Risks of unrelated adults living with children highlighted
MEDIA
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 31 January
2012
Risks
of having unrelated adults living with children highlighted
Following the charging of
Matthew Ellery for the death of Ngaruawahia infant Serenity
Jay Scott-Dinnington, Child
Matters spokesperson Amanda Meynell says “it is
important that parents understand the risks to their
children of having unrelated adults living in their home
with their children.”
Matthew Ellery is the partner of Serenity’s mother Chelsea Scott, and was living in the home with Serenity at the time of her death. He was charged yesterday for Serenity’s death.
Amanda Meynell, Academic Services Manager for Child Matters, New Zealand’s child abuse prevention specialists, says “international research has consistently concluded that children living in homes with unrelated adults are at much higher risk of injury or death. Parents need to be aware of these risks and have appropriate supports in place to reduce any risks to their children”
Dubbed the ‘Cinderella Effect’ by psychologists, Mrs Meynell warns “The name Cinderella Effect implies this increased risk only applies to step parents. However the research shows that any non related adult in the home increases the risk to the child. So for any parent, including single parents, the introduction of any unrelated adult to the home must be carefully considered and the risks taken into account”
One piece of US research by the School of Medicine, at University of Missouri, concluded that: Children residing in households with unrelated adults were nearly 50 times as likely to die of inflicted injuries than children residing with 2 biological parents or with a single parent and no unrelated adults.
Another piece of research from Australia by the School of Psychology, Deakin University, concluded that children under five living with a non-biological or step-parent are up to 77 times more likely to die from a violence-related injury than those living with their biological families. This increased to up to 102 times greater risk if the child was living with neither biological parent, such as foster children and state wards. Their research also showed that children living with single mothers were no more likely to die from either violent or unintentional causes than those in biological families.
The Child Matters website has more information about child abuse and other risk factors to children. Also available on the website is the publication How Can I Tell? which provides more detailed information about recognising child abuse.
ENDS
About Child Matters:
• Child Matters is the only
organisation in New Zealand solely focused on child abuse
prevention.
• It works to prevent child abuse by 1)
speaking up for New Zealand children; and 2) educating
adults to identify child abuse and take the appropriate
action.
• Child Matters is a catalyst in communities,
working to connect organisations and build leaders who are
making positive impacts on child abuse prevention.
• Child Matters is an independent charitable trust
with a cross sector view and influence around child abuse in
New Zealand. It has links to all organisations who work
with children and enables them to tackle the issue of child
abuse in their local communities.
• Every adult in New
Zealand is affected in some way by child abuse and,
therefore, Child Matters believes every adult has a role to
play in protecting children. Its child abuse prevention
educational programmes are a powerful solution.
• Child
Matters believes child abuse prevention education must be
made compulsory for all key organisations working with
children.
• Child Matters works with a range of
organisations to educate their staff to identify child abuse
and take the appropriate action. It encourages
organisations to adopt a child abuse prevention education
and staff wellness programme to demonstrate they take child
abuse prevention seriously.
• Child Matters operates
nationally.
• For more information, visit: www.childmatters.org.nz