Column: You can help stop child abuse

According to our 2009 North Carolina Child Health Report Card, in 2008, there were 12,396 substantiated cases of child abuse in our state. That means there were about three children abused every two hours in our state.

Who is responsible for this, and what can we do to help end the abuse? I am a freshman at Appalachian State University in Boone. My writing class called upon us to find out something that truly puzzles us about society, and where we feel there is a need for change and reflection on our part.

I feel there is a definite problem with child abuse in our society in need of serious reflection. People are too worried about disrupting the outlined social order that they will not step in if something remotely alarming comes to their attention. This is especially true concerning child abuse.

My question is, why don’t we, the supposed watchdog neighbors, community members, and friends protect the most valuable and precious assets we have in this world, our children? Is it that we don’t want the parents to find out who “tattled” and come after us, or take their frustrations out on the child because of us? Is the issue that we may end up wrong in assuming that the child is being abused?

Is it that we don’t want to be the cause of a family’s demise? Or is it honestly that we don’t know who to turn to in order to report our suspicions of abuse? Whatever the reason, our responsibility is to those who can’t always protect themselves.

For you and I, as public citizens, it is our duty to put aside our personal reservations and step up to the plate and speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. Many people feel that if they voice their feelings that a child may be being abused that the abuser will target them or possibly the child. This is rarely true.

The abuser will not know who reported them in almost all cases, unless the one who reports it decides to reveal himself or herself. In this case, we need to put our personal anxieties aside and think about what is best for the child and not what might possibly happen to us. The child, in this case as well, will also be better off considering that if the abuse is reported and there is enough probable cause the home will be monitored and/or the child removed from the hazardous environment.

If your fear is that you’re not sure if there is even a case of abuse to be investigated, then look at it as if it is better to be safe than sorry.

What is going to happen if you decide to report someone of child abuse? They are going to examine all the evidence given and, if there is a reason to investigate, the proper authorities will investigate, usually the Department of Social Services.

They may or may not investigate, just like they may or may not find signs of abuse in the home. What is the harm in following your gut if it may remove a child from potential danger, and even if there is no danger what is the harm in making sure there isn’t?

Some people may feel they do not want to risk separating a family because of something they “feel” may be going on. In cases of actual abuse, this may be unavoidable. To put any troubling thoughts at ease however, there are advocacy groups such as Guardian ad Litem where their volunteers are assigned to do case studies and go to court with the children. Their job is to advocate for what is in the child’s best interest on a case by case basis.

These groups may work to keep the child with the family, or may not, but are vigilantly working towards what is best for that child. So, reporting possible abuse, again, is essential because you’re reporting the abuse is not the be all, end all. You as a caring citizen are only making the abuse aware to those who may be able to help directly.

If you honestly do not what to do in the case of suspected abuse, then look to the law, not away. Ignorance is not an excuse. In the state of North Carolina, it is the law to report any known abuse or suspected abuse of a child. If you have knowledge of abuse or suspect any abuse the people to contact would be your local Department of Social Services.

In Lenoir County, the general number is 252-559-6400; for reports of abuse during the daytime, call 252-559-8331, and at night and on weekends the number is 252-559-6118.

Child Abuse Awareness Month may be in April, but why shouldn’t we all be vigilant every month in the year? If that’s what it takes to protect the children of North Carolina and any children elsewhere, is that asking too much?

Report abuse; nothing bad can come out of doing our best to protect a child in need of protecting. Think about the love you have for your own children, or your nieces or nephews. Don’t you feel every child deserves that same love and care?

By reporting suspected abuse you may very well give a child the chance of having a normal life, or save a child’s life in the process.

Catharine Halina Kosinski is a graduate of Kinston High School and is currently a student at Appalachian State University. The opinions of the guest columnist are not necessarily those of The Free Press.