Classes aimed at child abuse

Thursday, March 3, 2005 | 8:24 a.m.

As reports of shaken baby deaths and injuries in Clark County continue to make the news, educators are trying to do more to protect other youngsters.

Two children died in Clark County and two others died in other parts of the state in 2001, the last year available from government records.

In contrast, officials are investigating the deaths of two young children already this year and the abuse of a third.

A 30-year-old Henderson father has been charged with violently shaking his 4-month-old son, resulting in severe brain injuries that killed the baby. Doctors discovered that four of the baby's ribs had previously been broken.

A 26-year-old man, Osvaldo Lopez, babysitting his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, Jada Southall, has been charged with murder after the toddler died from child abuse, including shaking, last month.

A third baby, then 3-month-old Ryan Kuckler, was allegedly shaken by a nanny, but survived.

The nanny, 24-year-old Bethany Ford, is charged with two counts of felony child abuse.

Ryan returned home Jan. 6 after spending more than a week in pediatric intensive care at University Medical Center. He is facing a battery of eye and nerve tests by specialists who will track his development.

Ryan's mother, public relations professional Paula Yakubik, said recently that her son's condition is improving.

The Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center is trying to prevent such abuse with ongoing classes for licensed day care center employees, center director Debbie Barter said.

For a class this Saturday at Imprints Day School, 7885 W. Rochelle, educators expect 60 caregivers to attend the training mandated by state law, Barter said.

Saturday's class trains caregivers how to spot possible abuse, report it and prevent it.

There are warning signs alerting a teacher or a day care worker to potential abuse.

"One of the highest risk factors is parents unable to cope," Barter said.

In the case of 2-year-old Jada Southall, Lopez stayed home and watched her and her 1-year-old brother, whom he is also accused of abusing, while the mother worked. The girl was taken to several hospitals and clinics for a broken bone and a cough until she stopped breathing and was taken to Sunrise Children's Hospital where she died.

Nevada law requires day care staff to recognize abused children and call Child Protective Services or police to report suspected abuse, said Nancy Gott, the education center's development director.

The classes offered by the center are required of all licensed child care staff, Gott said.