If child abuse is spotted, by law it must be reported

Who is responsible for keeping children safe from brutality, abuse, neglect or child sexual abuse? According to the law, everyone.

Children’s Advocacy Center workers and District Attorney Lisa Zavogiannis want to stop child abuse in Warren County. A four-week campaign ‘Not One More’ is focusing on awareness, prevention, safety, and building better families. This week is focusing on safety.

Despite widespread belief, reporting child abuse isn’t isolated to physicians, law enforcement officers, teachers, and day care workers. By law, everyone is required to report physical, sexual, emotional and neglect abuse.

‘Any person who has knowledge of, or is called upon to render aid to any child who is suffering from or has sustained any wound, injury, disability, or physical or mental condition shall report such harm immediately if the harm is of such a nature as to reasonably indicate that it has been caused by brutality, abuse or neglect, or that, on the basis of available information, reasonably appears to have been caused by brutality, abuse or neglect.’

The law does not exclude anyone when it comes to responsibility in reporting abuse and protecting children. Because of this, anyone who witnesses or suspects child abuse ‘ including neighbors, friends, and family members ‘ must report it.

The first line of defense is parents. Not only can parents help guard their children from being victimized, they can help the children protect themselves.

From an early age, parents can begin to teach their children about private parts and give them the proper names of their body parts. As the child grows, parents can open up communication between themselves and their children when it comes to inappropriate touch and that they should say ‘no’ to unwanted touch in these private areas.

The power of pedophiles comes from secrecy and fear. They choose children they are reasonably sure will not tell or cannot tell. An open line of communication between parents and children, combined with the child’s knowledge of inappropriate touch, takes away that power.

Because no parent can be on guard every second of every day, parents need to know the warning signs of abuse. Although not all children exhibit outward signs of abuse, some signs such as withdrawal, sleeplessness, irrational fears, depression, anxiety, change in weight, nightmares, anger, and low self-esteem are witnessed in some children.

When a child exhibits any of these warning signs, or any other worrisome change in behavior, parents need to listen and take action. Despite who the parent suspects, the abuse must be reported.

When the first line of defense fails, the responsibility to protect a child falls to the community. Anyone who suspects or witnesses child abuse must step up and do what is necessary to protect the child.

Child Protective Services takes all calls for suspected child abuse and neglect. Calls can remain anonymous. Reports can be made by calling 1-800-54-ABUSE.

Also, the Children’s Advocacy Center is dedicated to serving children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse through prevention, education and interviews. CAC can be reached at 1-423-266-6918.

Zavogiannis will be visiting every school in the Warren County School System this month. On April 29 at 6 p.m. there will be a ‘Not One More’ campaign rally held at the Warren County Administration Building. She, along with several guest speakers, will be available to answer questions.