What Can I Do To Prevent Child Abuse?

What You Can Do To Prevent Child Abuse

• Learn about child abuse and neglect.
• Be alert to the "Red Flags."
• Be prepared to make a report.
• Do something.
• Speak up.
• Support National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
• Advocate for services to help families.
• Ask your local television stations to have non-violent programs for children.
• Support your local Child Abuse Council.
• Support the victim.
• Find help for yourself if you are overwhelmed.
• Empower the community to respond.
• Take a child or family under your wing.
• Become a foster parent or grandparent.
• Encourage your church, social and community organizations to provide outreach to at-risk families.
• Lobby your community leaders to address the problem.
• Volunteer your time.
• Don't turn your back on a situation.
• Ask your school to provide prevention education to the children.
• Talk to your kids about personal safety and body limits.
• Be sensitive to the needs of troubled or isolated families.

If a Child Comes to You...

• Your job is to simply report what the child tells you, not to investigate the situation.
• Attempts to investigate may:
  • Tip off the perpetrator and cause them to flee or destroy evidence.
  • Cause a child to retract if they think you don't believe them.
• Reassure the child that they did the right thing by telling you and they are not to blame
• Don't promise them that you won't "tell"
• Tell the child that what you plan to do to help protect them
• Talk with the child if they need to vent - be ready to listen and be supportive
• Be respectful of the child's need for, or dislike of touching while trying to comfort them…do so with caution and only with the child's permission
• Consider helping the child get professional counseling
• Mandated Reporters are not required by law to tell the parent/caretaker that a report has been made. However, one should keep in mind that parents/caretakers are not always the perpetrators and may not be aware that their child exhibits signs of abuse.
• Find a place to help with your feelings too.

Age Factors to Consider for Preschool Age Children

• At higher risk for serious injury.
• Stories are generally truthful.
• Don't know abuse is serious…their value of right and wrong is based on family behavior.

Age Factors to Consider for School Age and Teen Children

• More prone to self-report abuse.
• More aware of "normal" family behavior due to exposure to other families.
• Tend to be protective of substance abuse parents or caretakers - role reversal.
• Sexual abuse is often disclosed when family incest interferes with normal teenage relationships.
• Disclosure of abuse may have a "hidden agenda" such as revenge or anger towards parent or caretaker.

http://www.capcsac.org/what-to-do