Editorial: April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month

Published 10:00 am Monday, April 1, 2019

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

There were 498 reports of child maltreatment in Tift County for 2018, according to the Tift County Commission on Children & Youth.

One report would be one too many, but since it happens in our community, we have to learn to recognize it.

Child abuse can range from neglect of basic care to substandard living conditions to emotional and/or sexual abuse. Both boys and girls suffer sexual abuse and more often than not it is from a family member or close family friend.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services offers these cautions to help parents and caregivers prevent and combat child sexual abuse:

— Take an active role in your children’s lives. Learn about their activities and people with whom they are involved. Stay alert for possible problems.

— Watch for “grooming” behaviors in adults who spend time with your child. Warning signs may include frequently finding ways to be alone with your child, ignoring your child’s need for privacy (e.g., in the bathroom) or giving gifts or money for no particular occasion.

— Ensure that organizations, groups and teams that your children are involved with minimize one-on-one time between children and adults. Ask how staff and volunteers are screened and supervised.

— Make sure your children know they can talk to you about anything that bothers or confuses them.

— Teach children accurate names of private body parts and the difference between touches that are “OK” and “not OK.”

— Empower children to make decisions about their bodies by allowing them age-appropriate privacy and encouraging them to say “no” when they do not want to touch or be touched by others, even in non-sexual ways.

— Teach children to take care of their own bodies (e.g., bathing or using the bathroom) so they do not have to rely on adults or older children for help.

— Educate children about the difference between good secrets (such as birthday surprises) and bad secrets (those that make the child feel unsafe or uncomfortable).

— Monitor children’s use of technology, including cell phones, social networking sites and messaging. Review contact lists regularly and ask about any people you don’t recognize.

— Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy about leaving your child with someone, don’t do it. If you are concerned about possible sexual abuse, ask questions.

— If your child tells you that he or she has been abused, stay calm, listen carefully and never blame the child. Thank your child for telling you. Report the abuse right away.

The A Voice for all Children Pinwheel Ceremony is Wednesday, Apr. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Tift County Recreation Department Special Programs Buidling, located at 202 Baldwin Drive.

The annual event recognizes Child Abuse and Prevention Month.

We commend organizers and volunteers for their work every year.