04 Oct Kosair Charities, State and Local Leaders, and Community Partners in the Face It Movement Recognize October 4th as TEN-4 Awareness Day 2022
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.
“The Kosair Charities Face It Movement aims to bring attention to this vital child abuse recognition tool annually on October 4. When our medical professionals, educators, and first responders know what concerning bruises to look for, it can make all the difference in getting that child and family connected to services. It is equally as important for families and caring community members to understand the red flags, so maltreatment does not escalate. Everyone in the Commonwealth has a role to play in keeping our kids safe,” said Barry Dunn, president and CEO 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 Lt Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Participants also heard remarks from Liz Renner, whose son was severely abused by a caregiver resulting in one of Kentucky’s Child Abuse Pediatricians identifying it as a case of pediatric abusive head trauma.
“The only way to move forward in prevention efforts is to educate and have open and honest communication around abuse. Sharing stories like ours will continue to shed light on how detrimental abuse can be,” said Liz Renner of Madison County.
Watch the recording of the TEN-4 Day virtual event on Face It’s Facebook page.
Kentucky has nearly double the national rate of substantiated child victims of abuse under age one. The TEN-4 Bruising Rule, recently expanded to TEN-4 FACESp, 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. Check out the resource and watch a video from the lead researcher, Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce, at www.faceitabuse.org/ten4rule/.
In addition to Governor Andy Beshear’s proclamation, the Face It Movement is proud to partner with the following leaders who proclaimed Tuesday, October 4th as TEN-4 Awareness Day 2022:
– Attorney General Daniel Cameron
– Boone County Judge Executive Gary W. Moore
– Mayor of Bowling Green Todd Alcott and Warren County Officials
– Campbell County Judge Executive Steve Pendery
– Daviess County Judge Executive Al Mattingly
– Floyd County Judge Executive Robert Williams
– Mayor of Florence Diane Whalen
– Johnson County Judge Executive Mark Mckenzie
– Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann
– Mayor of Lexington Linda Gorton
– Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer
– Mayor of Manchester James Ed Garrison
– Magoffin County Judge Executive Matthew Wireman
– Martin County Judge Executive Colby Kirk
– Mayor of Owensboro Tom Watson
– Pike County Judge Executive Ray S. Jones II
– Mayor of Prestonsburg Les Stapleton
With partners at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Mass General Brigham in Boston, TEN-4 Day 2022 is also recognized by Governor J. B. Pritzker of Illinois and Governor Charles Baker of Massachusetts.
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 FACESp Bruising Rule and Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma, among other child abuse prevention and recognition techniques.
“Abusive head trauma continues to be a leading cause of death due to child abuse in the United States. Kentucky is not spared and, unfortunately, we lose children every year to this preventable deadly injury. However, professionals, parents and caregivers have a unique opportunity to prevent death from abusive head trauma by learning to recognize early signs of abuse. The TEN-4 FACESp bruising rule is one incredible resource that aids in early identification of abuse in young, vulnerable children before serious harm occurs,” 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 125 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.
“Parenting is hard, and babies don’t come with an instruction manual. When we can intervene in those critical first five years, child abuse can be 100% preventable. That is why Family Enrichment Center and other family-serving organizations know that we must be dual-focused – recognizing and reporting the signs of maltreatment and supporting families with young children with the tools to thrive,” said Lynn Hulsey, Assistant Director, Family Enrichment Center of Bowling Green.
View the brochure on the TEN-4 FACESp Bruising Rule at www.faceitabuse.org/ten4rule/. Register to attend an upcoming training—with free CEUs—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 Kosair Charities 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.