While the first full month of spring begins on Monday, advocates stress the protection of children from abuse and neglect is no April Fool’s joke.
Since 1983, April has been known as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The 30-day long observance is set aside for Americans to recommit to ensuring that every kid grows up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect.
Child abuse covers a wide variety of issues. At a basic level, the term refers to an action or lack of action by the parent, guardian or custodian that seriously endangers a child’s physical or mental health. Examples include sexual abuse, physical abuse, illegal manufacturing of a controlled substance where a child lives, or allowing a child to commit a sex offense.
In contrast, child neglect results from the inability, refusal, or neglect of a parent, guardian, or custodian to supply a child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education or supervision.
In Columbus, the observance got underway on Wednesday when free pinwheels were handed out to cars outside the Doug Otto United Way building on 13th St. In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel, as well as pinwheel gardens, as the national symbols for child abuse prevention. Since the pinwheel connotes playfulness, joy and childhood, Prevent Child Abuse America organizers say it has come to serve as a physical reminder of the abuse-free and nourishing childhoods that most Americans want for all youngsters.
Two of the community’s largest pinwheel gardens will be outside the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. administrative offices at 1200 Central Avenue, as well as the Discover Columbus landscaping display at the Interstate 65 and State Road 46 interchange, according to Child Abuse Prevention Education Specialist Lisa Teague of Family Service, Inc.
From Monday through April 30, Family Service, Inc. will sponsor a pinwheel coloring contest. Those who wish for a copy of the contest details and a pinwheel color sheet can email either Teague at [email protected] or Raina Jones at [email protected].
On Wednesday, April 3, one of the most significant events will take place in the conference room of Family Service Inc., located in the Doug Otto United Way building at 1531 13th St. From 11 a.m. through 1:30 p.m., the Darkness to Light training will instruct adults how to prevent, recognize, respond to and report child sexual abuse.
One significant fact about sexually abused children often takes a number of participants by surprise, Teague said.
“It’s not usually a person that the child or the family doesn’t know,” Teague said. “Usually, it is someone that knows the family or knows the child that is the perpetrator of sexual abuse. That brings up a whole lot of feelings because, if you know that person and they are a part of your family, how do you deal with that?”
This year, Columbus Regional Health is sending employees from different departments to take part in the Darkness to Light training. To register, go to the Family Service, Inc. Facebook page and find the Eventbrite web address located in the Stewards of Children posts. Details about Darkness to Light are available at the program’s national website at d2l.org. Due to high demand, Teague said a staff member has been recruited who will provide the Darkness to Light training in Spanish.
Friday, April 5, will be ‘Wear Blue Day’. Several people, especially those who work with kids, show their support for child abuse and neglect prevention by wearing predominately blue clothing. The nonprofit is urging work supervisors throughout the area to ask their employees to do the same. Participants are invited to post their photographs to the Family Service, Inc. Facebook and Instagram social media sites.
Family Service Inc. has long maintained a presence at the Festival of the Young Child, which will be held this year from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 13, at NexusPark. Besides passing out pinwheels and cinch bags at the event, Family Service, Inc. personnel will be available to answer questions on a variety of topics ranging from handling the stress of parenting to “the right age to leave a child alone at home,” Teague said.
Finally, the last and most popular event of the month-long observance is already a sell-out. There have been440 tickets sold for the CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Adult Prom at The Commons on Saturday, April 27.
Last year, the adult prom raised $70,000 for child abuse prevention programs. More details regarding the month’s activities are available by calling Family Service, Inc. at 812-372-3745.
For more information
If a person is concerned and suspects child abuse or neglect, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 to make a report.
State law requires the Indiana Department of Child Services to protect the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations. Name and contact information are kept confidential. While anonymous reports are accepted, providing contact information allows the family case manager who is assigned the report to follow up with additional questions if needed.
If a person is concerned and suspects child abuse or neglect, please call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 to make a report. It may be the critical first step in protecting a child.
State law requires the Indiana Department of Child Services to protect the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations. Name and contact information are kept confidential. While anonymous reports are accepted, providing contact information allows the family case manager who is assigned the report to follow up with additional questions if needed.
Facts about child sexual abuse in the U.S.
- One in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
- 90% of children are abused by someone they know and trust.
- 30% are abused by immediate or extended family.
- 60% of abuse is committed by acquaintances, teachers, neighbors, or community leaders.
- 70% of children who are sexually abused are abused by a peer.
- One in five youth experience unwanted online exposure to sexually explicit material.
- One in nine youth experience online sexual exploitation
- Less than 5% of cases of child abuse and neglect are false.
- Child sexual abuse is an adverse childhood experience linked to chronic health problems.
Source: Child Abuse Prevention Education Specialist Lisa Teague of Family Service, Inc.
