Reach out to families in your community. Recognize the warning signs. Report abuse or neglect. Raise awareness and save a life!
REASONS PEOPLE DON’T HELP…
What if I’m wrong? What if you're right? More than 900 children were reported abused or neglected in Rockdale County alone in 2007. REMEMBER THE RISK FACTORS that increase abusive incidents.
Abusive parents can be your friends, co-workers, neighbors, or relatives. Child abuse and neglect occurs within all economic, racial, social, ethnic and religious groups. However, abuse and neglect are more likely to occur in families that:
- Seem to be having economic, housing or personal problems. Additional stressors such as these can make providing a loving, nurturing home even more challenging.
- Are isolated from their families or communities. Isolation means parents are not receiving the support they need to face their challenges and celebrate their successes.
- Have difficulty with physical or mental health issues.
- Had a painful childhood. Adults who were mistreated as children may unintentionally continue the pattern of abuse with their own children. They have no models of successful family relationships from which to learn.
- Abuse alcohol or drugs.
- Are inexperienced with children or have unrealistic expectations of what a child can do. Most parents do not want to hurt their children, but many lack the knowledge to understand a child's development and/or cope with the challenges of care giving.
It won’t happen again. Statistics show that a child is reported abused or neglected every 11 seconds in the United States. Unfortunately, abuse often occurs more than once. REACH OUT TO FAMILIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY who are at risk and reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.
- Be a friend to parents you know. Be supportive when they need to talk about their concerns. Offer free babysitting services while they complete chores, like grocery shopping, or just to give them some free time.
- Be a friend to children you know. Show them you care.
- Talk to your neighbors about looking out for one another's children. Show that you are involved.
- Help relieve the financial stress of parenting by donating clothing, furniture, and/or toys.
- Support children's organizations, like PCAR, by donating your time and talents or by making a financial contribution.
It was probably nothing. Minimizing the issue or looking the other way won't make child abuse disappear. As an adult, you need to RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS.
Children who are physically abused may:
- Be nervous around adults
- Be watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
- Have difficulty playing
- Act aggressively towards adults and other children
- Be unable to concentrate at school
- Suddenly underachieve-or overachieve-at school
- Find it difficult to trust other people and make friends
- Arrive at school too early, or leave after the other children
Children who are sexually abused may:
- Behave differently when abuse starts
- Care less about their appearance and/or health
- Talk or act sexually at too early an age
- Be secretive and stop talking about their home life
- Start soiling themselves
- Be unable to sleep
- Suddenly find physical contact frightening
- Run away from home
Children who are neglected or emotionally abused may:
- Have difficulty learning to talk
- Find it hard to develop close relationships
- Be overly friendly with strangers
- Be unable to play imaginatively
- Think badly of themselves
- Underachieve at school
That’s not my kid. It is not a child's responsibility to protect him or herself. As an adult, you need to REPORT ABUSE OR NEGLECT if you suspect that it's occurring.
Any of the warning signs may be noticeable at one time or another. If they occur repeatedly or in combination with one another, the child may be suffering from abuse. Call the Department of Social Services in the community where the child lives or where the suspected abuse occurred. Ask for Child Protective Services (CPS). If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police.
In Rockdale County - 770-388-5025
In Newton County - 770-784-2490
Conyers Police - 770-483-6600 |
Rockdale County Sheriff - 770-918-6700
Covington Police - 770-786-7605
Newton County Sheriff - 770-784-2100 |
I don’t want to get involved. Child abuse is a societal issue. RAISE AWARENESS of the issue and support child abuse prevention efforts. Volunteer your time and give generously of your resources to programs that support children and families.
By educating yourself and others you can help your community prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring or reoccurring:
- Request information from PCAR - photocopy and post at your workplace, apartment building, library, Laundromat, place of worship, school, beauty parlor or supermarket.
- Invite a PCAR representative to your workplace, congregation or neighborhood/community event to talk about child abuse and neglect prevention. Our Speaker's Bureau is always available.
- Contact your school district, library or faith group about support programs for families and how you can help. If none exist, encourage them to sponsor or develop resources for parents and children.
- Call or write your elected officials and ask them to advocate for programs and services that support children and families and help prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Wear a blue ribbon. The blue ribbon was first used in 1989 as a memorial to a three-year-old child who was murdered by his mother's abusive boyfriend. Today the blue ribbon is recognized nationally as a positive symbol of child abuse prevention. Call or write to PCAR to order your - April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
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