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Preventing AHT: What can be Learned from a Father who Shook his Infant
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Great childhoods require a loving and supporting environment. Studies show that children who are raised in supportive and stable environments are more academically and financially successful, and great childhoods help children grow into productive, contributing adults who help their community.
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, in partnership with FanX, will create awareness for Play for Prevention, a campaign designed to create awareness of child abuse prevention and encourage Utah communities, parents and childcare providers to celebrate kids through engagement and play. There are so many opportunities for you to get out and play with your children. If you're looking for some ideas, here are just a few:
- Go for a bike ride - Take a walk around the neighborhood - Go on a hike - Take the family to the park - Play a game of catch - Go fishing at a local fishing pond - Play a board game - Break out the camping games 
Join us at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention
to Play for Prevention in the KidCon area on September 5, 6 and 7, 2019 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Take a selfie in a life-size action figure box and play to win amazing kid-friendly experiences from campaign supporters like Dave & Busters, Hogle Zoo and more!
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase in the KidCon area of FanX to win many of the amazing prizes. All proceeds from ticket sales will be used for child abuse prevention programs/initatives across Utah.
*Children 9 and older will require their own VIP Pass to use VIP Perks. If you have a VIP Pass, two children 8 years old and younger per VIP Pass will be allowed to attend panels and use express lines as a VIP pass holder.
**For children ages 9 through high school, we suggest you purchase a Discounted Student Pass.
Child Abuse in Utah
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A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds in the United States according to data compiled by Childhelp, and the abuse can have catastrophic impact upon its victims. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that include verbal, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, as well as family dysfunction (e.g. substance abusing family members, witnessing domestic violence or parental separation or divorce). Children who have a high ACEs score are more likely to:
- Drink alcohol underage
- Have mental and substance abuse disorders
- Use tobacco
- Abuse prescription drugs
- Have a lifetime of illicit drug use
- Are 2-5 times more likely to commit suicide
- Suffer from depression
- Have sleep disorders
- Participate in high risk-sexual behaviors
- Increased risk of fetal mortality
- Have higher risk of pregnancy complications
UTAH STATISTICS
Child abuse cases in Utah have been steadily climbing over the last several years with the Utah Department of Child and Family Services reporting more than 10,000 cases of child abuse in their 2018 annual report. Thirty-seven percent of victims were under the age of 5 with the most commonly reported types of abuse being child endangerment and sexual abuse.
The good news is that child abuse can be prevented. High ACEs scores (a large number of traumatic childhood events) contribute to adverse health problems; conversely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Safe, Stable and Nurturing Relationships (SSNRs) have positive effects upon children including:
- Reducing the occurrence of child abuse and ACEs
- Reducing the negative effects of child abuse and ACEs
- Influencing many positive physical, cognitive and emotional outcomes throughout a child's life
- Reducing the negative impacts of trauma on short-and long-term health in children
- Contributing to a positive cumulative impact on health
One of the best ways to build SSNRs with your children is to spend time with them where you are focused on them. Studies show that positive outcomes are linked to the quality of time spent with children rather than the quantity of time. It's important to be in an atmosphere free of stress and anxiety, and to actively engage and interact with your children versus just "being there."
Miley's Law
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Miley was shaken by her biological father on October 16, 2013 when she was just seven (7) months old. The abuse left Miley with severe injuries including bleeding on her brain, bleeding in her eyes, bruising on her body and a fracture in her leg. Miley was given a twenty percent (20%) chance of survival.
Miley survived the abuse but faced a host of challenges during recovery. She wore braces on her legs to help straighten out her feet. She wore an eye patch on her right eye, because the abuse caused her to be cross-eyed. She worked with a speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, vision therapist and a play therapist. Miley's doctors advised against her playing any contact sports to protect her from further brain injuries. Miley's life is forever changed.
Miley's biological father was sentenced to one (1) to fifteen (15) years for felony child abuse. He will be up for parole after serving ten (10) years in prison. This didn't sit well with Miley's grandmother, JoAnn Otten, and she became an advocate for child abuse prevention. In a story on Love What Matters, Otten wrote, "After much soul searching I felt that Utah needed a Child Abuse Registry just like the sex offender’s registry. I contacted my state representative and asked him if he would help me to sponsor this type of bill."
Representative Derrin Owens worked with Otten and introduced Miley's Bill to the Utah Legislature, and on March 9, 2017, Miley's Bill became Miley's Law.
On February 7, 2019, Utah's Child Abuse Registry became operational. Here is the LINK TO UTAH'S CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY. Otten encourages fellow Utahns to use the registry to help protect our children. Said Otten in a KSL News story announcing the registry going live, "If your babysitter is on there or your neighbor or a coach that your children play sports with, it is a guide for you to look at, to make sure your children going with people who are safe."
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