Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a medical theory that explains a form of child abuse when an infant is shaken violently by their caretaker, creating a whip-lash motion that results in severe brain injury, lifelong disability or death. The concept of SBS was described in the early 1970's by a neurosurgeon, Dr. Guthkelch. His medical theory has sent dozens of women to jail and was used in the trial of the now infamous au pair, Louise Woodward. She was prosecuted and found guilty of manslaughter for shaking an infant in her care while she was an au pair for Cultural Care.
Breaking scientific research published in the Paediatric Development Pathology Journal (United Kingdom, 2009) sheds new light on SBS. Recent scientific findings may lend evidence to exonerate jailed "abusers" (who continue to protest their innocence) and could have a dramatic effect on future SBS and child abuse trials.
Two British pathologists have found that a combination of injuries used to diagnose SBS abuse, known as the "triad" (swelling, bleeding and oxygen deprivation to the brain), can happen naturally.
Dr Irene Scheimberg (London's Bart's Hospital) and Dr Marta Cohen (Sheffield Children's Hospital) found that bleeding, swelling and oxygen deprivation to the brain can occur without violent shaking. The study found that the symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome can happen in babies even before they are taken home from hospital.
Dr. Scheimberg warns that when there "is no evidence of physical abuse (apart from the triad of SBS sypmtoms) we may be sending to jail parents who lost their children through no fault of their own." The doctor went on to state, "As scientists it is our duty to be cautious when we see the triad and to take each case on its merits. We owe it to children and their families."
The doctors looked at 25 babies who had died shortly before delivery and 30 newborns who had brain hemorrhages and found similar damage to the brains of all the babies. The study concluded that the symptoms are common in infants and could be caused by a traumatic birth or other conditions.
There were two groups of children who presented with symptoms similar to SBS - one group had bleeding in the brain caused by normal vaginal delivery and went on to lead normal lives and the other group who also presented with sign of SBS at birth, but did not get well, and whose bleeding continued and actually got worse. Dr. Scheimberg said, "These are the children who the courts suspect have been harmed by their parents (or caregivers)."
The evidence of their study could now be used in a number of appeals in cases where caregivers or parents were prosecuted and jailed for killing infants by shaking them and could finally exonerate Louise Woodward, who many believe she did shake baby Matthew until his brain started to bleed.
The "triad" of symptoms known as Shaken Baby Syndrome was used by the prosecution in the 1998 U.S. trial of British au pair Louise Woodward, who was found guilty of the second-degree murder of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen in October 1997. She was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years to life in prison but the judge overruled that decision and reduced her conviction to involuntary manslaughter. Her sentence was then reduced to time served (279 days) and she was released as a free woman.
In 2007, Dr Patrick Barnes, the prosecution's star medical witness, reversed his medical opinion that convicted Woodward: he concluded that death (of Matthew Eappen) could have been caused by an old injury, as argued by the defense. In a scientific paper he states: "The science we have today could, in fact, have exonerated Louise. There is certainly, in retrospect, reasonable doubt."
There are about 200 cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome diagnosed in Britain every year and an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 cases diagnosed every year in the United States (data from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome). Many of the childcare givers and mothers who are accused in these cases protest their innocence and deny they did anything harmful to the babies left in their care.
A U.S. physician, Harold E Buttram, notes that many cases of brain hemorrhages are dependent on the strength of the smallest blood vessels at birth, which can be affected by different conditions. He also warns, "Among the many adversities and difficulties facing the American family today, there is a relatively new and growing hazard in which a parent or caretaker may be falsely accused of murdering or injuring an infant by the shaken baby syndrome, when the true cause of death or injury arises from other sources. Very tragically, child abuse does occur and deserves appropriate punishment. However, it is equally tragic when a family, already grieving from the death of their infant, finds a father or mother unjustly accused, convicted, and imprisoned for murder of the infant, a murder of which he or she is innocent."
He explains, "In fact, an infant can die with extensive retinal hemorrhages, a blood clot under the capsule of the brain, extensive bruises, broken bones and sores that will not heal, due to Barlow's disease, without having been subjected to anything but the tenderest of loving care."
Cite: Shaken Baby Syndrome - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References, Icon Health Publications
Friday, April 30, 2010
Au Pair Industry Changes You Need to Know About!
The au pair industry is making changes in the way they market their businesses and how they allow consumers to access information online. Due to the deepening recession and the fierce competition for market share, au pair agencies are now forced into sharing more information with you, the consumer!
For example, we are seeing au pair agencies, like goAUPAIR, roll out innovative features, like their new Au Pair Review, that allows the consumer to view their au pair data base. Parents can view hundreds of available au pairs, waiting to match, without paying an application fee, signing a contract or completing a long, ardous host family application.
For the first time, au pair agencies are allowing unregistered parents access to information that was previously considered "confidential" and only privy to paying customers (host parents who applied and were accepted into their program).
goAUPAIR is not the only agency offering increased access to their au pairs data base - Au Pair in America and USA Au Pair both have user friendly and easy accessible pages of au pairs to view!
As the economy forces parents to spend less on childcare, au pair agencies are getting hit hard - this has forced the industry to "rethink" their marketing strategy and how they operate overall. As a result, innovative programming and marketing plans have been rolled out - allowing any parent to view their au pair data base is a major change for au pair agencies! This is good news for the consumer - you can view what kinds of young women are attracted to each agency and you get a "feel" for the quality and level of screening the agency is doing.
For example, Au Pair in America now allows any parent to view their available au pairs waiting to match (in the past, you not only had to complete a lengthy application, pay a hefty application fee, and send in multiple letters of references, but you had to pass muster during a face-to-face, hour long interview where a counselor screened you). Now, you only have to provide your name, address and email address to view hundreds of au pairs!
When viewing Au Pair in America's data base of Chinese au pairs (they are the largest recruiter from China), we noticed that the majority of Chinese au pairs are not going to be good drivers - most of them received their license in the past 6-12 months, even when the ages were over 23. This means the girls were not driving until they decided to apply to the cultural program and travel to America to become an au pair.
So, as you view the data base, you can also make an informed and intelligent summations of the quality of their recruits based on driving experience, English skills and childcare experience. However, you are not getting access to the entire application - only a "snapshot" of the au pair's most basic demographics. Compared to 12 months ago, you had to sign up, pay an application fee, get interviewed by their local counselor, and get approved before you could see anything about any au pair!
Understanding how busy parents are today, Au Pair USA recently introduced the 10-Minute Online Application! Now, that is customer oriented - in the recent past, applying online was very time consuming and you also had to send in a host letter, photos and 3 references. For busy parents with hectic schedules, this was always a hassle! Now, you get right on and into their system, dramatically decreasing your waiting time for your au pair's arrival.
Things are quietly and dramatically changing in the au pair industry, and as a result of our struggling economy, au pair agencies have been forced to "reinvent" themselves. They are sharing more information with the consumer and this is great news for any parent who is thinking of using an au pair for their childcare needs! Information is still the leading factor in the consumer's decision to purchase any goods or services. This means more services and benefits for you, the consumer.
For example, we are seeing au pair agencies, like goAUPAIR, roll out innovative features, like their new Au Pair Review, that allows the consumer to view their au pair data base. Parents can view hundreds of available au pairs, waiting to match, without paying an application fee, signing a contract or completing a long, ardous host family application.
For the first time, au pair agencies are allowing unregistered parents access to information that was previously considered "confidential" and only privy to paying customers (host parents who applied and were accepted into their program).
goAUPAIR is not the only agency offering increased access to their au pairs data base - Au Pair in America and USA Au Pair both have user friendly and easy accessible pages of au pairs to view!
As the economy forces parents to spend less on childcare, au pair agencies are getting hit hard - this has forced the industry to "rethink" their marketing strategy and how they operate overall. As a result, innovative programming and marketing plans have been rolled out - allowing any parent to view their au pair data base is a major change for au pair agencies! This is good news for the consumer - you can view what kinds of young women are attracted to each agency and you get a "feel" for the quality and level of screening the agency is doing.
For example, Au Pair in America now allows any parent to view their available au pairs waiting to match (in the past, you not only had to complete a lengthy application, pay a hefty application fee, and send in multiple letters of references, but you had to pass muster during a face-to-face, hour long interview where a counselor screened you). Now, you only have to provide your name, address and email address to view hundreds of au pairs!
When viewing Au Pair in America's data base of Chinese au pairs (they are the largest recruiter from China), we noticed that the majority of Chinese au pairs are not going to be good drivers - most of them received their license in the past 6-12 months, even when the ages were over 23. This means the girls were not driving until they decided to apply to the cultural program and travel to America to become an au pair.
So, as you view the data base, you can also make an informed and intelligent summations of the quality of their recruits based on driving experience, English skills and childcare experience. However, you are not getting access to the entire application - only a "snapshot" of the au pair's most basic demographics. Compared to 12 months ago, you had to sign up, pay an application fee, get interviewed by their local counselor, and get approved before you could see anything about any au pair!
Understanding how busy parents are today, Au Pair USA recently introduced the 10-Minute Online Application! Now, that is customer oriented - in the recent past, applying online was very time consuming and you also had to send in a host letter, photos and 3 references. For busy parents with hectic schedules, this was always a hassle! Now, you get right on and into their system, dramatically decreasing your waiting time for your au pair's arrival.
Things are quietly and dramatically changing in the au pair industry, and as a result of our struggling economy, au pair agencies have been forced to "reinvent" themselves. They are sharing more information with the consumer and this is great news for any parent who is thinking of using an au pair for their childcare needs! Information is still the leading factor in the consumer's decision to purchase any goods or services. This means more services and benefits for you, the consumer.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
New & Exciting Agency Marketing Benefits Parents
Hello readers!
What an exciting spring this is for host parents and au pairs! Competition between the au pair agencies is strong and healthy and this means benefits and perks for everyone signing up in 2010.
We can hardly keep up with all the new, innovative programs and features popping up every day at Au Pair USA (we just posted their new press release on their new 10-Minute Online Application)!
This week, Cultural Care announced their new and creative video contest, with lots of great prizes. Cultural Care is on the cutting edge using video applications on their website and online (youtube has quite a few, really good Cultural Care video infommercials from Susan Robinson, former host mom and current agency VP), so it seems natural to create a video contest for both host families and au pairs.
Cultural Care is looking for funny, inspiring and memorable videos of about 3 minutes duration. The best part about this contest is the Grand Prize - a full year of childcare free! That is a value of about $7300! A fantastic and very generous prize!
Get your video cameras out America and start taping! For prize details, see http://contest.culturalcare.com/prizes.
What an exciting spring this is for host parents and au pairs! Competition between the au pair agencies is strong and healthy and this means benefits and perks for everyone signing up in 2010.
We can hardly keep up with all the new, innovative programs and features popping up every day at Au Pair USA (we just posted their new press release on their new 10-Minute Online Application)!
This week, Cultural Care announced their new and creative video contest, with lots of great prizes. Cultural Care is on the cutting edge using video applications on their website and online (youtube has quite a few, really good Cultural Care video infommercials from Susan Robinson, former host mom and current agency VP), so it seems natural to create a video contest for both host families and au pairs.
Cultural Care is looking for funny, inspiring and memorable videos of about 3 minutes duration. The best part about this contest is the Grand Prize - a full year of childcare free! That is a value of about $7300! A fantastic and very generous prize!
Get your video cameras out America and start taping! For prize details, see http://contest.culturalcare.com/prizes.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Japanese Wins 2010 Au Pair of the Year Award!
Mayumi Yano of InterExchange Au Pair USA Wins IAPA “Au Pair of the Year” Award
A New Jersey family's au pair has been named the 2010 International Au Pair of the Year.
(PRWEB) March 27, 2010 -- Mayumi Yano, a 24-year old au pair from Musashi Murayamashi, Japan was honored as the 2010 International Au Pair of the Year at a waterfront ceremony in Miami, Florida. Each year the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) honors the one au pair whom they feel embodies the true spirit of being an au pair at their annual conference. Mayumi, an au pair with InterExchange’s Au Pair USA program, was nominated for the award by her Host Family, the Yadao-Cahill family of New Jersey who wrote a beautiful essay explaining why Mayumi deserves the award.
Host Mom Bevin Cahill wrote, “Being with Mayumi is like being with the meaning of love, kindness, and fun. Mayumi is so genuine, so full of enthusiasm for every day and every moment that she has made a lifelong impression upon our family.” Bevin continues in her winning essay, “She is not only our children’s best friend, and a trusted member of our family, but is an exceptional person, a rare gem in the world.”
The entire family, including the two little girls for whom Mayumi cares, made the trip from New Jersey to Miami to watch Mayumi accept the prestigious award. Mayumi’s sister also made the trip from Japan to represent the Yano family.
“I want to accept this award not just from myself but really for all the au pairs in the world. It is such an important job full of responsibility, but also full of love and happiness”, Mayumi said while the two little girls hugged her legs. True to being the Au Pair of Year, her focus was more on the children than the crowd gathered to watch her accept the award.
“We are so very proud of Mayumi!” says Michael McHugh, Director of InterExchange’s Au Pair USA program, “She’s an outstanding au pair and such a warm and caring person. Mayumi is actually the first au pair from Japan, and even the first from Asia, to win the award. Having such a great winner bodes well for everyone because we are seeing a lot more interest in the program in that part of the world.”
IAPA was founded in 1994 as an oversight agency to protect the rights of au pairs and host families. The organization establishes internationally approved guidelines for all au pair exchange programs.
InterExchange Au Pair USA is a non-profit cultural exchange organization that has been connecting families in the USA with qualified, experienced au pairs from all over the world for more than 20 years. Au Pair USA specializes in creating authentic cross-cultural connections between host families and au pairs, and makes live-in childcare affordable for many families.
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A New Jersey family's au pair has been named the 2010 International Au Pair of the Year.
(PRWEB) March 27, 2010 -- Mayumi Yano, a 24-year old au pair from Musashi Murayamashi, Japan was honored as the 2010 International Au Pair of the Year at a waterfront ceremony in Miami, Florida. Each year the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) honors the one au pair whom they feel embodies the true spirit of being an au pair at their annual conference. Mayumi, an au pair with InterExchange’s Au Pair USA program, was nominated for the award by her Host Family, the Yadao-Cahill family of New Jersey who wrote a beautiful essay explaining why Mayumi deserves the award.
Host Mom Bevin Cahill wrote, “Being with Mayumi is like being with the meaning of love, kindness, and fun. Mayumi is so genuine, so full of enthusiasm for every day and every moment that she has made a lifelong impression upon our family.” Bevin continues in her winning essay, “She is not only our children’s best friend, and a trusted member of our family, but is an exceptional person, a rare gem in the world.”
The entire family, including the two little girls for whom Mayumi cares, made the trip from New Jersey to Miami to watch Mayumi accept the prestigious award. Mayumi’s sister also made the trip from Japan to represent the Yano family.
“I want to accept this award not just from myself but really for all the au pairs in the world. It is such an important job full of responsibility, but also full of love and happiness”, Mayumi said while the two little girls hugged her legs. True to being the Au Pair of Year, her focus was more on the children than the crowd gathered to watch her accept the award.
“We are so very proud of Mayumi!” says Michael McHugh, Director of InterExchange’s Au Pair USA program, “She’s an outstanding au pair and such a warm and caring person. Mayumi is actually the first au pair from Japan, and even the first from Asia, to win the award. Having such a great winner bodes well for everyone because we are seeing a lot more interest in the program in that part of the world.”
IAPA was founded in 1994 as an oversight agency to protect the rights of au pairs and host families. The organization establishes internationally approved guidelines for all au pair exchange programs.
InterExchange Au Pair USA is a non-profit cultural exchange organization that has been connecting families in the USA with qualified, experienced au pairs from all over the world for more than 20 years. Au Pair USA specializes in creating authentic cross-cultural connections between host families and au pairs, and makes live-in childcare affordable for many families.
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