Plunket Supports Action To Reduce Child Abuse

Plunket Supports Community Action To Reduce Child Abuse

Tonight’s documentary on child abuse, and the studio discussion following, will
leave none of us in any doubt about our responsibility to do all we can as organisations, individuals and members of society to reduce child abuse, according to Plunket’s General Manager Clinical Services, Angela Baldwin.

Angela Baldwin said that young children damaged by abuse face a lifetime of disadvantage because of the trauma they have suffered.

“The developmental damage to abused children may be difficult to overcome, even with expert help. Clearly we must all do much more to prevent child abuse happening in the first place.

“Plunket supports a comprehensive approach to child abuse prevention. This includes advocating for polices and practices that address some of the fundamental societal factors that contribute to abuse happening. Of particular importance are poverty and income inequality and family violence,” said Angela Baldwin.

She said that Plunket continues to look at the ways in which it supports parents and children and the how it delivers services to them.

“We must keep trying to find ways of providing parents and children with optimal support and accessible information to help them grow and develop in a positive manner.”

Angela Baldwin said that the British Government’s Sure Start programme, which takes a community development approach to reducing child poverty, is underpinned by principles that are relevant to preventing abuse.

“Attending to the needs of both parents and children and involving local communities in identifying the needs of the families who live there is a key element of the programme.

“Britain has made it clear with Sure Start that the needs of children and families are a priority - we need to do the same.

“It is crucial that people who work with children should take a full and active responsibility for contributing to child abuse prevention. They should also have good policies and practices so that when abuse is suspected it is responded to in a way that will keep children safe.

“Plunket is, and has long been, committed to this approach,” she said.

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