2006 SPANKOUT DAY USA EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
SpankOut Day USA April 30th was initiated for EPOCH-USA in 1998 to bring widespread attention to the need to end physical punishment of children and to promote effective, non-violent disciplinary practices. More than 500 events and programs have been held since that time. Agencies in several foreign countries have adopted the observance to educate parents and caregivers.
If you are planning a program or event, please check out our website for ideas: A Successful SpankOut Day: Things To Consider and SpankOut Day Tool Kit
Let us know about your event/program so we can post it on this website. Contact info@stophitting.org
Here are some of the programs/events for SpankOut Day 2006
See more US and international observances at the end of this list.
ATTACHMENT PARENTING INTERNATIONAL OF UPPER MONTGOMERY COUNTY
114 Treehaven St., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Target: Existing members in a network of regional Attachment Parenting Groups; and also, young mothers, fathers and caregivers within regional area.
Program: Showing of documentary, "What Babies Want - An exploration of the Consciousness of Infants" at the area movie theatre. This documentary cites acclaimed child behavioral experts on how early bonds between parents or caregivers and their children affect the rapidly developing infant brain. The author of the documentary may be willing to speak at the showing. Center for Effective Discipline informational publications on positive discipline will also be distributed.
ATTACHMENT PARENTING INTERNATIONAL OF ST. LOUIS, MO
8128 Knights Crossing Ct., O'Fallon, MO 63368
Target: Teenage parents
Program: Partnering with local hospital's teen pregnancy program to host a positive discipline workshop.
CEN-CLEAR CHILD SERVICES, INC.
1633 Philipsburg Bigler Highway, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Target: Parents and caregivers of children enrolled in DuBois/Clearfield County and Wingate/Centre County Child and Family Centers.
Program: Alternatives to Spanking (video series) parent training program at two new centers. Parents and caregivers will view and receive training from a selected video in the Alternatives to Spanking series, in addition to receiving training on how to use the Loving Discipline handbook. Follow-up home visits will also be conducted with each family enrolled at the two centers to reinforce lessons and discipline practices learned.
CHURCHES IN COOPERATION, INC.
744 Broad St., c/o RBP, 26th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
Target: Female prison re-entry group of about 25 women with children; single parents, teen moms, seniors, and married couples of the churches serviced in the urban areas of Greater Newark.
Program: An awareness project featuring a guest speaker addressing the theme "Parenting and alternatives to hitting." A panel discussion will follow the presentation, in order to address unanswered questions and the best parenting/discipline practices.
COLORADO STATE FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION
7651 w. 41ST Ave., Suite 90, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Target: Foster parents/social workers throughout Colorado (training to be held in Denver)
Program: All-day (6 hr) workshop featuring professionals in the area of anger management and positive discipline. The aim of the program will be to educate foster parents on how to cope with their anger and then how to turn negative behaviors into positive situations for both the parent and the child.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY FOSTER CARE/ADOPTIVE PARENTS ASSOC.
P.O. Box 2622, Crossville, TN 38557
Target: Foster-Adoptive-Kinship parents (grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, etc.) in the 14 County Upper Cumberland, TN area; and teenage mothers in state custody
Program: Positive Discipline Training conducted by Dr. Jim McAfee of the Department of Children Services.
DAWSON COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES COALITION
207 Well Bell , Glendive, MT 59330
Target: young parents both staying at home and those using the Day Care Facilities in Glendive; Domestic Violence Support group and parents using the Boys & Girls Club will also be invited; young students (ages 10-13) collaborating with the B&GC.
Program: "SpankOut Day USA" Open House at the Parent Resource Center, which will include the presentation of techniques from parenting classes that can be used to improve behavior (alternatives to spanking). Parents attending will also receive a "Spank Free" pledge, and informational letters regarding up-and- coming parent support groups/classes.
DEKALB COUNTY PARENT GROUP FOR THE HANDICAPPED dba CHILDREN FIRST CENTER
P.O. Box 562, Auburn, IN 46706
Target: Teen parents, and other clients, participating in home visiting programs.
Program: During home visits with teens and other clients that week, staff will address why spanking doesn't work and discuss alternative techniques to be used such as positive guidance. Informational handouts and incentives will be provided at each visit.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES - GOV'T OF VIRGIN ISLANDS
Knud Hansen Complex, 1303 Hospital Ground, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Target: Parents up to the age of 22.
Program: A parenting group will take place weekly, and will end the last week in April. Discipline techniques will be a primary topic with a focus on alternatives to corporal punishment, in effort to improve the parenting skills of the target population. Certificates and rewards will be given to parents who have learned alternatives to corporal punishment.
PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Department of Psychology, 4190 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Target: Parents of Byers' Charter School (enrollment of 400 students across the city of Philadelphia, PA).
Program: A two hour program "Healthy Parents, Happy Children" including a facilitative discussion addressing the needs of children and families; demands and stressors placed on parents; their reactions to such demands/stressors and the negative effects (i.e. physical discipline, poor communication, stress on children). The discussion of alternatives to physical punishment, using the problem-solving, relational approach, will also be incorporated.
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE NORTH DAKOTA
P.O. Box 1213, Bismarck, ND 58502
Target: Parents/families; community & partnering agencies.
Program: Lesson and discussion about alternatives to corporal punishment with parents in the Nurturing Parenting Program and the Circle of Parents network group. Each participant will be presented with and asked to sign The Family Pledge of Nonviolence. Additionally, magnets with "Discipline Shouldn't Leave Lasting Scars" will be distributed to parents in the aforementioned groups and will also be included in Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Month packets sent to community and partnering agencies. An article about alternatives to corporal punishment will appear in the Circle of Parents newsletter, distributed in April, 2006.
PROMISE HOUSE, INC.
224 West Page St.
Dallas, TX 75208
Target: Boys and Girls age 0 - 17
Program: After school program within the "Youth with Promise" Department. The program will address the effects of physical punishment of children and the traumas such youth endure throughout their lives.
RHODE ISLAND FOSTER PARENT ASSOC. (RIFPA)
55 South Brow St.
East Providence, RI 02914
Target: Foster/Adoptive families and RI state employees in child welfare
Program: The April 2006 edition of the RIFPA newsletter, "Fostering Features" will be dedicated to the topic of positive discipline. The newsletter will feature informative articles on the positive discipline topic and training information. A parent group will meet to discuss the article and findings for SpankOut Day.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY HEAD START
1930 North 8th St., Sheboygan, WI 53081
Target: Parents of the current 184 children enrolled in Sheboygan County Head Start
Program: "End of the Year Celebration" at Big Wheel Skate Arena. A child abuse and neglect booth will provide information on Positive Discipline. Packets including handouts from the Center for Effective Discipline website will be given to and discussed with each family in attendance.
THE DEPT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Old Dominion University Child Study Center, Norfolk, VA 23529
Target: Early childhood education students; general education & university students; parents of the Child Study and Child Development Centers at Old Dominion
Program: An all day event featuring staff presentations and booths presenting alternatives to corporal punishment, including handouts and training in "The 101's of Positive Discipline", which is a video that will be shown throughout the event. Flyers for parent training, child abuse prevention, and child welfare/community resources will also be distributed.
THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY CENTER OF AVOYELLES
334 Longfellow Rd, Mansura, LA 71350
Target: Open to all parents within Avoyelles Parish, LA
Program: Local agencies will set up tables at Wal-Mart to distribute information on alternatives to spanking and the effects and dangers of physical punishment. A speaker will present two thirty minute sessions discussing behavior management options.
THE FOSTER & ADOPTIVE PARENTS ASSOCIATION, INC.
3405 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Target: Foster/Adoptive parents throughout Palm Beach Co.; Caseworkers and other interested parties will also be invited
Program: A SpankOut Day Celebration and Training, which will consist of a five hour educational program with trainers presenting effective, non-physical approaches to discipline.
OHIO PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
The following events and programs are made possible with funding from the Ohio Children's Trust Fund
APPALACHIAN PEACE AND JUSTICE NETWORK
18 North College, Athens OH 45701
Target: Parents and students at Amesville Elementary school in rural Athens County, OH.
Program: A special curriculum prepared by the Appalachian Peace and Justice Network will be used in the school that day with an emphasis on the reasons why physical and verbal violence should not be used. All students will receive a bookmark with a list of non-violent adult interventions to take home to parents. A banner over the school door will announce the day and "giants" will be placed on each side of the door so that people can see how it feels when bigger people loom over them. A conflict management coordinator will greet parents with material on positive discipline/no spanking, and she will also be available to answer specific questions on discipline.
ATHENS AREA MEDIATION SERVICE
8 North Court #408, Athens OH 45701
Target: Parents, grandparents and foster parents, early childhood education majors and volunteer community mediators
Program: Presentation and discussion on "How to be a Loving Parent without being a Doormat - Effective discipline without violence." Booth with discipline materials will also be set up at Kidfest, which is attended by 3,000 adults and children.
BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER of Summit and Medina Counties
759 West Market St., Akron OH 44303
Target: Victims of family violence and their children
Program: A program being conducted over four one-hour sessions will feature a Children's component, with educational and interactive presentations on how it feels to hit, why we should not hit and what can be done instead. Children will create puppets and put on a puppet show for adults, who will participate in a separate adult component of the program. This adult program will consist of three two-hour sessions on the effects of corporal punishment and alternatives.
CRAWFORD COUNTY FAMILY AND CHILDREN FIRST
117 E. Mansfield St., Bucyrus, OH 44820
Target: Head Start families, single parents, kinship providers, teen parents in Crawford County.
Program: Guest speaker with audience participation on positive discipline and effects of corporal punishment.
EARLY CHLDHOOD RESOURCE CENTER
3114 Cleveland Ave., NW, Canton OH 44709
Target: Child care center/preschool teachers, administrators and family child care home providers
Program: A three-hour training "Partnerships with Parents: A Winning Combination" will be held to educate child care professionals. Joe French, a fellow of the Supporting Teachers, Strengthening Families National Leadership Program will discuss protective factors known to reduce child abuse and neglect. The discussion will include the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive effects of corporal punishment and alternatives. The speaker will address the state rules and regulations that govern child care settings re: this issue. Participants will create action plans for building relationships with parents.
HENRY COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY COLLABORATIVE AND THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN FIRST COUNCIL
Henry County Hospital, 11-600 State Route 424, Napoleon OH 43545
Target: Children in Henry County schools k-12
Program: Art project - Schools will be invited to participate by having students create door hangers on non-violent ways to change behavior. Younger children can have parents help them and this may be a way to talk about discipline. The door hangers will be placed in public buildings, such as the Health Department, during Child Abuse Prevention Month.
HORIZON ACTIVITIES CENTER-CENTRAL
205 West 14th Street, Lorain OH 44052
Target: parents of children 18 months to 5 years of age, parents who are served by the agency and other parents who will be invited by parent clients
Program: Parent meeting featuring speaker, Johnna Lyman, the Behavior Manager Specialist for Lorain City Schools. Ms. Lyman will address corporal punishment effects and alternatives.
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF OHIO FOUNDATION AND ACT AGAINST VIOLENCE
3130 Glendale Avenue, Toledo OH 43614
Target: Parents, teachers and caregivers of preschool/elementary school children
Program: Interactive presentation and handouts on non-violent discipline using the American Psychological Association Adults and Children Together Against Violence program.
PARENT SUPPORT, a program of the Mental Health Association of Licking County
Target: Parents in parent support programs, parents of a child with a mental illness, grandparents who are raising children, teens and their children. The workshop will also be open to the general public including rural under-served areas.
Program: An interactive workshop titled "Anger Management for Parents and Kids". Parents will learn about alternatives to spanking, research on negative effects of corporal punishment, how to manage anger so they don't strike children in anger and respectful problem solving strategies.
PARTNERSHIP FOR VIOLENCE FREE FAMILIES
540 s Central Avenue, Lima OH 45804
Target: Families with young children who are clients of Help Me Grow and Head Start
Program: A three-hour family event with family activities, parenting sessions on effective discipline and a gathering of known community agencies/resources. The event will have a zoo theme with a one-hour program by the Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo. Childcare will be provided for the parenting sessions with a drawing of a gift card from a local grocery store as an incentive for attendance.
PUTNAM COUNTY FAMILY & CHILDREN FIRST COUNCIL
336 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 190, Ottawa OH 45875
Target: Providers, preschool teachers, parents of preschoolers, parents/caregivers of children who are at-risk or have developmental delays enrolled in the county's Help Me Grow program.
Program: Speaker Kelly Partin, Ready to Learn Coordinator at WGBU-TV, will present a program on positive discipline and the effects of corporal punishment.
RICHLAND COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES
731 Scholl Road, Mansfield, OH 44907
Target: Grandparents raising children, young parents, teens and other parents
Program: "More than punishment" presentation addressing the effects of corporal punishment and alternatives. Small group discussions will be held and gifts and handouts on stress and consequences of spanking will be distributed. Food and refreshments will be provided.
THE CHILD PROTECTION CENTER
138 Marietta Road, Suite E, Chillicothe, OH 45601
Target: Parents in Ross County and surrounding areas, child care providers, and early educational professionals.
Program: Last year the agency held a "Parent Café" - a class on positive discipline with a complimentary breakfast. As part of a Kid's Day program this year, agencies and groups will be invited to set up in an expo-like setting offering parenting techniques and other resources. Materials on positive discipline, no spanking, will be provided by agencies in booths to show parents that children do not need to be physically punished to correct behavior. A SpankOut booth will have a person designated to answer questions on discipline from parents.
TOWNHALL II
155 North Water Street, Kent, OH 44240
Target: Parents of children infant age to 11 years in Head Start and parenting programs in Portage County.
Program: Workshop presentation including audience participation on positive discipline/no spanking.
UNION COUNTY VICTIMS OF CRIME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VOCA)
221 West 5th St, Marysville, OH 43040
Target: Elementary school children in Union County
Program: "Hands are not for hitting" program for Union County elementary schools in conjunction will be presented by the Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Team. Members will speak to school students about using non-violent ways to resolve problems. Teachers will be encouraged to have children make posters for display and children will be given the "Family Covenant of Nonviolence" to take home to their parents.
WEBSTER ELEMENTARY, HILLSBORO CITY SCHOOLS
265 W. Walnut St, Hillsboro, OH 45103
Target: Parents of elementary at-risk students
Program: Three hours of training in philosophy and practical applications of non-physical disciplinary techniques including teaching, interactive methods, skills practice and a question/answer session.
WOMEN'S RE-ENTRY NETWORK (WREN)
1468 West 25th St. Cleveland OH 44113
Target: Mothers at Transitional Housing and Northeast Pre-Release (State of OH prison for women)
Program: Interactive video "Shaking, Hitting, Spanking, What to do instead" will be shown to four groups (on site, support group, County Jail and Transitional Housing). Proven techniques will be presented, demonstrated, discussed and practiced.
Y.E.S.S. BUCYRUS (Youth Experiencing Success in School)
Bucyrus City Schools After School Program
Target: Students enrolled in the after school program (10-14 yrs) and their families
Program: Presentation by a registered nurse and certified stress management instructor from Bucyrus Community Hospital on how to handle stress, reasons for not spanking and what to do instead.
More 2006 SpankOut Day Observances
Kenya, Africa "NO KIBOKO DAY"
ANPPCAN Kenya Chapter observes "No Hitting Day".
Celebrations for International No Hitting Day in Kenya
ANPPCAN Kenya Chapter has spearheaded the celebrations for international No-Hitting Day since 2004 and dubbed it the 'NO KIBOKO DAY' for the purpose of creating awareness of the effects of corporal punishment, supporting the government initiative to ban use of corporal punishment in schools and advocating for the use of positive discipline methods in homes and all children institutions.
In working towards this goal, and in collaboration with other organizations ANPPCAN Kenya organizes a march (procession) on the 30th of April every year to raise awareness on the effects of corporal punishment of children in homes and schools and to praise teachers and parents who use non-violent forms of discipline.
After the march, 'peaceful parent' and 'peaceful teacher' awards are given to parents and teachers nominated by children. There are also performances such as drama, poems, songs by youth theatre groups and children on the main theme. Thematic Information, education and communication materials on alternatives to physical punishment are distributed to the public during the event. These include booklets, brochures, fliers, calendars, T-shirts and stickers.
Ezan Mwiluki Efeza
Information Officer
Oklahoma, USA
The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Windsor and Essex County is in its fifth year of participation in SpankOut Day. The organization plans a gathering at the Rotary Safety Village in Windsor on April 29th. There will be speakers, parent resources, events for children and presentation of the "Kent Billinghurst Award" to a child artist whose drawing of a special inspiring adult is chosen. More than 400 people attended their "No Spank Day" event last year.
Virginia, USA
The Family Advocacy for the Army at Fort Story and Fort EUSTIS, VA
Will distribute "l0 Guidelines for Effective Discipline of Children" and "l0 Reasons for NOT Hitting Children" to parents in the military community newspaper entitled "The Wheel".
California, USA
Paula Ledoux of Vacaville sought and received a Mayoral proclamation for SpankOut Day April 30th and arranged for "l0 reasons for NOT hitting children" to be included in homework packets of children in 6400 households. See the mayoral proclamation at: http://stophitting.org/spankOut/.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
FE_PAM is planning a program of speakers and children's demonstrations in three localities of the Uvira territory. From:
MUGUFI TUNANGOJA Flory, Coordinator of FEPAM
Florida, USA
Shaloma Shawmut Lessner of Florida Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools and Project Effective Discipline is seeking a proclamations for SpankOut Day from the state legislature. She has received several proclamation from city councils and mayors. Her groups are planning an informational event for parents and the media.
California, USA
Joann Shellenback is starting a proclamation by Grandparents Against Corporal Punishment.
United Kingdom
Child Rights Information Network (CRINMAIL) included information about SpankOut Day in its January publication sent worldwide.
Texas, USA
Maria Trevino in Houston, TX is doing a presentation on corporal punishment at the Psychology Fair and will hand out parenting material from EPOCH-USA and the Center for Effective Discipline.
Hawaii, USA
Military Advocacy Programs whose mission is to end child abuse/domestic violence through education will be distributing SpankOut Day hand outs at events. Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii will be doing Joint SpankOut Day events with the Army Community Service.
Arizona, USA
Arizona's Child Abuse Information Center has posted information about SpankOut Day again this year at their website www.acainfo.ahsc.arizona.edu/news.htm. They also included information in "News to Use", their February newsletter.
India
Santosh Kulkarni is working with a group planning to put up banners on positive discipline/no hitting in local language at schools and will provide information on this topic to the media.
Arizona, USA
Norm Lee is setting up a table at Wal-mart on "Democratic Discipline", the "New Non-Punitive Parenting Paradigm", stickers, badges and other material on positive discipline/no spanking.
No Hitting Day Celebration in Cameroon
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA) shall be celebrationg "No Spanking Day" on April 30th. This event has been planned to coincide with the event in the United Sates of America. This will give GLOWA the oppotunity to involve children in raising awareness to the power of talking rather than spanking.
According to official instructions corporal Punishment is forbiden in Cameroonian schools, but teachers and others adents of traditional methods of parenting says it is the only languages children understand and have continued to practice it.
A colloquium shall be orgaised bringing parents, children, policy makers and human rights defenders together to discuss why this order suspending beating in Cameroonian schools is not being respected.
Program:
- Assemble of colloquium panel
- Presentation: how talking better works more than spanking
- Discussion on colloquium topic
- Refreshment
- Demonstration led by Children
Jamils Richard Achunji Anguaseh
Program Director
GLOWA Cameroon.
North Carolina, USA
Martha Norman will be presenting parent workshops on non-violent discipline of children for Evenstart's family literacy program. She has given presentations over the past few years for a number of audiences in observance of SpankOut Day USA.
New Hampshire, USA
Donna Raycroft of Riverbend Parent-Child Centers had a letter published in the Concord Monitor on 4-18 calling for an end to corporal punishment of children and providing information about programs on non-violent discipline that the Centers provide for the community.
Taiwan
The Humanistic Education Foundation is planning an activity for SpankOut Day April 30th and will display documents and photos of SpankOut Day events in other countries.
Ohio, USA
The Neighborhood Child Care office in Cleveland sent 500 parents information about SpankOut Day. The information will be distributed by home care providers to parents. Penny Wagner Bauer organized this informational effort. The agency oversees 3700 children in daycare homes.