12 APRIL 1, 2004
Smoke Signals
Egg?
Workshops, crafts, 3-point shoot out contest, intramural basketball, mural painting project, stick
games, door prizes, contest prizes and more.
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dance, Talent Show, Open
Mic Contest. Dance by Jammin 95,5 Street
Team. Dance is open to all 6-1 2th grade stu
dents that want to attend (not just Tribal youth).
Transportation will be provided to the event only and will start April 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the
Grand Ronde and Willamina areas and must be pre-arranged through the Youth Prevention
Program by April 5, 2004. All youth are responsible for their own transportation home from the
event no later than 11 p.m. at the Tribal Gymnasium.
Parents are invited to attend also.
Permission forms will be available at local schools or from the Social Services Department in
Modular 1.
Presenters will be Michael Standing Soldier, Chance Rush, Jillene Joseph and Joe Law.
For permission forms from the Tribal Youth Prevention Program Contact 1-800-422-0232
Jamie Bazzy at ext. 1489 or Lisa Leno at ext. 1471.
Michael Standing Soldier
Akiclta Najin (Michael Standing
Soldier, MSW) is an Oglala Lakota
who is founder and CEO of
Indigenius Multicultural Re
sources, a consulting firm. Akicita
Najin is committed to empower
ing Indigenous communities by
helping them use their own tra
ditional philosophies and psycholo
gies in the healing process. He
has published on using traditional
healing methods in substance
abuse treatment and has a great
deal of experience working with
Tribal people in Reservation and
urban settings.
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
& National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Child Abuse Statistics:
Three (3) million cases of suspected child abuse and neglect are reported each
year in the U.S.
One (1) million of those cases are confirmed.
Three (3) or (4) children die everyday in the U.S. from child abuse or neglect.
It is estimated that 50 percent of abuse situations go unreported.
Office of Juvenile J ustice and Delinquency Prevention (O J JDP Fact Sheet
June 2001, 23).
Child fatalities as a result of abuse and neglect has risen 12 percent during
the last five years. 39 percent of child maltreatment fatalities involved children
who had current or prior contact with local child protective service agencies. Of
these fatalities, 76 percent involved children five years of age or younger. 40
percent of the total fatalities were children age one or younger (Current Trends
in Child Abuse Prevention, Reporting, and Fatalities: The 1999 Fifty State
Survey, April 2001, National Center of Child Abuse Prevention Research - Pre
vention Child Abuse America).
A 1999 Survey of Public Opinion and Behaviors Regarding Child Abuse Pre
vention done by the National Center of Child Abuse Prevention Research (PCA
America) revealed:
50 percent of the respondents said they have seen an adult neglect a child.
36 percent said they had seen an adult physically abuse a child.
71 percent said that they had seen an adult emotionally abuse a child.
62 percent of those who witnessed child abuse andor neglect reported taking
action.
36 percent failed to take action.
Sexual Abuse Statistics
In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
2002 National Crime Victimization Survey Survey (NCVS)
Of these approximately 248,000 victims of attempted rape and 91,000 were
victims of sexual assault.
One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted
or completed rape in their lifetime. A total of 17.7 million women have been
victims of these crimes (Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Wiolence
Against Women Survey, National Institute of Justice and Centers of Disease
Control and Prevention, 1998).
While about 80 percent of all victims are white, minorities are somewhat
more likely to be attacked. Lifetime rate of rape or attempted rape (women): All:
17.6 percent. White: 17.7 percent. Black: 18.8 percent. AsianPacific Islander:
6.8 percent. American IndianAlaskan: 34.1 percent Mixed race: 24.4 percent.
Stopping Child Abuse Now
Physical Abuse: Slapping, pushing, hitting, etc.
Sexual Abuse: Inappropriate touching, sexual activity, involving children in
pornography.
Emotional Abuse: Excessive or frequent put-downs, invalidating a child's
emotions, inappropriate threats.
Neglect: Irresposible neglect of a child's basic needs.
Protecting Children from Abuse
Do not leave young children alone or unattended. Firmly communicate ex
pectations of physical & emotional boundaries to all adults caring for children,
including family members, step-parents & babysitters.
Teaching Children Self-Protection Skills
Help children learn the difference between right and wrong touches, even
from people they know. Teach children assertiveness skills, how to stand up for
themselves, how to say "no," and when to flee.
Teach them whom they can turn to in times of danger.
Warning Signs of Possible Abuse
Physical: Un-expected bruises, burns, or fractures, messy appearance, loss
of appetite, disturbed sleep, sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract in
fections. Behavioral: Aggressiveness, withdrawal or clinging, fear of a person or place;
discomfort with physical contact, molesting other children, suicidal tendencies.
If You Suspect Abuse
Report suspected abuse immediately to your state's child abuse hotline, call
911 or child welfare services. If you need help, ask.