Book proposal

Title of Manuscript: Preparing our Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect

Author: Jeanette Harder, MSW, PhD, March 2007

Book summary:

Sadly, children are being hurt and killed every day through abuse and neglect. While the church would like to believe that "it doesn't happen here," research and experience tell us that it does. Members of our faith communities need training to recognize the signs of abuse and to know how to respond. Faith communities need to be reminded of their role in protecting children, strengthening families, and ending child abuse and neglect.

Readers of this book will learn about the role of faith communities in ending all types of child abuse and neglect and in protecting children. In the context of the Bible and faith, this book helps Christians to learn about their role in ending child abuse and neglect in all communities in which they walk: church, home, extended family, neighborhood, school, work, etc. Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by helping members of our faith communities recognize the signs and risk factors for abuse and neglect, and by working to strengthen families. The book encourages Christians to consider how they and their church play a role in helping and hurting children and families in their communities. Each chapter contains real-life stories as well as discussion questions, prayers/readings, and exercises for use in adult education.

Only a few books exist on the topic of child abuse and neglect as it relates to the church. The books that are on the market speak primarily of sexual abuse and treatment of adult survivors of sexual abuse. Other books on the market propose policies to protect the church against child abuse. This book is unique in that it considers all types of child abuse and neglect, including neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. This book is also unique in its "wide angle" approach: members of our faith communities have a role in protecting children in all areas of life, which includes the church, but also in our homes, extended families, neighborhoods, schools, jobs, etc.

The audience for this book is Anabaptists and other Christians who are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of children. Church educators will be able to use this book to lead an adult Sunday School class on the role of our faith communities in ending child abuse and neglect. Church denominations will want to use this book as they raise awareness and provide training on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

I am currently teaching this class at my church, First Mennonite Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. The class is being very well-received, and I am benefiting greatly from the support and feedback of my pastor and other class members. This book is interlaced with true stories from my own experiences in working with at-risk families, and with knowledge from my years of research and teaching in child welfare.

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Chapter Title

Summary

1.

Dispelling myths of child abuse and neglect

This chapter presents the outline and context for the book. Myths are dispelled, as readers learns about the prevalence and types of child abuse and neglect, the characteristics of at-risk families, children, and offenders, and the role of Christians in ending the tragedy of child abuse and neglect.

2.

Our spheres of influence

Christians find themselves in many communities (church, home, extended family, neighborhood, school, work, etc.) where they may encounter child abuse and neglect. Likewise, our children encounter abusive situations through the lives of their friends and classmates. This chapter explores the role of Christians in protecting children in these many communities.

3.

What does the Bible have to say about abuse and neglect?

Moving around the Old and New Testaments, this chapter explores biblical passages that both teach and puzzle us about child abuse and neglect. Emphasis is placed on the life and teachings of Jesus, the high value of children, and the mutual love and respect shown in healthy families.

4.

Child Abuse 101: Neglect and emotional abuse

These chapters explore the definitions and prevalence of the main types of child abuse and neglect more closely. Punctuated with stories of real families and real situations, we will learn about the signs and effects of abuse, and are reminded of related biblical passages.

5.

Child Abuse 101: Physical abuse

6.

Child Abuse 101: Sexual abuse

7.

Protective and risk factors

Christians must learn to recognize the protective and risk factors for children and families, related to abuse and neglect. These factors include parenting skills, parental stress, social support, poverty, domestic violence, depression, and substance abuse.

8.

Offenders

This chapter helps Christians see the face of offenders and grapple with the difficult questions of accountability and forgiveness. Bottom line: the children must be protected.

9.

We have the power to help: In our communities

We have many opportunities to end child abuse and neglect in the communities in which we walk. We can reach out and build relationships with the children and families around us. We can provide concrete services, such as food, clothing, and shelter, to families in need. We can learn about Child Protective Services, and make reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. We can volunteer in local community agencies to strengthen families and protect children in our communities. We can advocate for local, state, and national policies which help children and families.

10.

We have the power to help: In our churches

We have many opportunities to end child abuse and neglect in our churches. We begin with awareness and education, and making our churches safe for children. With communities bound together with love and acceptance, we can provide support and healing to families and children. We can work in partnership with secular authorities by reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

11.

We have the power to hurt

As faith communities, we must also face the reality that we have the power to hurt children and families. Intentionally or not, if we are refusing to acknowledge the reality of child abuse and neglect in our communities, we are failing to protect children. When we leap to forgiveness at the sacrifice of safety for the child and accountability for the offender, we as churches are re-victimizing the children. We must take a serious look at our faith, our church policies, and our family relationships to see how we can end child abuse and neglect.

12.

What have others done?

This chapter explores policies set forth by several churches and denominations. This chapter is full of resources - books, websites, and other materials - and ideas that will help readers see how other faith communities have responded to child abuse and neglect.

13.

What's next for us?

This chapter is a challenge to Christians and churches to consider their role in ending child abuse and neglect in their communities. From holding trainings to supporting food pantries to befriending neighbors to volunteering in community agencies to revising church policies, readers are urged to work towards ending child abuse and neglect.

So you want to teach this material in your church...

(Appendix)

This chapter helps church leaders prepare to teach an adult class on the role of faith communities in ending child abuse and neglect. Suggestions are provided that include how to choose a teacher/facilitator, how to attract class participants, how to create a safe learning space, and how to handle resistance and other inevitable challenges.

Jeanette Harder has been a member of Mennonite churches in Mountain Lake, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; and now in Lincoln, Nebraska. She received a B.S. in Bible from Grace College of the Bible (now Grace University) in Omaha, Nebraska, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Harder is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She worked in child abuse prevention in Dallas, Texas, for 5 years, making home visits to at-risk families. Dr. Harder has authored four articles that are published in professional journals, and has several others in process. She has also written many articles for non-peer-reviewed sources. Dr. Harder speaks and consults around the U.S. on the prevention of child abuse, as well as on research and program evaluation. She works closely with over 100 child abuse prevention centers through the National Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse. She and her husband are adoptive parents to 9-year-old son, Jonathan. They live in Omaha, Nebraska, and are active members of the First Mennonite Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Please see attached resume.)