Be part of solution during Child Abuse Prevention Month
Legend says that a famously fierce African tribe, the Masai, as part of their standard greeting to one another include the question, “How are the children?”
Implied in this question is the thought that if the children are well, the entire society is well. The hoped-for answer is “All the children are well.”
Unfortunately, in all the information being disseminated about community responses to COVID-19, very little addresses the plight of children. Maybe that’s because the pandemic is seen first as a health problem and children’s susceptibility to the virus seems less dangerous than that of older adults.
However, the physical, mental and social immaturity of children and youth make them, in many ways, more at risk than adults during the pandemic. Social distancing, which in prac- tice is physical distancing, multi- plies this risk substantially.
The media has addressed concerns about how increased stress during this time will bring on more domestic violence.
Not addressed is how the situation will also bring on more danger to children not only as bystanders to domestic violence in their homes but as victims of their own abuse and from neglect.
Interestingly, as calls to domestic violence helplines are increasing, reports to Child Protective Services of incidents of child abuse have gone down since schools have closed not only in Virginia, but across the nation.
This is not a surprise because a substantial percentage of the reports of child maltreatment come from schools.
We cannot let the children in our community fall off the radar screen because of social isolation. Children and their parents need to be made a priority in our daily routines.
Parents are stressed with children being quarantined in their homes. They may be struggling to find proper day care if they have to work or struggling to deal with children who are bored, restless, lonely and afraid. Many have the additional worry of not having enough money to keep the family fed and sheltered.
There are a number of things that can be done to let our children know that someone cares for them and is there to listen or talk with them. Communicating and staying connected are critical strategies for reaching out and helping.
Ideas and resources for children’s activities abound on the internet and by phone. An extensive list of ideas can be found at preventchildabuse.org/coronavirusresources. Parents in need of talk support can call the National Parent Helpline at 1-855-427-2736 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
Much can be done informally on a person-to-person basis to prevent child maltreatment and help families meet their needs.
And families need to know it’s OK to reach out and ask for help.
If informal solutions are not enough, then front-line responders, who are some of the most undervalued heroes of this crisis, are there for the children. If the child’s situation is an emergency or involves a crime, call 911.
For those with concerns about abuse and neglect, the social services child protective services hotline is available at 1-800-552-7096 in Virginia. In North Carolina reports should be made to the social service agency in the locality where the abuse takes place.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is the time of year traditionally for communities to look at the maltreatment statistics for the past year and assess the community’s accomplishments and shortcomings.
In the Eastern Region of Virginia, the numbers for the past year have decreased slightly. When the state and national numbers are trending upward, that ordinarily would be considered a positive accomplishment.
Clearly, any celebration this April would be premature.
Please remember child maltreatment is preventable if we all play a part. Like the Masai, we should ensure that the answer to the question “How are the children?” is “All the children are well.”
Betty Wade Coyle