Pictures from the Kids Carnival to kick-off Child Abuse Prevention Month.  The Kick-off event was held Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the Platte River Mall.

Rethink Your Reaction


By Kelli Nisley, KNOP News 2

Imagine: its 6'oclock, your tired and stressed out from working all day, the phone is ringing off the hook and now the kids are screaming and fighting, what do you do?

The members of Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council want you to Stop, Breathe, and Rethink Your Reaction.

It's all fun and games now, these kids are having a great time playing games, drawing pictures and having a nice family lunch,but some kids aren't so lucky. There was 275 children taken to the Bridge of Hope last year after being abused.

This April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and officials kicked off this celebration at the Platte River Mall on Saturday.

Matt Fosket, Lincoln County Child Abuse Council Member, says, "We are here for the Kick off for April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and here to remind parents to rethink their reactions when it comes to dealing with stressful situations at home with their children."

For the last 20 years, The Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council has been educating parents and families on ways to circumvent abuse and promote healthier families.

The festivities here are one way to promote that. Families were treated to lunch by the Wal-mart D.C. and volunteers set up booths for the kids to win prizes.

Fosket says, "I think the most important thing is just to take that time to talk and interact with your child when your having a bad day, when the child is running wild in your house and your getting stressed out, just taking that time, get down on the floor and interact with them, play with them and its really going to change their behavior and its going to change your stress and make it much easier and better."

But overwhelming stress happens to everyone, and a split second reaction can be devastating to your child.

Fosket says, "No parent knows all the answers and so knowing who to go to or where to go to get help to just vent about your day or get some suggestions and assistance when needed."

While so much seems to be focused on the negative, people are making a difference in preventing child abuse, for the last five years they have hosted the Make A Difference Award Ceremony in April.

Fosket says, "We are seeking nominations of people in the community that have made a difference in the life of a child, So it may be a child care provider, a social worker, a law enforcement, school personnel, anybody in the community that someone feels have really impacted or made a difference in a life of a child."

To nominate someone for the Make A Difference Award, mail your submission to Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council. Care Of 200 South Silber, North Platte, Nebraska, 69101 with Attention to L. Davis.

Submissions will be accepted until April 9th.

Family carnival educates, advocates

Kason Baker, 2, digs through a pool of packing peanuts for a prize at Saturday's Child Abuse Prevention carnival at the Platte River Mall. The event was the launch of this year's "Rethink Your Reaction" campaign as part of April Child Abuse Prevention Month.

By Mark Young

Published: Sunday, March 28, 2010 4:13 AM CDT

The North Platte Telegraph

After running out of 100 bags containing materials on child abuse prevention at last year's carnival in the first 2 hours, Matt Fosket, Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator for the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, said they came prepared to meet this year's demand with 250 packets.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and for the past 2 years, the Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council has sponsored the launch of a "Rethink Your Reaction" campaign by putting on a carnival at the Platte River Mall. Each family who came to the event received a free lunch, games for the kids and more importantly information on just how big of a problem child abuse is in Lincoln County and what everyone can do about it.

North Platte City Councilman Dan McGuire was also on hand to deliver a city proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and within the proclamation reminded everyone just who's responsibility it is to stop child abuse.

"We all have the responsibility," said McGuire.

Fosket said the biggest reaction from most people attending the carnival is the realization of just how serious the problem is.

"Most people know there is a problem, but they don't realize the severity of it," he said. "They also don't realize the number of free resources available within the community."

Volunteers from different agencies, including the Bridge of Hope, Rape and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, as well as student council volunteers from St. Pat's High School and others were all on hand to provide help and critical information to the public.

The information provided is not only critical to those needing the help, but shows the general public what to look for and how to report child abuse because it really is everyone's responsibility to curb the violence against children.

"Rethink Your Reaction" is a campaign designed to let parents know that the stress of raising children is normal and that it's OK to ask for help. The campaign outlines a few key steps that can be taken to diffuse a stressful situation, such as simply walking away from it to calm down or trying to use humor.

Carnival to focus on child abuse prevention

By Mark Young

Published: Friday, March 26, 2010 4:11 AM CDT

The North Platte Telegraph

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Platte River Mall on Saturday, parents will get an opportunity to learn more about the "Rethink Your Reaction" campaign sponsored by the Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council.

The carnival featuring games for children and their parents, balloon artists and a free lunch provided by Wal-Mart Distribution Center is designed to promote safe and healthy family interaction, according to Matt Fosket, Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator for the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center.

"We have a lot going on with games that will allow parents and their children to interact with one another," said Fosket. "We'll also have tote bags for every parent that comes to the carnival that has information about parent resources, educational materials and will let people know about child abuse, how to report it and how to stop it."

Fosket said the goal of the campaign is to stop child abuse before it happens by teaching parents how to handle certain stressful situations that inevitably arise from raising children.

"Rethink Your Reaction is about showing people how to stop it before it happens by teaching people how to rethink stressful situations with your child," he said. "Rethinking your reaction is to recognize that stress and react to it by either stepping away or brining humor into it to help alleviate the stress because stress is a big factor."

Fosket said parents need to understand that their stressful situations with children are not uncommon and that there are plenty of resources available to help.

"Parents need to know that it's OK to ask for help," he said. "No one knows everything about parenting and it's OK to ask about the resources available in the community."

Volunteers from different agencies, including the Rape and Domestic Violence Prevention program, will be on hand to help at the carnival, as well as the student council from St. Pat's High School who is volunteering with the games.

The Council would like to encourage all parents to "Rethink Your Reaction" and join the festivities on Saturday where free resources in promoting a healthy family environment will be presented to all comers. For more information about the campaign, visit www.rethinkyourreaction.org.