How well do you know your lover? Children in Danger

              CHILDREN IN DANGER
How well do
you know
your lover?
PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE...
WE CAN SUCCEED!
Design and editing of this brochure donated by:
Abbott
Printing of this brochure is donated by:
Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services
70119
SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO
TO HELP KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE
Listen to your child. Watch your child’s behavior and reactions.
Make sure you know your lover well before you let him or her be
alone with your child. If it’s safe, ask for help and talk honestly
with your:
friends
family
spiritual leader
•
•
•
health care provider
family support worker
or anyone you trust
•
•
•
Call your local health department to   nd out about support
groups and other parent resources in your area.
ONE MOM’S TRUE STORY
“I knew this man for 17 years. We grew up together. I had been
living with him for   ve months when he offered to babysit while
I was at work. That day I had a gut feeling maybe I should stay
home, but I went to work anyway. My boyfriend killed my son
that day.
If you feel like something isn’t right, investigate! Pay attention
to the little things, especially your child’s behavior. If he or
she begins to cry whenever they see the person or any other
changes that cannot be explained, investigate! Even though
I am not to blame and I did not hurt him, I will blame myself
every day because I didn’t know. Every day I replay what
I could have done to prevent his death.
You can always   nd another job or babysitter, but you can
never replace your child.”
— Linda, age 37
You hold the key to your child’s safety. Parents think their child
will be safe in their own home. The reality is that many children
every year are abused by their parent’s lover and some even die.
A study that took place in November 2005
found that…
“Children living in homes occupied by their mother’s boyfriends
or other non-relatives are up to 48 times more likely to die from
child abuse.”
Pediatrics, November 2005
Dr. Bernard Ewigman
Remember your children
look to you to keep them safe.
Read on to see if your lover
passes the test!
Preventing Child Abuse...We Can
SUCCEED
Prevention Resource Development Project
528 South 5th Street, Suite 211 • Spring  eld, Illinois 62701
217.522.1129 (of  ce) • 217.522.0655 (fax)
www.preventchildabuseillinois.org