Awareness to action, practical steps for abuse prevention

By Samela Mâcon
| Specially for the Avalanche-Journal

I recently watched “Quiet on Set,” a docuseries about alleged abuse at Nickelodeon. I spent many hours watching some of those memorable Nickelodeon shows with my kids, and I never imagined that one day I would read these stories of behind-the-scenes abuse. These revelations have undoubtedly left a stain on the cherished memories of laughing and having fun with my children as we watched those shows together. I have worked in the child welfare industry for thirty years and I still struggle to process the plethora of abuse stories that have come to light. While these public scandals raise awareness of the heartbreaking reality of child abuse, they often fail to talk about what we can do to prevent abuse.

Every April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, immediately followed by National Foster Care Awareness Month in May. It aims to raise awareness and empower people to care for and protect children. This month raises some important questions: How can we, both as a community and as individuals, prevent child abuse? And where do we even start? At the end of the month, this provides an opportunity to learn and start conversations about prevention.

The reality is that most people don’t know the tragic severity of child abuse in their own communities, so let’s take a look at some facts. According to the Texas Department of Families and Protective Services, in 2023, about 73% of children in the foster care system were there because of abuse or neglect. More than 12,000 cases of child abuse and 2,000 cases of child neglect were reported in Texas. 2022. These are alarming numbers, and for many of us it’s an uncomfortable topic to talk about.

The first step in preventing child abuse is educating ourselves. Although every child and family is unique, there are common signs that can alert you to possible neglect or abuse. These include unexplained injuries, reluctance to go home, lack of personal hygiene, behavioral changes, chronic hypervigilance, untreated medical needs, and inappropriate or sexualized behavior. If you notice any of these signs, allow the child to talk calmly, support the child by listening and not questioning, and act. Call your state hotline or 911 for assistance.

Another way to prevent child abuse is to enter into dialogue. It’s important that we have conversations about how to recognize the signs and how to raise concerns about abuse. We can start by eliminating the stigma associated with having these conversations with our own families. Conversations about the types of abuse will make it easier to recognize the signs and enable those affected to seek help.

When we have these conversations, they can turn into a ‘blame game’ against parents or even the victims themselves. Instead of passing judgment, we need to create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance. This can be done by having a conversation around prevention, protection and help.

While education and dialogue are critical, we at the nonprofit I work for, Buckner International, believe that strong families are the best preventive measure against child abuse. We can advocate for children by supporting their families and communities and providing them with the support, tools and community needed to help them develop healthy relationships that can ultimately prevent abuse.

That’s why we exist. Our programs aim to engage, equip and uplift families. We want them to break the cycle of abuse and neglect for generations to come and transform into strong, successful and healthy families.

We do this through programs such as the Buckner Family Hope Center and Buckner Family Pathways.

Our Buckner Family Hope Centers are located in or near vulnerable communities and provide families with critical services, assistance and coaching to strengthen their mental health and relationships, reducing the risk of child abuse, neglect and removal. Buckner Family Pathways® is a program that supports single-parent families in ways that help prevent domestic violence, financial insecurity and homelessness.

Christina, a client of a Buckner conservation program for single mothers, was a victim of abuse from the age of four. After her parents’ divorce, instability became a regular part of Christina’s life. She bounced around until she learned she was pregnant with twins. Christina decided she wanted something better for her children, but that change started with her.

With Buckner’s help, Christina found the stability she needed to build a strong family to protect her children. She completed her studies and became an academic advisor at her university. She now helps other single mothers with their study choice, so that they can also be strong for their children.

So how can you help as we enter National Foster Care Month, a time when we focus on children who may have been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse? There are opportunities all year round to invest in your community, strengthen families and ensure the protection of children. It can’t be something we only think about in April and May.

You can start by getting involved with local organizations and volunteering your time, educating yourself and others about the signs of abuse, and reporting it. Above all, show love and compassion. Be a listening ear, offer to help, or even deliver a simple home-cooked meal to a single parent or family who may need it. Invest in the well-being of your community, because strong families mean strong communities. And if you see signs of possible child abuse or neglect, report it. You can do this online, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400, or call 911 if it is an emergency.

Samela Macon is the vice president of operations for Buckner Children and Family Services and has almost 30 years of experience in child welfare.

Related Posts