National child abuse awareness group comes to Tulsa

According to American Humane leaders, there are 3,300,000 reports of alleged child abuse in America. 905,000 of those reports are confirmed.

Many of those are here in Green Country, that's why local child advocates are taking part in a new training to put a stop to child abuse.

The program is called the Front Porch Project. Leaders are teaching people in the community to perk up on signs of potential or existing child abuse.

Some may recall a childhood of riding bikes through the neighborhood, staying out past dark, and leaving doors and windows un locked, but times have changed.

"It was very unsafe around our community, and that was creeping in slowly but surely over the years," said Andi Doyle, mother of 2.

Doyle, like many moms, is a multi tasker.

"I am a working mom, so I have that pressure and I am trying to keep it together at home and that's a pressure too," said Doyle.

She's attending the Front Porch Project meeting as a mom, child advocate, and soldier in the battle against child abuse.

"There are a lot of families where abuse and neglect has occurred, but the family has a lot of stressors going on parents just need support," said Instructor Lauren Moorely.

The Front Porch Project is an American Humane initiative. Leaders from the Colorado based group say child welfare systems are overwhelmed.

Moorely says it doesn't take a professional to see signs of a struggling family, it just takes people paying attention in public places.

"Maybe try to distract the child in a way lessens the heightened tension that might be existing. Or relating to a parent and empathizing with them and saying, man my child did that last week and I know it's so tough, uh do you want me to stand here for a little bit if you want to go get something," said Moorely.

22 leaders from places like DHS, the Oklahoma State Health Department, and Tulsa Public Schools are getting the tools and the challenge to teach others.

"With the economy as it is, with some life experiences, children are coming to school with some stressors," said School Counselor Rita Kukura

Experts say more and more families need a little bit of help, even those in the best of circumstances.

It cost $86,000 to bring the Front Porch Project to Tulsa. The Parent Child Center of Tulsa will match part of the grant paid for partially by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

There is a second training session in June. To find out more about it, call the Parent Child Center of Tulsa at 599-7999. For more on the Front Porch Project, see related links.
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