Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceCoalition for Child Safety: Community keeping kids safePRIMARY CONTACT:Robin B Neill, RN, BSNMaternal Child Health CoordinatorIndependence Health Department515 South LibertyIndependence, MO, 64050Phone: (816) 325-7186Fax: (816) 325-7098Email: rneill@indepmo.orgWebsite: www.indepmo.orgCATEGORYOther: Violence PreventionFOCUSProgram Policy FocusISSUEIndependence experienced three child deaths from child abuse in 2002 and continues to experience theeffects of family violence.SETTINGIndependence, population 111,000 is served by the Coalition for Child Safety (CCS), a communityinitiative launched by the Independence Health Department in 2002. The Coalition has provided multifacetedactivities and projects via multiple modes to:• Raise awareness of family violence (child/elder abuse, domestic violence, animal cruelty)• Provide education for city employees and community members• Offer support and resources for families/parents.PROJECTCCS is a model coalition comprised of community partner agencies who have committed to disallow‘turf’ issues and to work together as closely as possible to support families and protect children. Our workis based on collaboration and communication, mobilization of resources, and leveraging of funding toprovide the most benefit for families.ACCOMPLISHMENTS/RESULTS• Increased effective communication between agencies that serve families; in particular, a faxed noticefrom Children’s Division to Independence Police Department when a case is opened. If a police unit isdispatched to that family/address for any reason, responding officers know to evaluate circumstances inlight of possible child welfare issues, and insist on seeing every child in the family. In 2009 we havecollaborated to design a communication tool for Animal Services and the Children’s Division,acknowledging the link between animal abuse and family violence.140