Release date: June 27, 2002
Contact: Elaine Justice, Associate Director, Media Relations,
at 404-727-0643 or ejustic@emory.edu

Don’t Just Parent; Be a Child Advocate, says Emory’s Worthington

As millions of children head back to school, the inevitable reminders arise that for most children, school is only part of what they need to lead healthy, successful lives, says Karen Worthington, director of the Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic at Emory University.

"Unfortunately, most juvenile crime occurs between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.," says Worthington, citing a 1999 report from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency. "Knowing these statistics should make everyone a strong advocate for after-school and mentoring programs."

"It’s too late to start caring when children are 18, or in trouble with the law," says Worthington. The Barton Clinic works to effect policy and process changes to help children in Georgia’s child welfare system. The clinic provides research, training and support for policymakers and practitioners, and offers its own web site, childwelfare.net, as a statewide resource on child abuse and neglect issues in Georgia.

For those looking to get involved in improving children’s lives—and lessening the likelihood that kids will get in trouble—opportunities abound, says Worthington. She advises the following:

• Be a mentor to a child either through a local organization or more well-known national resources such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

• Get involved with the Prevent Child Abuse Program in your state or city.

• Get political. "The Child Care and Development Block Grant,—our major federal child care program—is up for reauthorization in Congress this year," says Worthington. To get more information on the bill, visit theChildren’s Defense Fund web site. The site also gives information about how to contact your member of Congress.

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