Recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
If you don’t already know, a large majority of my work centers around the wellbeing and stability of children. I represent kids in court proceedings as a Guardian Ad Litem, and I am frequently appointed by the Jefferson County Family Courts to work as a Friend of Court. This April marks the first ever National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, frankly, it could not have come soon enough.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), defines child abuse and neglect as, at a minimum: “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act, which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act added a legislation requirement to include sex trafficking victims in the definition of child abuse and neglect.
The Administration for Children & Families, a Bureau of the U.S. Department for Health & Human Services, reported in 2020 that nearly 620,000 children in the United States were victims of child abuse. According to the same report, national average for child abuse was approximately 8,400 among 100,000 children. Kentucky averaged 20,130 child abuse cases per 100,000 kids. That's about 20 out of every 1,000 children abused in one year in the Commonwealth.
The impacts of child abuse are multifaceted, having short-and long-term consequences on a child’s attitudes and behaviors, as well as their mental and physical well-being. Increases in child abuse have been well-documented in association with increased parental stress, including during and after recessions and epidemics. The COVID-19 Pandemic upended the way that essentially every person on the face of the earth lived. It sent children from the safety and security of classrooms and other public spaces where teachers and other mandated reporters could monitor their wellbeing and ensure they were fed at least twice a day. For parents, quarantines and stay-at-home orders have led to high rates of unemployment, difficulties in relationships, increased rates of depression, and unsurmountable stress. Therefore, while the data suggests that reports of child abuse across the nation and in Kentucky are on the decline, the risk factors for child abuse have been exacerbated.
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we stand with our country to condemn child abuse and commit to continue to combat that abuse in all of its forms—including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as online sexual exploitation. We also commit to continue to raise awareness about the risk factors that can lead to child abuse and neglect as we highlight the importance of supporting families to prevent child abuse.
If you suspect that a child is being abused, we beg you: act. Per Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 620.030(1), anyone with a reasonable suspicion that a child is dependent, abused or neglected is required to make a report to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The Cabinet will likely request the following basic information:
The child's name, sex and approximate age;
The name of the person believed to have been responsible for the abuse or neglect;
A description of the injury, neglect or threatened harm to the child;
The current location of the child such as day care, school or home address;
Any immediate risk to the child or a worker going out to ensure the child's safety (i.e., weapons);
The reporter's name and identifying information if the caller wishes to give that information. Anonymous reports are accepted and investigated.
Anyone acting upon reasonable belief in the making of a report in good faith shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any such reporter shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report. And, the identity of the person who reports suspected child abuse will be protected to the extent feasible under the law.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please contact the statewide Child Abuse Hotline toll free at (877) 597-2331 to make a report. You also may go online to the Child Reporting System. Or, you can call your local law enforcement agency or 9-1-1 if you believe the situation is a life-threatening emergency.
Part of the reason I do the work I do is because I believe that children are our future. Protecting their interests can, and must, be a community-wide commitment. I hope you will join me in working to end all forms of child abuse in our community.