The Hancock County Children’s Council, a program of Downeast Health Services Inc., has received continuation funding from the Maine Children’s Trust ($3,000) to expand a new Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention program in Downeast Maine. This program was developed in collaboration with the Maine Children’s Trust and the Maine Community Foundation during the summer of 2007, with training offered to area schools and professionals since then.

Experts agree that awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome is critical for everyone who cares for an infant, responds to family emergencies, or trains future parents, babysitters and child care providers. Shaking a baby in anger or frustration can lead to permanent disability and even death. This grant will provide supplemental materials to help participants learn to manage frustration in caring for an infant. Children under age 2 are most at risk, as their heads and necks are very weak. Shaking a baby just once could lead to: brain damage, blindness, seizures, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, paralysis, and even death.

The shaken baby simulator is designed with a transparent head that clearly defines the traumatic brain injuries caused by this underreported and often misdiagnosed form of child abuse. When the simulator is shaken, affected sections of the brain light up to illustrate where brain damage has occurred. The new Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulator™ enhances the Children’s Council Baby Think It Over® program significantly. In addition to the new shaken baby prevention curriculum, we offer demonstration infants to address the conditions of fetal alcohol syndrome and drug-affected infants. Our science-based program featuring the RealCare® Baby infant simulator is used to teach proper infant care skills to middle-school and high-school students, as well as prospective parents. The realistic head support feature demonstrates the fragility of infants and the computerized infant provides detailed information about the care provided by the student or future parent.

The Maine Children’s Trust grant will enable the Children’s Council to offer our program directly to the community. We are eager to provide this educational opportunity to social service and civic organizations, medical professionals, and as special educational opportunity to those anticipating a new baby. During this past school year, 142 students in 9 area schools learned how to manage their frustration when dealing with a crying infant. All students were able to identify 3 activities to sooth an infant (after meeting babies basic needs); 3 safe places to place an infant who cannot be soothed by these measures, 3 things they can do for themselves to relax, 3 people to call when stressed, and 3 people they can call if the caregiver needs a break from caring for this crying baby. In addition, 20 professionals working with these students or young families have been trained to use this demonstration simulator. To reserve the Baby Think It Over® materials for your school or community group, please call Candy Eaton, 667-5304 ext. 261.

The mission of the Maine Children’s Trust is to prevent the abuse and neglect of Maine’s children. A non-profit agency, the Trust is appointed by the Governor to administer federal child abuse grant funds, and holds the State charter for Prevent Child Abuse Maine. The Maine Children’s Trust is supported by the CBFRS portion of the federal CAPTA grant, Maine State Income Tax check-off designations and the generosity of corporate and private donations. Visit the Trust’s website at www.mechildrenstrust.org or call 207-623-5120 for more information.

The Hancock County Children’s Council collaborates with many local and statewide partners to reduce and prevent child abuse. The Council has an extensive collection of books and videotapes on subjects designed to help children and families live healthier lives. The Family Resource Center Library is available to all residents in Hancock County and is located at Downeast Health Services, 52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME. Please call 667-5304 ext. 261, email children@downeasthealth.org or visit our website at www.downeasthealth.org for additional information on parenting classes, child development and family resources available in Hancock County.