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Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 320 Phoenix, AZ 85007-3242
Telephone: (602) 364-1400

Spring 2008

APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
“Going upstream” is a metaphor
for prevention…
A man who was fishing saw a child
in the river and jumped in to save
her. Soon after, another child came
down the river, then another, and
another. Soon the people of the village were devoting their time to pulling drowning children from the river.
Then one woman walked away.
“Where are you going? We need
your help!” the villagers asked. Walking upstream, she replied, “I am going to find out why these children are
falling in the river and stop it!”
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is any sexual act
forced against someone's will. These
acts can be physical, verbal, or psychological. There are four types of
sexual violence; all types involve
victims who do not consent, or who
are unable to consent or refuse to
allow the act.
Do You Know?
Sexual violence is a significant public health problem in the United
States.

Estimates from the National Violence
Against Women Survey (NVAWS),
cosponsored by the National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
suggest that 302,091 women and
92,748 men are raped each year in
the United States. The survey also
estimates that 1 in 6 women and 1 in
33 men have been victims of a completed or attempted rape at some
point in their lifetime. More than half
of all lifetime rapes happen before
age 18; almost one-third of rapes
occur before age 12. In approximately 8 out of 10 cases, the victim
knew the perpetrator.
Is Stranger Sexual Violence/Rape
more prevalent?
Someone known to the victim such
as a spouse, family member, coworker, friend or acquaintance most
often commits sexual violence.
When sexual violence is committed
by a spouse or intimate partner, it is
also referred to as intimate partner
violence.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a
serious, preventable public health

problem affecting more than 32 million Americans. The term “intimate
partner violence” describes physical,
sexual, or psychological harm by a
current or former partner or spouse.
This type of violence can occur
among heterosexual or same-sex
couples and does not require sexual
intimacy.
Rape in Arizona
In 2003, approximately one in five
women in Arizona had been raped.
In 2006, a total of 1,909 rapes were
reported to law enforcement agencies in Arizona.
Arrests were made in 218 cases.Of
those persons arrested for rape in
2006, 191 were adult males, 27 were
male juveniles.

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NATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK
“It’s your time…Get Inspired, Get
Healthy!” This is the theme for the
2008 National
Women’s
Health Week
May 11-17,
2008. Starting Mother’s
Day, the state
of Arizona will
promote events across the state and
encourage women to make their health
a top priority and take simple steps for
a longer, healthier, and happier life.
The Governor’s Office of Children,
Youth, and Families will lead this
year’s Women’s Health Week efforts in

partnership with The Arizona Department of Health Services
(ADHS), women’s health
website EmpowHer.com,
and other health and
community organizations
across the state.
If your organization is
holding a screening, health
fair or educational event during
Women’s Health Week, visit
http://gocyf.az.gov/FCH to post your
event on the Arizona Women’s
Health week event listing. For more
information contact Gina Flores,
gflores@az.gov or 602.542.2391.

Inside this issue
Sexual Assault Awareness Month ...... 1
Sexual Assault Awareness Mo. cont... 2
Bright Futures Guidelines................... 2
Rural Safe Home Network................... 3
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention . 3
AZ Child Fatality Review.................... 4
Never Shake A Baby AZ ...................... 5
AZ Child Fatality Review continued... 5
Parent Education ................................. 6
New Employees.................................... 6

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SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH CONT.
Child sexual abuse in Arizona
From April 1, 2005-March 31, 2006, Child Protective Services
received 2,145 reports of sexual abuse, about 6% of the total
number of reports made.
Dating Violence in Arizona
In 2007, 10% of Arizona high school students replied "yes" to
the question, "Have you ever been physically forced to have
sexual intercourse when you did not want to?"
In 2003, 8.0% of students surveyed responded yes to the
same question.
How does sexual violence affect health?
SV can impact health in many ways. Some ways are serious
and can lead to long-term health problems. These include
chronic pain, headaches, stomach problems, and sexually
transmitted diseases. SV can have an emotional impact as
well. Victims often are fearful and anxious. They may replay
the attack repeatedly in their minds. They may have problems
with trust and be wary of becoming involved with others.
The anger and stress that victims feel may lead to eating disorders and depression. Some even think about or attempt suicide. SV is also linked to negative health behaviors. For example, victims are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, use
drugs, and engage in risky sexual activity.
Community Prevention - What can you do?
We can all have a role in primary prevention for sexual violence. The National Sexual Violence Resource Centers has
an array of information on prevention activities. Listed below
are a few ideas for activities in your community.
1. Local media designates a week to focus on positive images and stories of girls and women, relationships, and
healthy sexuality. During this week, community leaders honor
local heroes who are positive role models.
2. Educators teach non-violent conflict-resolution skills and
promote anti-bullying values that demonstrate respect for
everyone.
3. Coaches and fans emphasize skill-development, teamwork, character and sportsmanship over competition. Players
are motivated with praise. Sponsor gender violence prevention training for youth athletic teams.
4. Community centers provide forums for inter-generational
discussions and activities about pop culture and technology.
Activities can include helping older people to learn more
about newer technologies, and helping younger people learn
to notice and critically evaluate underlying themes and messages in games, movies, music and ads.

Spring 2008

RELEASE OF THE THIRD EDITION OF THE
BRIGHT FUTURES GUIDELINES
The third edition of Bright Futures: Guidelines for
Health Supervision of infants, Children, and Adolescents was released in late October 2007. It is a set of
comprehensive health supervision guidelines for
children from birth through age 21 years and it is the
core of the Bright Futures initiative. In addition to the
new release there will also be a new pocket guide
that will include topics such as; building effective
partnerships, fostering family- centered communication, promoting health and preventing illness, managing time for health promotion, educating families
through teachable moments, advocating for children,
families, and communities.
This helpful and resourceful information and can be
ordered or acquired from the information below:
Bright Futures
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd
Elk Grove Village, IL 6007-1098
E-mail: brightfutures@aap.org
Phone: 847/434-4223
Fax: 847/228-7320
Web site: www.brightfutures.aap.org

skills; and speak out about ways to show respect.
8. Artists and businesses work together to create/
display murals, posters, kites, or variations on the “cow
parade” phenomenon illustrating healthy relationships.
9. Employers promote violence-free workplaces; establish and enforce sexual harassment and anti-bullying
policies; contribute resources to programs that are
working to make a difference.
10. “Wear a Pin; Share a Pin.” Groups encourage
members to wear a teal ribbon awareness pin.
Make them available to give away with information on what to say when someone asks about
the teal pin.
1 in 10 people in the United States have been sexually
assaulted, 10 in 10 people can do something to help. It
takes everyone to end sexual violence.
Source: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/172837.pdf

5. Health Care Providers talk with patients about normal human development and healthy, consensual sexuality.

For more information please contact:

6. Faith and spiritual community members sponsor activities
that demonstrate appreciation for diversity, such as hosting
educational activities around various holidays, and inviting
people to share favorite recipes and talk about their family
traditions that build respect.

Carol Hensell, Program Manager
Arizona Department of Health Services
Sexual Violence Prevention & Education
602-542-7343
henselc@azdhs.gov

7. Young people value the uniqueness of each person; find
positive friends; reach out to at-risk peers; develop leadership

www.azrapeprevention.org

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Spring 2008

ADHS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES RURAL SAFE HOME NETWORK PROGRAM
We have grown!
Last spring the ADHS Rural Safe
Home Network Program (RSHN) released a competitive grant for domestic violence services for rural Arizona.
All five shelter programs which have
been funded the past five years were
successful with their applications and
will be funded again. Those successful programs include Ama Doo Alchini
Bighan, Inc (Chinle), Community Alliance Against Family Abuse (Apache
Junction), Gila County Safe Home
(Globe), Interagency Council of Lake
Havasu, and Mt. Graham Safe House
(Safford).
A domestic violence shelter program
new to the Rural Safe Home Network
is the Colorado River Regional Crisis
Shelter in Parker, Arizona. Nearly ten
years after its inception, the Colorado
River Regional Crisis Shelter
(CRRCS) remains the only domestic
violence shelter and full-service domestic violence support agency in La
Paz County. CRRCS primarily serves
domestic violence victims and their
children from La Paz County, but also
serves clients from Mohave County,

other neighboring counties of rural
Western Arizona and members of the
Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT)
reservation that surrounds the community of Parker. Like so many rural
shelters, CRRCS started out small
and has continued to expand and
enhance services in direct response
to local need. CRRCS currently has
a 23- bed emergency shelter that
provides housing to both women and
children. The program can also accommodate adult male victims as
needed. CRRCS continues to respond to the emerging needs of the
Parker area by working with collaborators to launch new programs and
services. One of their successes has
been the ongoing effort to coordinate
and enhance the response of local
law enforcement agencies to domestic violence, thus enhancing the
safety of persons experiencing domestic violence.
Another Rural Safe Home Network
Program, The Interagency of Lake
Havasu City (IAC) has provided services to victims of domestic violence
for 21 years and has a comprehensive system of services that includes

a 24-hour telephone crisis line, crisis
intervention, safety-planning, case
management, individual and group
counseling for victims, offenders and
children by four certified counselors,
legal and court advocacy, and victim
transportation assistance. Until recently, IAC did not have within its
services an emergency crisis shelter
for persons experiencing domestic
violence, but instead utilized local
hotels and motels for short stays.
Women no longer in immediate danger but desiring to continue working
with the agency would be transferred
to longer term transitional housing,
space permitting. This past September, the agency requested and was
approved RSHN funding to support
opening a new shelter in Lake Havasu City. The 2050 sq. ft. secure
residence has 10 beds for women
and children who are seeking safety
from domestic violence and will serve
Lake Havasu City and the surrounding area of Mohave County.
JAnn Pope, Program Manger
Rural Safe Home Network Program
Phone: 602 542-7341
E-mail: popej@azdhs.gov

NATIONAL DAY TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
On the National Day (May
7, 2008), teens nationwide
will be asked to visit the
new teen website StayTeen.org - to take a
short, scenario-based
"quiz" that asks young people what they would do in a
number of risky sexual
situations. The purpose of
the National Day is to focus
the attention of teens on the
importance of avoiding tooearly pregnancy and parenthood.
Organized by the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen
and Unplanned Pregnancy,
the National Day has widespread support from over
238 national organizations

and media outlets who
serve as official National
Day partners. For a full list
of last year's partners,
please review our 2007
National Day Partner List.
The message of the National Day is straightforward: Sex has consequences. The online quiz
(available in English and
Spanish) delivers this message directly to teens and
challenges them to think
carefully about what they
might do "in the moment."
Arizona has come along
way in reducing the teen
birth rates but we still have
a long way to go. In 2006,

14,676 females age 15 to
19 became pregnant in Arizona, 12,746 of these
pregnancies resulted in live
births (86.8%), 1,850 pregnancies were aborted
(12.6%) and 80 pregnancies resulted in fetal deaths
(.6%). The number of
pregnancies that resulted in
live births in Arizona
(86.8%) is notably higher
than the national average
(56.1%).
The Bureau of Woman’s
and Children’s Health encourages you to have the
young people you work with
or are at home with you go

to the site on May 7, 2008
and take the quiz.
For more information on the
2008 National Day:
http://www.thenationalcamp
aign.org/national/pdf/2008/2
008_ND_brochure.pdf
And
http://www.teenpregnancy.o
rg/informed/notificationnet.a
sp

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Spring 2008

THE ARIZONA CHILD FATALITY REVIEW PROGRAM
Overview
The Arizona Child Fatality Review Program was created in
1993 (A.R.S. § 36-342, 36-350-4) and data collection began in 1994. A statewide team was mandated by statute to
provide oversight of the program, develop the data collection system, and produce an annual report summarizing
the findings.

(21 percent), and lack of vehicle restraints was a contributing factor for 92 preventable deaths (20 percent).

Substance use contributed to 46 percent of homicides
(n=29), 35 percent of suicides (n=17), and 22 percent of
accidents (n=59). Motor vehicle crashes accounted for 27
percent of child deaths involving drugs and/or alcohol
(n=38), and firearms accounted for 18 percent (n=25). AlDuring 2006, there were 1,161 fatalities among children
cohol contributed to five percent of all child deaths during
younger than 18 years in Arizona. Child Fatality Review
2006 (n=64), and marijuana was involved in four percent of
Teams located throughout the State reviewed every one of all child deaths (n=43). Methamphetamine was a factor in
these deaths, the largest percentage of which was among four percent of child deaths (n=43).
children less than 28 days old. This age group accounted
for 37 percent (n=440) of all childhood deaths.
Recommendations
Some of the past recommendations of the Child Fatality
Deaths were over-represented among African American
Review Program have now become reality. For example,
children, who comprised five percent of the population in
because of concerns regarding deaths associated with
Arizona, but nine percent of the fatalities. American Indian unsafe sleep environments, Child Protective Services dechildren were also over-represented among child fatalities, veloped a safe sleep brochure to disperse to families.
comprising seven percent of the population and ten perStatewide concern for teen motor vehicle crashes resulted
cent of deaths.
in graduated driving license requirements, which will become effective in 2008. The program has also recomNatural deaths accounted for 64 percent of all child deaths mended increased supervision of children around water
during 2006 (n=743); 23 percent of child deaths were acci- and pool fencing. In 2006, Maricopa County drowning
dents (n=270); five percent were homicides (n=63); four
deaths among children younger than five years of age
percent were suicides (n=48); and three percent were of
dropped to the lowest rate since the state started tracking
undetermined manner (n=37).
the problem, and child deaths in Maricopa County swimming pools also dropped to the lowest rate on record.
Infant deaths were primarily the result of natural causes
while accidental deaths were more common for older chil- The following is a summary of the recommendations from
dren and adolescents. Homicide occurred in all age
the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program:
groups except for children ages five through nine years.
Suicide primarily occurred in the 15 through 17 year age
 Increase public awareness of the dangers associgroup, but the youngest case of suicide was reported to be
ated with underage consumption of alcohol and
nine years of age.
illegal drug use.
There was an increase in the percentages of deaths due to
accidents and suicides and a decline in natural deaths in
2006. Motor vehicle crash deaths increased by two percent in 2006 compared to 2005. There were also slight
increases in the percentages of deaths due to firearms and
suffocation in 2006, and small declines in the percentages
of child deaths due to SIDS, poisoning, fire/burns, and exposure.



Develop comprehensive educational campaigns
designed to prevent pedestrian motor vehicle
deaths.



Encourage the use of motor vehicle restraints by
enacting legislation that supports primary enforcement for seat belt use and child booster
seats.

Preventable Deaths
Child Fatality Review Teams consider a child’s death preventable if something could have been done (by an individual such as the caretaker or supervisor, or by the community as a whole) that would have prevented the death.
Child Fatality Review Teams determined that 454 of child
deaths in 2006 were preventable (39 percent). This was
an increase from 2005, when 34 percent of deaths were
determined to have been preventable (n=388).



Improve access to mental health services for children and educate parents and teachers on the
warning signs of suicide.



Encourage hospitals, medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, and others to report all child
deaths for which there are suspicions of maltreatment to Child Protective Services.



Educate parents and other caregivers on safe
sleep environments for infants.



Increase funding for substance abuse treatment
programs for both adults and children.

Among the 454 deaths determined to have been preventable, drugs and/or alcohol was identified as a contributing
factor for 130 fatalities (29 percent). Lack of supervision
was a contributing factor for 97 preventable child deaths

Continued on page 5

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NEVER SHAKE A BABY ARIZONA (NSBAZ)
Never Shake A Baby Arizona (NSBAz), a program of Prevent Child
Abuse Arizona, is a program offered by nurses to parents of a newborn prior to hospital discharge.
Parents are told that crying is normal child behavior. There are many
techniques that help to soothe a crying infant, including being sure
baby is fed, burped, dry and feels secure. Many times holding your
baby helps to comfort her. But sometimes babies just need to cry, and
that’s OK. It’s OK to put your baby in a safe place and take a break.
Check on her every 10 minutes or so, but do something to relax yourself.
Parents learn how to recognize and handle their own frustration with a
crying baby so that they don’t end up shaking the baby. Parents are
encouraged to talk to all their baby’s caregivers about crying and the
life-threatening dangers of shaking an infant or young child. Everybody needs to know that it is never OK to shake a baby.
These messages need to be reinforced by all who come in contact
with families with young children, like NICP nurses, Healthy Families
home visitors, Health Start lay health workers, Hotline staff.
NSBAz is based on a researched program begun by a pediatric neurosurgeon in New York State. After 5 years of implementation
in New York, a 47% reduction in cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome
resulted. In Arizona, 11 hospitals are now using NSBAz materials and
training; more than 12,000 parents have been educated. Long term,
we hope to see a significant reduction in cases of this form of child
abuse.
!

ADHS/BWCH funded the printing of parent education brochures.

Spring 2008

THE ARIZONA CHILD
FATALITY REVIEW
PROGRAM CONT...
Key Findings
The following is a summary of key findings from the Arizona’s 14th Annual
Child Fatality Review Report:


39 percent of children’s deaths
could have been prevented.



The percentages of deaths
among African American,
American Indian, and Hispanic
children were higher than their
proportions of the Arizona
population.



Drugs and/or alcohol contributed to 12 percent of all child
deaths in Arizona during 2006
(n=140).



Substance use was a contributing factor in 46 percent of
homicides, 35 percent of suicides, and 22 percent of accidental deaths.



164 children died in motor vehicle crashes. Of these deaths,
96 percent could have been
prevented (n=157). The most
common contributing factors
were lack of vehicle restraints
and excessive driving speeds.



48 children committed suicide
in Arizona during 2006. Twelve
of these children were younger
than 15 years old (25 percent).



60 children died as a result of
firearm-related injuries, compared to 43 firearm-related
deaths in 2005.



60 children died as the result of
maltreatment. Seventy-seven
percent of maltreatment deaths
were of children younger than
six years old (n=46).

Deaths Among Children Birth Through 17 years by group and
gender, Arizona 26 (n=1, 161)

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Spring 2008

PARENT EDUCATION
The Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health recently awarded four
agencies contracts to provided parent education. The goal of the programs is To develop and implement
programs for parents/caregivers/
foster parents of school aged children ages 6-18 with an emphasis
on providing education which includes the following topic areas: 1)
development and practical application of parent/child communication
skills, 2) risk and protective factors,
3) the consequences of unhealthy
risk behaviors, 4) the benefits of
healthy behaviors, 5) information
on primary and secondary prevention of teen pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases, 6) growth and
development of children and adolescents; and 7) the exploration and
discussion of parental views regarding sex, love and healthy relationships with others. The ultimate
goal is to reduce teen pregnancy.

Our Town Family Services will provide a 9 hour course using Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
(STEP) in Pima County, with outreach via workplace, community
center and churches. Parents !
of middle school children in
Marana, Flowing Wells and Amphi
School districts are primary targets.
Pima Prevention Partnership will
provide a 12 hour parent class targeted at parents of middle school.
They will use Parent-Child Communication Basics and the Can We
Talk curriculum. They hope to
reach 200 parents/caregivers of
children 9-14 years in Maricopa and
Pima Counties.

tary, junior high, and senior high
schools, churches/faith groups in
Maricopa County.
Parenting Arizona will provide Project Parent Power targeting Latino
families in South Phoenix , Somerton and San Luis using Can We
Talk and Parent-Child Communications target 150 parents and 200
adolescents.

Catholic Family Charities will provide 4 hours contact time using Can
We Talk and FACTS curriculum
targeting parents, grandparents and
caregivers in collaborating elemen-

EVER SHAKE A BABY ARIZONA (NSBAZ)
NewNEmployees
Since Our Last Edition

Syed Hussaini
Research and Statistics Section Manager

Valerie Odeh
Follow-up Specialist
Newborn Screening Program

Doug Ritenour
Epidemiology Specialist II

Tyler McRae
BWCH Official Baby

Paul Holley
Chief, Office of Assessment
and Evaluation