Take steps to protect children from abuse

Childhood should not hurt. Nonetheless, statistics tell us that one-in-six children will be physically abused before the age of 18 years old. One-in-five girls and one-in-10 boys will be sexually abused during childhood. 

 

Abuse happens in every neighborhood. In Charleston County last year, the Department of Social Services had over 2,000 cases referred for investigation; in Berkeley County there were 1,443 cases of abuse referred. 

 

Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente (cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/) linked these types of adverse childhood experiences to an increased incidence of negative outcomes as children grow up. The adverse childhood experiences include poor academic achievement, chronic diseases, incarceration and substance abuse.

 

Thirty years ago, a small group of community advocates and professionals began to look for a better response when a child is abused and discovered a new multidisciplinary model called a children’s advocacy center. That model provides a compassionate, comprehensive and child-friendly response when there is a concern about abuse. The result of their search prompted the 1991 opening of the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, one of the first five accredited centers in the country. 

 

Today, there are 881 accredited children’s advocacy centers across the country working every day in partnership with agencies like law enforcement, social services and schools to streamline services to children and families where there is a concern of child maltreatment. They do this by coordinating and providing forensic interviews, medical exams and mental health services. 

 

Last year, the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, the children’s advocacy center serving Charleston County and lower Berkeley County, provided services for 970 children and families – including children from Daniel Island.

 

This month, organizations like the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center join a national conversation in preventing child abuse through National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Research shows that prevention does work to help reduce the incidence of abuse. 

 

At Dee Norton, there is a belief that one child suffering abuse is one child too many. And there are easy, practical steps each adult can take to better protect the children in their life.

 

Educate yourself

 

Knowledge is a good first step to prevention. Follow Dee Norton on social media or visit our April Prevention Page on our website (deenortoncenter.org) to learn more. 

 

Start the Conversation

 

The best prevention tool is open and continuous communication. Teach the children in your life how to identify their body parts correctly. Teach them they are the bosses of their body. Spend uninterrupted time with them daily. 

 

As your children grow up, continue the conversation. Talk about consent. Talk about what to do if a friend tells you they are abused. All it takes is five minutes a day to create a connection that can last a lifetime. 

 

Connection with your child builds the foundation for preventing abuse. When you model that you can discuss all topics openly and calmly, your child will feel safe to come to you about the hard things.

 

Speak up

 

If something does not feel right, trust your gut and if you see something, say something. You could be the difference in a child’s life. And Dee Norton is here to help.

 

Prevention is year-round

 

Child abuse is a grown-up problem, and our children’s safety is our responsibility. Continue to practice these steps year-round. Remember, you may be the one adult that is there to protect a child from harm.