KEEP YOUR CHILDREN PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Maynard Jackson Lee P. Brown, Commissioner Mayor Department of Public Safety THE PROBLEM WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP

Many people have been concerned that Atlanta’s children may be emotionally affected by the The Atlanta Public School System offers counseling services to enrolled children upon refer­ news of child murders and kidnappings in addition to repeated safety warnings voiced by ral. many in the Atlanta community. The Fulton County Health Department Mental Health Service offers assistance 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK: EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH 265 BOULEVARD, N.E. The impact of the day to day publicity, the sight of bodies being removed from a crime scene, Atlanta, Georgia 30312 and the grief portrayed by parents and families of the children involved continue to take their PHONE: 572-2626 OR 572-2628 toll. Other centers to contact in Atlanta and Atlanta in DeKalb County include: NORTHSIDE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER KIRKWOOD MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 1000 Johnson Ferry Road 30 Warren Drive Children tend to be affected by their social surroundings. The fear of children is far greater Atlanta, Georgia 30342 Atlanta, Georgia 30317 than fear felt by adults. Can you remember as a child, of being afraid to enter a dark room or Phone: 256-8960 Phone: 373-2501 being afraid of being locked in a closet; or of the boogie man; or of getting lost away from 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday home. Under other circumstances, fear is considered a normal positive reaction but the child SOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CENTER CENTRAL DEKALB MENTAL HEALTH CENTER cases have caused emotional fear in many of our children. 1636 Connally Drive 500 Winn Way East Point, Georgia 30344 Decatur, Georgia 30030 Phone: 763-2606 Phone: 292-5231 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday In an effort to help relieve the emotional fears that appear to be surfacing in our children, WEST MENTAL HEALTH CENTER SOUTH DEKALB MENTAL HEALTH CENTER parents are asked to look out for these symptoms that may occur apart from normal behavior: 3703 Bakers Ferry Road, S. E. 200 S. DeKalb Mini Mall 1. Increased irritability Atlanta, Georgia 30331 Decatur, Georgia 30034 2. Fear of being outside alone Phone: 691-9627 Phone: 243-9500 3. Nightmares/bad dreams 8:00 - 6:00 Monday thru Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Thursday 4. Change in TV habits 8:30 - 8:30 Friday WEST MHC SATELLITE 5. Drop in school performance 1175 Johnson Road, N. E. 6. Fear of going to school Atlanta, Georgia 30318 7. More rebelliousness; increased aggressiveness; fighting Phone: 799-0186 8. Panic when parents are late 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday 9. Fear of all adults 10. Complaints of sickness with no physical basis SOUTH CENTRAL MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 11. Carrying items which can be used as weapons Southeast Atlanta Neighborhood Facility 12. Fear of being separated from parents 215 Lakewood Way. S. W. 13. Any major change from child’s normal behavior Atlanta, Georgia 30315 8:30 - 5:00 Monday thru Friday CENTRAL FULTON COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 800 E. 80 Butler Street, S. E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 If you become aware of any of these symptoms, you may want to seek help from one of the mental Phone 588-4444 health centers listed on the following page. The initial consultation is free. If the child has a 8:30 - 4:30 Monday thru Friday diagnosible problem, fees will be based on a sliding scale according to a family’s ability to pay. No one will be turned away. OTHER PROBLEMS PARENTS MAY FACE AMUSEMENTS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN

Nowadays, parents may keep their children inside in order to keep a close eye on them. Listed below are some places that families can go: Although the parents’ aim is accomplished, children’s contacts with friends are considerably The Atlanta Botanical Gardens lessened. The more time children spend alone without social contacts, the greater the oppor­ The Atlanta High Museum tunity for emotional fear to develop. The Atlanta Libraries (planned programs and reading hour) Atlanta Recreation Centers Parents may help to relieve this problem by spending more time with children after work and Atlanta Center For Puppetry Arts school and on weekends. Increasing your children’s feelings of security can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Atlanta Toy Museum Atlanta Girls/Boys Clubs (planned programs) Atlanta Y.M.C.A./Y.W.C.A. Omni sports activities 1. By maintaining control of your own fears and talking to your children about those fears. Omni exhibits and displays 2. By never leaving your children locked up, alone, (at home, in a car, etc.) Atlanta parades * 3. By reassuring your children that it is okay to be afraid, but life must go on. Go for short Holiday Displays * walks, visit museums, etc. Roller/Ice Skating rinks 4. By tucking your children in at night. Bowling 5. By picking your children up from the day care center or babysitter on time. Riding Stables 6. By complimenting your children’s good deeds. Six Flags Amusement Park* 7. By talking to your children; asking about their day, friends, activities, hopes, dreams, Stone Mountain Park opinions, etc. which will help develop a sense of importance. Beaches and State Parks * 8. By hugging your children more often. Piedmont Playscapes Playground 9. By initiating more group activities, such as: Zoo Movies (matinees usually $1.50) * Having a regular meal on time with the whole family together in one room with no Atlanta Civic Center radio or TV playing Fox Theatre * Giving each child a household job to do if they don’t already have one; even small Fulton County Stadium (home games) children can empty a trash can or straighten shoes in a closet; set aside a time for homework or reading hour; compliment each other on how well the job was done Check with your local newspapers for additional ideas. * Encouraging your children to draw pictures of things they like; display them in a Special Thanks are given to the Fulton County Health Department’s Mental Health Division. special place for others to see * Seasonal * Telling your children stories or have them tell you one 10. Anything that enhances the quality of time spent with children will help them and you.

For other information on parenting and training call 577-SAFE. Our Children Are Our Most Valuable Possessions.

Protect Them By Teaching Them

The Basics Of Personal Safety.

ATLANTA EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

POLICE...... 658-6666 FIRE...... 659-2121 Grady HOSPITAL ...... 588-4141 RAPE Crisis Center ... .. 659-RAPE

OR

DIAL OPERATOR (O)

For crime prevention information, call or write the

SAFE Program Atlanta Bureau of Police Services 55 Georgia Ave., SE Crime Prevention Section Atlanta, Ga. 30312 2001 M.L.King, Jr. Drive, NW 577-S.A.F.E. Atlanta, Ga. 30310 658-6778

The printing of this material was financed, in part, though grant #79-DF-AX-OO23 from the LEAA U. S. Department of Justice