What do you think of when you hear the words “child abuse”? Does the phrase scare or overwhelm you? Do you think it has nothing to do with you and keep going on about your day? Or do you think you can do something to help stop it?
Last year in Virginia, there were more than 300 cases of confirmed child abuse and neglect, and 28 children who died – most under the age of 4 years old. Every 83 minutes, a child in Virginia is abused or neglected. Every 10 days, a child in Virginia dies of abuse and/or neglect.
In the face of such horrific statistics, we can either choose to look away or choose to look them in the face and decide to do what’s in our power to help prevent and stop the abuse.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The local campaign theme in 2013 is “You Can Help So They Aren’t Hurt.” Child maltreatment can be prevented. Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) has a lot of great information to help anybody learn how to be a partner in prevention and an advocate for children.
Everybody should take steps to educate themselves on physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, understand and recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect and know what to do once you suspect abuse is occurring. To report a suspected case of abuse, please call 1-800-552-7096.
Everybody should understand and realize that they have the power within them to help prevent child maltreatment. SCAN has keys to prevention on their website. It may be as simple as offering to help a neighbor, or taking time to volunteer to help families in your community. This SCAN Packet has a lot of great information on opportunities to learn more and volunteer.
Everybody should look at their own families, schools and communities and ask – what can I do to make this a positive environment for children? Families Are Magic (www.famrichmond.com) is a great resource for parenting classes offered in the Richmond area – “Because asking for help is a sign of a good parent, not a bad one.” As we all know, parenting does not come with an instruction book! The website includes parenting information, a monthly blog about free or low-cost activities to share with your children and resources in the area to help families.
More good news – April is not over yet! There are still a lot of opportunities and activities during Child Abuse Prevention month to help you start to get involved.
April 23: Join us at Pasture at 416 East Grace Street after 5 p.m. and enjoy a southern meal. Pasture will donate 10% of the proceeds to SCAN.- April 24: 1-4pm, Stewards of Children Training at United Way, 2001 Maywill Street, Richmond, VA 23230, Suite 201, Room 204. [Stewards of Children is a training on preventing child sexual abuse.]
- April 25: Come to Nacho Mama’s in Carytown from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and have a fun meal with 10% of the proceeds benefiting SCAN.
- April 25: 1-4 p.m., Stewards of Children Training at Cameron Foundation, 228 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA 23803.
- April 26: 9-12pm, Stewards of Children Training at United Way, 2001 Maywill Street, Richmond, VA 23230, Suite 201, Room 204.
SCAN was founded in 1991 to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in the City of Richmond and the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell, Louisa, Petersburg, Powhatan and Prince George. To learn more about SCAN, visit their website at http://www.scan.com, call 804.257.7226, or visit their Facebook page.
“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”
~ Mahatma Ghandi
About Mary Beth Cox