Calling All Artists!

Calling all artists! Looking for a creative way to express your artwork while enjoying some time spent outdoors with your family? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you to express your artistic creativity through sidewalk chalk and a slab of concrete!

Family Builders is hosting its second annual chalk art festival, "Chalk the Walk" in just a few short weeks. Just like last year, the event will consist of chalk art competitions for all ages and skill levels; provide family-friendly kids activities; and excite families with access to many different food venues and the enjoyment of live music!

All those great aspects of "Chalk the Walk" have stayed the same, however we do have one major change - our location! This year, we are so excited to be holding this chalk event on the Plaza, in the Plaza Arts District in OKC from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, June 15th, 2013. Looking for something fun to do with your dad? That's perfect, because this event is Father's Day weekend.

Admission to this fun event is FREE to the public, while artists can register to participate in the competition for just $20 or for $30 to create artwork as a family. To register for the event, click here !

Or, you can sign up to simply volunteer for part of the day. There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone! See all our volunteer opportunities here !

Whether you come to simply enjoy the day, to participate in the art competition, or as a volunteer, we can't wait to see you there! So come on out and join us for "Chalk the Walk," and spend the day with your dad or just with family and friends!

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Family Builders, further benefiting our mission of strengthening families in order to prevent child abuse and neglect, and other family violence.
www.familybuildersok.org
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@FamBuildersok on Twitter

Words of Encouragment...

I was reminded this morning by a close friend just how discouraging parenting can be for those who have children with special needs. Parenting can be hard enough, but parenting a child or multiple children who suffer from any number of disabilities, I can only imagine, is not only frustrating but heartbreaking at times. This friend of mine has four children, her oldest son with autism, and two of her three young girls that have learning/physical disabilities. Her life is filled with the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, of not just struggling with parenting four children, but managing their disabilities as well.

So today, this blog is dedicated to offering words of encouragement - not just to parents of children with disabilities, but especially to parents of children with disabilities. However, I am certain that any and every parent can gain some appreciation and encouragement from this post as well.

As I am not a parent of a child with any type of special needs, it is difficult for me to give any advice or encouragement on this issue. Therefore, I will defer to some of the experts in the field and provide you with links and advice from people and parents who manage childhood disabilities every day.

First, I would like to provide you with 10 different links to parenting blogs, specifically designed and written for and by parents with special needs children. In these blogs, mothers and fathers lament, share, and brag about their children, despite their struggles. My hope is that each of you will find encouragement from these other parents and maybe be inspired to start your own, or contribute to a current blog on this topic:
http://www.hopefulparents.org/
http://specialneeds.5minutesformom.com/
http://supportforspecialneeds.com/
http://mamatude.blogspot.com/
http://momnos.blogspot.com/
http://www.lovethatmax.com/
http://www.shutupabout.com/blog/
http://www.schuylersmonsterblog.com/
http://www.winterramblings.blogspot.com/
http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/

What these blogs offer, is probably the most encouraging item: You are not alone! You are not the only parent who has one or more children with disabilities or special needs. You do not need to parent alone in this journey either. Your child is a blessing, but that doesn't mean that you will not struggle or feel discouraged at times. Take heart that there are other parents like you out there and find a support system or group that you are able to bounce parenting ideas, tips, and stories off of. This small thing can make a huge difference in helping you to parent your special needs child/ren in a way that both of you will thrive. Here is a great article from the "National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities."
http://www.familyvoices.org/admin/work_caring/files/nd20.pdf

I hope you will find encouragement in this article that will help you to feel as if you can conquer all things and help to encourage your child in their development. "Focus on the Family" also has a wonderful series for parents of children with special needs that recognizes that each child has been "fearfully and wonderfully made," each with individual skills and talents. It also offers mechanisms and tactics for coping with this special parenting challenge, gaining encouragement when you feel isolated as a parent with a disabled child, dealing with the needs of that child's siblings, and much more. Find the short series here: Focus on the Family

Lastly, here is a great tip sheet from www.helpstartshere.org that offers parents suggestions and facts for dealing with this particular parenting challenge. The tip sheet specifically targets understanding and addressing the emotional dynamics of parenting special needs children.

I hope that within these links you will find some encouragement, whether you have a child with special or not. Finding support among other parents is key and it is so important to remember that you are not alone in your parenting struggles, battles, and successes!

Enjoy the week and enjoy your kids!
www.familybuildersok.org

Child Abuse Prevention Continues...Even Beyond April

Well, summer is almost here. Your children are almost done with school and the month of May is coming. Literally, the month of May starts tomorrow. As most of you know, here at Family Builders and all across America, April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month and its various activities have been in full swing. Of course, it is so important to prevent child abuse and promote its awareness all year long - not just in the month of April.

Child abuse doesn't stop just because it is the first of May and CAP month is over. It doesn't stop because organizations like Family Builders exist and try to spread the word to create awareness. Child abuse can only end when the whole world is united in a common goal of spreading the news about child abuse, knows the signs, and hears the facts about the horrors and cruelties of child abuse all across the country and all over the world.

Because today is the last month of April, I wanted to share a few inspirational videos with you to help you spread the word about child abuse prevention in your own life and among people that you know. The more we help to spread the word, the more people will become aware of the problem, and maybe, just maybe, we can all help to make child abuse go away:

Child Abuse Prevention PSA

Together We Can Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect

Effects of Child Abuse in Oklahoma

For more information on child abuse awareness and prevention or if you know of a child that is being abused, or a family that is in crisis, please visit our website and get in contact with us: www.familybuildersok.org

Spread the word, share these videos, and help to prevent child abuse not just in April, but in all 12 months of the year, 365 days of the year!

Child Abuse in Oklahoma : Statistics You Need to Know

So, last week I shared with you some facts and signs of child abuse and neglect. I hope that many of you out there - whether you are a parent, a teacher, a child care worker, or just someone who spends most of their days with children or have children that are near and dear to your hearts - found some of what we discussed helpful and feel armed and ready to identify and report abuse if you see it.

Today, I would like to share with you some of the facts and statistics from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services fiscal year report and findings on child abuse and neglect. You can read their report yourself at http://www.okdhs.org/NR/rdonlyres/3961E199-D87F-446E-9B95-123442A69EE5/0/S12091_ChildAbuseandNeglectStatistics_cwsoprs_01012013.pdf
The fiscal year runs from July 2011 through June 2012. As of today, we are almost to the end of the next fiscal year, which will end after June 2013. Therefore, some of this data is a little outdated, but still important to consider until the next report brings us the most up-to-date data.

So, last year OKDHS received 68, 111 reports on families and determined after stringent screening that 32, 421 reports had allegations that met the definition, as outline by the state of Oklahoma, of abuse and neglect. These required investigation. That means that 48% of reports of abuse were determined to be abusive situations.

In Oklahoma County alone there were 6,540 accepted cases alone. That is 17.9 cases accepted every single day. Which means that the state total was 88.2 allegations per day that met the definition of abuse last year in the state of Oklahoma.

These are staggering numbers! In order for you to apply the knowledge, facts, and signs that we discussed in last weeks blog, we at Family Builders think it is extremely important for you to understand what the numbers of abuse look like in our state. These are children - your children, our children, children you know, friends of your own children - from all demographics, all types of households and religions, that are being abused every single day in this state. That is so sad! But you can prevent it. Remember to know the facts, and recognize the signs. You can refer to our website for advice or call if you need to report a case of abuse! www.familybuildersok.org

Remember, abuse happens every single day. Stay informed!
Enjoy the week and enjoy your kids!

University of Oklahoma's "Big Event" Comes to Family Builders

Last Saturday, the University of Oklahoma sent a group of student volunteers from their "Big Event" day team, to help add a fresh layer of white paint to the walls of Family Builders.

OKCgood.com covered the event for us and provided a little bit of video coverage for the day. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtp3BTAMoBE

Learn the Facts, Know the Signs: Prevent Child Abuse

The month of April is all about child abuse prevention and awareness. At Family Builders, we are all about child abuse prevention and awareness. In the Oklahoma County, there are 84 children every day who will be reported as suspected victims of child abuse. Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines abuse as:

"physical maltreatmeat"
"a corrupt practice"
"improper or excessive use"
"language that condemns or vilifies unjustly and angrily"
"to use as to injure or damage"
"to attack in words"

All of these definitions can be applied to the abuse of a child. This abuse can happen in homes all across the world, in all demographic areas and geographic regions; among educated and uneducated; rich or poor; among members of all religions. Child abuse is everywhere.

As a parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, older sibling, teacher, nurse, day-care center worker, etc. it is extremely important for you to be aware of the facts of child abuse and know the signs in children that are victims of abuse. Below, I have included a few links to some really helpful and useful websites that can educate you about the facts of child abuse and neglect.

http://www.kidpower.org/abuse-prevention/
http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/childabuse_learnthefacts.htm?gclid=CKCMmPG2z7YCFceDQgodWDYA0A
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm

Here at Family Builders, we want you to help your families avoid the painful scars of child abuse. If you are or someone you know is abusing their child, or you suspect you know a child that is the victim of child abuse, please get in touch with us. Visit our website at www.familybuildersok.org
Our fact sheet has been provided below: Learn the Facts, Know the Signs. Help keep your children and all children of Oklahoma safe. Enjoy your kids!

Recap of Family Builders' "Walk a Mile" Luncheon

To help us kick off Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, last Thursday, April 4th, Family Builders held its first child abuse awareness and prevention luncheon, call "Walk A Mile in Their Shoes." This inaugural event's mission was to allow people of all walks of life, demographics, nationalities, and professions to have the chance to "walk a mile" in the shoes of an individual who may have suffered abuse, suffered due to abuse, or found themselves in the position of abuser. The luncheon was held at the Oklahoma History Center and catered by Running Wild catering services. Here is the link to a great video that www.okcgood.com did for us, re-capping our luncheon:

http://youtu.be/1zTuGMigzWA


Family Builders' mission is to strengthen families in order to prevent child abuse and neglect and other family violence. Our goal is to educate families so that they are able to protect themselves from abuse in all forms. The purpose of our first "Walk a Mile" luncheon was to inform members of the community of the vast amounts of child abuse that occur each day in their city, while showing them that Family Builders is strategically positioned to help families who have fallen victim to abuse. However, without the support of the community, what Family Builders does each day would be almost impossible. This luncheon allowed our organization's voice to be heard and our message to be spread to those individuals sitting in the room.

Our hope is that those individuals who attended and participated in the luncheon will carry our message of what we do as well as our mission, to those people that they know and interact with each day. These individuals as well as their peers and the people they know, are our community - and community involvement is key to protecting children and families from abuse. Spreading the word and keeping our community informed on the signs of abuse, the statistics of abuse in our state/area, and knowing how and where to report all types of abuse will be a major factor in helping Family Builders to achieve abuse prevention.

Thank you to all who attended the luncheon! We are so thankful for your support and the message that you will be spreading for our cause. If you missed the luncheon, but would still like to be involved in supporting or volunteering at Family Builders, visit our website at: www.familybuildersok.org

Our next community event will be Saturday, June 15th, over Father's Day Weekend. Uur second annual "Chalk the Walk" chalk art festival and competition will be held in the Plaza Art District this year, including a whole bunch of family-friendly activities, chalk art competitions for all ages and talents of artists, and fun food and music! Stay tuned to our social media for more info!

www.facebook.com/familybuildersok
@fambuildersok on Twitter

Again, thank you to everyone for their support and attendance. We look forward to seeing more of all of you. Remember, spread the word - help us prevent child abuse and neglect! Enjoy your week and enjoy your kids!