During Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in April, the issue of child abuse is discussed nationally and everyone is encouraged to get involved in child abuse prevention.
But how can you really do that?

Promotional materials from national organizations like the Child Welfare League of America (www.cwla.org) and Prevent Child Abuse America (www.preventchildabuse.org) list ways parents, families, communities, churches, businesses, schools, and the media can get involved. These lists are full of great suggestions and are accessible at the web sites noted above.

But sometimes, having so many choices can be overwhelming and results in individuals taking no action at all.
This year, Marion County Children Services is limiting our prevention message to the 5R's: Raise the issue, Reach out, Remember the risk factors, Recognize the warning signs, and Report suspected abuse or neglect.

All five of the R's are important. Raising the issue with elected officials is crucial in today's economy, as is Remembering the risk factors. Tax increases and state budget cuts for social programs will greatly impact many families with risk factors that tend to contribute to child abuse and neglect (i.e., alcohol or drug abuse; social isolation; anger or stress problems; economic, housing or mental health issues).

Recognizing the warning signs of abuse and neglect and Reporting your suspicions can really make a difference in the early detection of abuse. More information on the warning signs and how to report abuse can be found at our web site, www.marionkids.com.

The most important R in the bunch, however, and the one that will have the greatest impact by far on protecting children from abuse, is Reach out. By Reaching out, you can truly help prevent child abuse.

How do you reach out? Who do you reach out to? Where and when do you reach out?
 
Reaching out may mean calling or visiting that family down the street whose young children you see running around unsupervised and dressed inappropriately for the weather. It might be offering to baby sit, providing clothing or transportation to a clothing locker, or helping them get information on child care and scholarships to help pay for it.
 
Reaching out may mean taking a box of diapers to a new single mother in your church and talking to her about how frustrating it can be coping with a newborn. You could let her know to call you if she needs a break from the baby or even just someone to talk to.
 
Reaching out can be as subtle as listening to a frustrated parent, or it can be as overt as organizing a get-together to talk about the needs of families in your neighborhood.

Reaching out means taking the initiative to offer help. Supporting and strengthening families has the greatest impact by far on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Marion County Children Services is a government agency mandated by law to protect children from abuse or neglect. But we can only get involved with a family through the investigation of allegations of abuse and after the courts have determined that there is significant evidence that abuse or neglect has occurred.

Some may think that we should intervene sooner, which seems like a logical way to protect children. But no one wants a government agency intruding into private family life without reasonable cause. The state does and should respect the rights of parents to raise their children and run their families the way they see fit.

Children Services supports and works to strengthen the families of children who have been abused or neglected. But by the time we get involved, the children have already suffered.

If more individuals would step forward and offer to help families they know who are struggling, the impact would be phenomenal. And if you don't know any families personally, you can help by getting involved with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, Love I.N.C., area churches and other programs that support children and families.
 
Children Services has several effective prevention programs. We partner with the Marion City and Ridgedale Schools to provide school social workers who are in the schools, working with children and parents. We teach parenting classes and have created a personal safety program for preschoolers. We team up with many community groups and agencies to support other programs for children and families. And we provide information to the community on child, family, and parenting issues.

These efforts help, but they aren't enough. In order to truly prevent child abuse in Marion County, everyone needs to practice the 5R's, and especially to Reach out and show compassion to families and children in need.