SEATTLE, June 30, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Frustration, fatigue, stress, anxiety. No matter how you say it in any language, these normal human emotions are practically synonymous with parenting.
According to the latest Census Bureau report, Latinos accounted for nearly half of the 2.9 million U.S. population growth from 2003 to 2004 and now constitute one-seventh of all people in the United States.
To meet the needs of a growing population of new and expectant Spanish-speaking parents in the U.S., a new Spanish-language video has been produced in partnership with the Children's Protection Program at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN) and the Conscious Fathering Program of Washington. The video is aimed at reducing the incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS).
"Have a Plan" (Tenga un Plan), produced by award-winning filmmakers WhiteNoise Productions, features real-life Latino couples to help normalize these emotions for new parents. The eight-minute video urges parents to plan ahead for how they will manage these feelings when they occur so that their child will grow up safe and nurtured.
"Research tells us that crying is the number one trigger that can lead caregivers to violently shake and injure the children in their care," says Carol Jenkins, Manager of the Children's Protection Program, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. "Knowing how to meet the needs of a new baby while minimizing stress, is one of the most effective ways to prevent injuries related to Shaken Baby Syndrome."
The video portrays Latino parents from a variety of backgrounds. Its goal is to provide new and expectant parents with a deeper understanding of the range and complexities of emotions that often come into play with the birth of a new baby. The video also portrays a variety of practical techniques to help new parents cope with a crying infant. A checklist of resources intended to reduce a parent's stress level during peak crying times is included.
"With the rapid growth of Latino families in the U.S., we knew that it was critical to get this information out to an emerging population of new parents," says Joan Sharp, executive director of WCPCAN. "The message in the video has been out there for a while in English. We know the message helps save children's lives and promotes a happier parenting experience. We wanted to make sure Spanish speakers didn't miss out."
To preview this video:
Visit the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect's home page at www.wcpcan.wa.gov or the Children's Protection Program web page at http://www.seattlechildrens.org/our_services/support_services/childrens_protection_program/resources.asp.
Suggestions for use:
Show the video to all new parents in patient rooms as a selected option or as a requirement; program it into your hospital's internal broadcast network. Integrate it into your childbirth education classes; childcare center trainings; parenting classes; foster parent trainings or child development classes.
Ordering information:
Copies of the "Have A Plan" video are available in English or Spanish for $18 (available in VHS/DVD formats). A combined DVD format is also available featuring both the English and Spanish versions for $30.
Copies can be ordered by visiting the Washington State Department of Printing website: https://fortress.wa.gov/prt/printwa/wsprt/default.asp.
The video was produced through the generous funding of the Leslie Fund, a Seattle nonprofit organization that is a longtime supporter of activities and materials to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
About Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center
Consistently ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report and Child magazines, Children's serves as the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children's delivers superior patient care, advances new discoveries and treatments in pediatric research, and serves as the primary pediatric teaching site for the University of Washington School of Medicine. For more information about Children's, visit www.seattlechildrens.org.
About WCPCAN
The Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN) was established in 1982 by the Washington State Legislature to serve as a resource to the state of Washington on child abuse and neglect prevention. Its mission is to provide leadership to and a statewide focus on the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and to encourage and support effective community prevention efforts. Prevention programs funded by WCPCAN provide parenting and life skills classes, support groups, services for families with children who have special needs, crisis nursery care, home visitation and referral to community resources. Additional support for these programs is provided through sales of the Washington State Heirloom Birth Certificate, an official birth document signed by the Governor and State Registrar and issued through the Department of Health. More than half of the purchase price benefits the community-based programs that help to prevent child abuse and neglect in Washington. More information about WCPCAN is available at www.wcpcan.wa.gov.