ABUSE-PREVENTION VIDEOS GIVEN TO SCHOOLS, AGENCIES

Impact International Inc., a local community service group, has donated 600 copies of a widely used child-abuse prevention video Saturday to Utah's schools and social agencies.

"Come In From the Storm" - a three-part film dealing with physical, emotional and sexual abuse - is expected to be used by educators and counselors working with families damaged by abuse.Impact's contribution, say child advocates, couldn't come at a better time.

"You'd think that the holidays would be a safe season for kids, but there's always a dramatic rise in child abuse right around Christmas," said Scotti Davis, executive director of Utah's Chapter for the Prevention of Child Abuse. "Parents are feeling a lot of stress because of the pressures and expectations of the season, and sometimes abuse takes place. These videos can make a difference in helping parents and kids take steps to prevent child abuse."

The video, featuring recognizable TV faces like Gordon Jump and Emmanuel Lewis, includes a series of real-life scenarios designed to help children understand and express their feelings about abuse.

Used in thousands of schools and family-service centers around the country, the film also affords parents a "nonhostile" opportunity to recognize and prevent abuse, according to the film's writer and director Dave Blanchard.

"Many abuse-prevention specialists joined forces to supervise production of this video series," said Blanchard, who is also an Impact participant. "We wanted to make sure that every scene and every word was appropriate and accurate."

On Saturday, first lady Jacalyn Leavitt thanked Impact - adding their contribution "will make people aware of child abuse and help others affected by abuse get help."

Leavitt also acknowledged the cooperation of local businesses who made the the gift possible. Production costs were minimized by contributions from Video-Matic duplicators, Kinko's Printing and Tharco Boxes. Rights to the video were donated by Team Entertainment Education in Bountiful.

Copies of "Come In From the Storm" will be stocked in school libraries, hospitals and social agencies. UCPCA volunteers are also expected to promote the video in local newspapers and make presentations to district school boards.