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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-04-25, Page 5community news Lireknow % %duet, Wednesday, May 44, MS—Page S Child abuse, a community concern, is workshop theme "Child abuse is a problem in our community and it will take the co-operation of con- cerned citizens and profes- sionals workittg together to put an end to abuse being a common occurrence," This was the theme of the discussion at the workshop "Child Abuse: A Community Concern" sponsored by Women Today at the Vanastra recreation centre last week, The Huron County Family and Children's Services organized the showing of a film and a panel of com- munity workers familiar with the problem of child abuse. The film entitled, "A Chain to be. Broken", ex- plained that usually parents treat their children the way they were treated by their parents. Parents who were abused as children will very likeI. grow up to be abusive parents if they do not get some help along the way. It is with helpful counselling and training in more ap- propriate ways of parenting that the chain of abuse from one generation to the next can be broken. A woman in the film emphasized that the problem really is a com- munity problem, She warned that if your child happens to marry someone who was abused, there is potentially a dangerous situation for your grandchildren. It is the mandate of the Family and Children's Ser- vices to protect children from abuse, explained James Cargin, Director of the Huron agency, We have changed our name from the Children's Aid Society to Separate school tax increase... *from page 2 In 1982 this local require- ment was set at 4.455 equalized local mills and in 1983 increased to 4.724 equalized local mills, "In simple terms this means that even if the board kept its expenditures equal to 1982 - in other words ab- solutely no increase in ex- penditure - we would be forc- ed to increase taxes by 6.04 per cent," stated Mr, Marcy. Starting with that in- crease, the Huron -Perth board also faced other in- creases over which it has no control. The finance commit- tee chairman outlined them as follows: - An increase of 10 per cent on general energy costs; - Seven per cent sales tax on all school materials, in- cluding textbooks which have risen in cost by a minimum of 13 per cent; - A minimum increase of 22 per cent in the cost of heating by natural gas because of the provincial government's decision to allow Union Gas to remove their group billing provision; - An increase of 59 per cent in the board's share of Unemployment Insurance premiums; - An unexpected 17 per cent increase in UHIP premiums last year and a warning of an increase for this year; - An increase in premiums for Workmen's Compensa- tion. "We should note that this board pays approximately $1,000 in statutory benefits per employee. These are benefits over which we have no control," commented Mr. Marcy. Statutory benefits make up two per cent of the board's total budget. The 1983 budget increase also reflects the staff in- creases for the French Core program expansions and the special education gifted pro- gram approved by the board. Both programs will start in September 1983 and will cost a total of $60,000 for the year. Capital projects in the system have been set at $476,000 of which $200,000 is for work on the bricks and roof at St. Mary's Separate School in Goderich, The re- mainder is for various roof repairs to a number of schools. Mr. Marcy explained that the approval for the capital projects has not yet been received from the Ministry of Education. The local tax- payer's share of the capital projects is about $100,000 with the Ministry paying 81 per cent. The finance committee chairman noted that it would take 4.25 mills from local taxpayers to pay for the capital project. But with no commitment from the Ministry yet, the finance committee recommended raising half the local amount or $48,800 in 1983 and the board approved. "If we don't receive anything from the Ministry for capital projects) we' 11 have a surplus and if not we'll have a deficit," said Mr. Marcy noting the board has been in a deficit position before and worked its way to a surplus position. Board chairman Hon Mur- ray said he was "pleased" to see the budget passed at the meeting. He noted that most of the trustees, while not all on the finance committee, attended the budget meetings. A breakdown of the budget is as follows: - Salaries and benefits, in- cluding teachers, ad- ministration, secretaries, trustees, custodians, etc., $5,536,587 or 72.6 per cent of the total budget; - Transportation, $954,850 or 12,5 per cent of the total budget; - Energy, plant operations and maintenance, $416,533 or 5.5 per cent of the 1983 budget; - Operating supplies and delivery of program, $714,344 or 9.4 per cent of the 1983 budget. Solve all your problems with one swell swoop! CLASSIFIED ADS WORK reflect the change in the thrust of our program, We want to be helpful and sup- portive to families in helping them make the changes that are needed in the way they relate to one ,another, We want to help people at a stage when they still have choices to make rather than letting things get to the Stage where the courtsorder their choices be taken from them." Erie Losse, Community Services Officer with the On- tario Provincial Police, ex- plained that he works closely with Family and Children's Services on any rases of child abuse that are reported to the p lire, He explained that it is the law for anyone who suspects child abuse, to report it immediately to Family and Children's Ser- vices. You don't have to give your name, although it is more helpful if you are will- ing to do so. This is the only ad in existence that allows you to keep the informant's name oft the search war- rant, People should realize that they don't have to be positive or have the proof themselves that an abuse situation exists, The Family and Children's Service agen- ey have the experience and expertise to tactfully ap- proach the situation, Chris Brady, social worker with the agency, explained that you can be wrong, you don't have to be certain, She explained that people are ex- empt from prosecution for reporting suspected child abuse unless it was done maliciously Ann Miller, a social worker with the agency, ex- plained that there are many indicators, such as 'the behaviour of the child, the way parents respond to the social worker or to the child that give social workers clues to what the exact situa- tion is, She explained that actual physical abuse that shows up in broken arms, bruises or cigarette burns, is not the only kind of abuse. Children ran be psyeholo icall y abused by rontinually being told they are useless, stupid or wor- thless, The damage that is done by psychological abuse is much more difficult to document than physical abuse but an leave lifelong emotional sears, Madeleine koske, a public health nurse from the Clin- ton area, explained the role that the public health nurse ran pray to recognize and help prevent abuse, She told the group i a program through the high sehools where students ran refer themselves for help from the public health nurse. She ex- plained that victims of incest often seek her help through these rlinles and it is with help from Family and Children's Servirces that help ran be given them to deal with the problem, A foster parent who has had over 40 rhildren pass through her home, Linda Bruinsma of Goderich spoke of the rewards and challenges of working with children who have suffered from abuse, Some of the kids are pretty tough but really they re just acting nut their Turd to page ID MAKE HER DAY COMPLETE WITH A TIME SAVE APPLIANCE FROM GREED'S T, V, & ELECTRIC SHE'LL LOVE YOU FOR IT Otipim91 3 YEAR co$oi vowuYw!I y mom Greer's T.V. Electric Lucknow 5284112