Child Abuse Prevention Month

Last Friday, students at Ralph Witters Elementary students and staff participated in Wear Blue 2018, a day dedicated to child abuse prevention across Wyoming and the country.

“April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and prevention can change a child’s life,” said Wyoming Governor Matt Mead.

This year, Prevent Child Abuse America will be used #WearBlueDay to highlight ways that people can prevent child abuse by mentoring, donating or becoming advocates in their community. They will be using their social media channels to explain how those actions connect to child abuse prevention and highlight stories and snapshots of people around the country who help great childhoods happen in their community.

Governor Mead signed a proclamation for Child Abuse Awareness Month at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 9 at the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Pennie Anderson, the social services supervisor with Department of Family Services (DFS), noted the agency responds to concerns about abuse or neglect for children and vulnerable adults. Additionally, they handle juvenile probation cases, SNAP and child care assistance benefits.

Anderson added the term vulnerable adult refers to those 18 years and older who are at risk for abuse due to issues such as substance abuse, disability, mental illness or other physical or medical issues.

The fiscal year for DFS is July 1 through June 30, and so far this fiscal year they’ve accepted 55 cases for child protection and 27 for adult protection. Last fiscal year they accepted 97 for child protection and 39 for adult protection.

The majority of the cases are neglect, Anderson said, which is the same across the country, and there is a high prevalence of substance abuse in the cases they work.

People can report concerns anonymously, though Anderson noted any information about the reported is protected by statute. Any work done with families is also confidential and protected by statute.

At the recent health fair, DFS had a booth set up where adults could make pinwheels with their kids; the pinwheel garden is something of a national symbol for child abuse prevention and awareness. People can also purchase pinwheel gardens from Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming.

Department of Family Services and Public Health are also sponsoring a free Love and Logic parenting class starting at 6 p.m. on April 12 at Ralph Witters Elementary. Childcare will be available at the school.

Anderson noted the Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund, which provides grant funding to different programs for the prevention of abuse and neglect, is having Community Café events across the state. The one in Thermopolis is Monday, April 16 from 5-7 p.m. at Hot Springs County Library.

When DFS responds to a report of abuse, Anderson said the goal is to work with the family and children in their home, if possible, to keep the children safe. The goal is to reunite children with their families. There are times, however, when children have to be placed in protective custody. If they have to be placed in foster care, it’s first determined if there is a relative safe enough for the kids to stay with. If that’s not available, then non-relative foster parents are utilized. Anyone interested in being a foster parent can contact the DFS office at 864-2158.

For more information on child abuse prevention or to learn more about what you can do to help, visit Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming on the web at http://www.pcawy.org.