cured," USA Today, Vol. 126, No. 2630, November 1997, p. 32)

A study of the relationship between mother’s harsh discipline practices and children’s acting-out behaviors at school found that mothers' hostile attribution tendencies predicted children's future behavior problems at school and that a large proportion of this relation was mediated by mothers' harsh discipline practices. Nix, Robert L. Pinderhughes, Ellen E. Dodge, Kenneth A. Bates, John E. Pettit, Gregory S., McFadyen-Ketchum, Steven A. (1999). The relation between mothers' hostile attribution tendencies and children's externalizing behavior problems: The mediating role of mothers' harsh discipline practices. Child Development, 70(4). 896-909.

By starting programs that seek to reduce violence, drug abuse, pregnancy, and other dangerous or unhealthy activities early (in grades one through six), many risky behaviors can be averted and school performance and attendance can be improved through high school. (Brody, Jane E. "Earlier Work With Children Steers Them From Crime." The New York Times, 15 March 1999, A16.)

Brody, Jane E. "Earlier Work With Children Steers Them From Crime." The New York Times, 15 March 1999, A16.

Budish, Armond. (November 21, 1999). When discipline crosses the line to child abuse. The Plain Dealer, Sunday, Final/All, Living; Pg. 7K.

Douma, Allen. (November 3, 1999). Halting child abuse takes teamwork. The Buffalo News, Wednesday, City Edition, Lifestyles, Pg. 9D. Special to The News

Ellement, John. (November 18, 1999) Minister cleared of child abuse in spanking of son. The Boston Globe, Thursday, Third Edition, Pg. A1. Frank Phillips of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Compiled by Judith A. Walcott