LAURINBURG – Staff at Scotland County Department of Social Services came together Monday to jump start the annual child abuse prevention and awareness campaign.
April is has been designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1989, and Scotland County DSS is encouraging the community to educate itself on the definition of abuse and how to prevent it.
Abuse is defined by the state as: when a parent or caregiver causes emotional harm, injury, death or allows a risk of harm to a child. Abuse can be the result of direct action or failure to take action that ensures the child’s best interest.
According to DSS Director April Snead, the department investigated 455 total claims of abuse and neglect in 2017 – 55 for abuse and 400 for neglect. There were, fortunately, no deaths directly resulting from either circumstance in the county last year. Scotland County currently has 59 children in foster care.
During the ceremony, Snead read from a proclamation signed by Whit Gibson, chair of the Scotland County Board of Commissioners.
Rob Deese, Child Protective Services supervisor explained the history of the pinwheel to represent child abuse prevention.
Pinwheels were chosen by Prevent Child Abuse America in 2008 because they represent childhood’s energy, freedom and playfulness. Pinwheels stand as a symbol that every child should have a healthy, happy childhood.
“The pinwheel connotes whimsy and childlike notions. In essence it has come to serve as the physical embodiment … of the great childhoods we want for all children,” Deese said.
CPS Supervisor Atysha Locklear, read from the poem “A toy in Tiny Hands.” The ceremony was closed out by a prayer asking for the protection of all children and those investigating the claims.
The ceremony was attended by DSS board members Leon Butler and Joyce McDowell.
“Child protection is everybody’s business. We should put forth effort to make positive impacts on every child’s life because one child abused is one too many,” McDowell said.
When CPS is called in to investigate a claim of abuse it does not immediately take the child from the home unless there is imminent danger. Social Services does everything it can to keep families together only taking a child into DSS custody if absolutely necessary and then makes every attempt to reunite the family.
“When children are removed from a home, the department works with the caregivers to address individual and family needs. The department requests voluntary placements and/or removes children from their home in approximately 20 percent of cases,” Snead said. “Based on needs that place children at risk, the department refers caregivers to the appropriate service. This can include mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, parenting skills development, and so on.”
By law in North Carolina, anyone who suspects that a child is being abused is required to report it whether the reporter is a caregiver or indirectly involved in the child’s life, according to Snead.
Abuse does not follow any particular pattern, and it is not confined to one socioeconomic group. It happens across all walks of life regardless of background or finances.
“The myth that [it’s] only uneducated people or those receiving public assistance is just that, a myth,” Snead said. “Caregivers from all backgrounds, various lifestyles, and with all levels of education are investigated based on allegations of abuse and/or neglect. The statutory definitions of abuse and neglect cover such a wide array of behaviors, and DSS does receive and investigate reports among a wide range of people.”
DSS spent approximately $990,000 last year to operate its child protective services program covering all facets of the department from investigations to placement.
Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or exploitative in nature, and the consequences can be long-term and include the lack of ability to cope, cognitive delays, and emotional problems. Abuse can also negatively impact the nervous system and immune system leading to the possibility of health issues well into adulthood.
Emotional abuse is sometimes overlooked in the face of more dire threats like sexual or physical mistreatment, but it too can lead to removal from the home and long-term consequences.
Snead’s CPS team works to help offset the fallout.
“To consider what constitutes emotional abuse the department considers how the child functions in school, symptoms of psychological and social impairment, and any failure to thrive, how long a situation has occurred,” she said. “For children who are emotionally abused, we refer caregivers to a mental health provider for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, we may also refer the caregiver to a provider for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Through the mental health provider and the department caregivers are educated in how their actions can result in emotional damage and have lasting effects.”
Members of DSS plan to visit schools and other community groups throughout the month to help educate the public. Anyone who would like to learn more about abuse and what to do if abuse is suspected should contact DSS.
DSS’ efforts to provide prevention awareness information and provide resource information will continue into May with its 12th annual Family Fun Day on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Department of Social Services at 1405 West Boulevard. For more information, contact awooten@scotlandcounty.org
If you suspect abuse or neglect call Scotland County DSS at 910-277-2500 or call 911.
