Agency enlists NM schools in fight against abuse
Effort seeks to stem rise in reported cases
New Mexico’s child welfare agency is reaching out to school administrators and teachers around the state as part of its Pull Together campaign in hopes of curbing child abuse.
Children, Youth and Families Secretary Monique Jacobson has sent letters to 740 schools throughout New Mexico along with packets of information about warning signs, fact sheets on reporting suspected abuse and neglect and posters with contact numbers.
Jacobson said reporting suspected abuse and neglect can sometimes include making tough judgment calls. She wants to make sure teachers and counselors have the necessary tools.
“Being responsible for a child is difficult. It’s complex and unpredictable. But if we pull together, we can make a positive change,” she said in her letter.
The statewide call center operated by the Children, Youth and Families Department receives about 20,000 reports annually that warrant further review for possible abuse or neglect. That number has
escalated nearly every year since at least 2009.
The rate of the calls also increases when school is in session since teachers are among those who most often report suspected abuse.
According to state officials, more than 1,110 calls were received from school personnel about possible abuse and neglect in the first two months of the year. More than 730 of those calls were referred for further review. That amounts to nearly a quarter of all the calls received and referred for all of 2016.
“The fact is it’s happening,” Jacobson said of abuse during a recent interview. She noted that her department is looking for more ways to increase awareness of the problem across the state.
Part of the effort includes putting up posters in public places that feature the faces of children and messages such as “Be the voice for child” and “It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.” The posters urge people to call #SAFE if they suspect abuse.
A ruling issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court in 2015 clarified a state statute that calls for “every person” to report abuse or neglect, not just those occupations that were spelled out by the law.