04 Oct Kosair Charities, State and Local Leaders, and Community Partners in the Face It Movement Recognize October 4th as TEN-4 Awareness Day
Hundreds Attend Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention Trainings, Proclamation Signings, and Positive Parenting Events During Week
LOUISVILLE, KY – This October 4th, the Kosair Charities® Face It® Movement is once again bringing awareness to the critically important TEN-4 Bruising Rule, the technique to recognize concerning bruising on young children, and emphasizing the importance of training adults on recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse.
“Kids are kids and sometimes they get cuts and bruises, but there is suspicious bruising that should be cause for concern, especially on babies. The Kosair Charities Face It Movement aims to bring attention to this vital information annually on October 4th through an awareness campaign and educational events. Too many kids across the Commonwealth experience abuse or neglect, and we are grateful to our many state and local leaders stepping up to recognize the importance of TEN-4 Day and prioritizing our most vulnerable Kentuckians,” said Keith Inman, president of Kosair Charities.
At a virtual event to recognize TEN-4 Day and statewide efforts to prevent and end child abuse in the Commonwealth, Kosair Charities and community partners in the Face It Movement heard remarks from Governor Andy Beshear, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, state Senator Julie Raque Adams, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Eric Friedlander, and child abuse prevention experts.
“As Kentucky’s Attorney General, I prioritized protecting kids from predators of abuse and exploitation, and that work remains a priority today as your Governor. To help raise awareness of the TEN-4 Bruising Rule and encourage all Kentuckians to be engaged in child abuse prevention efforts, I’m proud to proclaim October 4, 2021 as TEN-4 Awareness Day in the Commonwealth. I urge everyone to do their part in helping build back a better, safer Kentucky for our children,” said Governor Andy Beshear.
In addition to the Governor’s proclamation, the Face It Movement is proud to partner with the following leaders who proclaimed Monday, October 4th as TEN-4 Day 2021:
– Attorney General Daniel Cameron
– Boone County Judge Executive Gary W. Moore
– Mayor of Bowling Green Todd Alcott and Warren County Officials
– Daviess County Judge Executive Al Mattingly
– Grant County Judge Executive Chuck Dills
– Mayor of Lexington Linda Gorton
– Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer
– Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann
– Mayor of Owensboro Tom Watson
– Mayor of Manchester James Ed Garrison
The Face It Movement and Kentucky’s child abuse pediatricians and experts at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville are training community members in honor of TEN-4 Day throughout the week of October 4th. Hundreds of social workers, health and oral health professionals, educators, first responders, and other concerned adults are registered to be trained on the TEN-4 Bruising Rule, among other child abuse prevention and recognition techniques.
Kentucky has double the national rate of substantiated child victims of abuse under age one. The TEN-4 Bruising Rule is an easy-to-remember tool that outlines suspicious bruising on young children, especially on babies four months or younger, that is not normal and should be reported to Child Protective Services. Recent research, however, has expanded the clinical definition of concerning bruising, revising the acronym from TEN-4 to TEN-4-FACES-p. Learn more and watch a video from the lead researcher, Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce, at www.faceitabuse.org/ten4rule/.
“Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce’s extensive research has and will continue to make a huge impact on child abuse prevention efforts across the nation. We cannot commend her team enough for raising the profile on the high risk of children under age four experiencing serious physical injury or death as a result of child abuse – these efforts are lifesaving. In tandem, we must also emphasize the importance of supporting parents during their most challenging and vulnerable moments in an effort to prevent possible harm to children,” said Dr. Kelsey Gregory, Child Abuse Pediatrician with the Pediatric Forensic Medicine Team at the University of Kentucky.
The Face It Movement and its more than 115 community partners located across the Commonwealth are committed to ensuring parents and caregivers, along with others in the community, have the tools and knowledge needed to recognize child maltreatment and to support families so abuse can be prevented from ever happening.
“The mission of The Center ODC is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to the resources and services they need to thrive, and through our partnership with the Kosair Charities Face It Movement we recognize the role we all have in child safety. We can all ensure parents feel supported and connected when welcoming home a new baby. We can all be aware of the signs of abuse and if we suspect abuse, make a report to Child Protective Services. We can all contact our state and local leaders to advocate for changes that will keep children safe and help families thrive,” said Erica Wade, Executive Director of The Center of Owensboro-Daviess Co., Inc.
View the video and brochure on the TEN-4 Bruising Rule at www.faceitabuse.org/ten4rule/. Register to attend an upcoming training at www.faceitmovement.org. If you suspect child abuse, make a report to Child Protective Services at 1-877-KYSAFE1.
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About the Face It Movement:
The Face It Movement launched in 2013 as an initiative led by Kosair Charities in response to the number of child abuse deaths in the Commonwealth. Face It focuses on a three-pronged approach to addressing child abuse and neglect: promote best practices in child abuse prevention and intervention, build awareness and engage the community, and advocate for effective policies to improve the child welfare system. Learn more at faceitmovement.org.