Here’s four things you need to know this child abuse prevention month

MANSFIELD — More than 1,455 blue pinwheels are whirling in the wind along Lexington Avenue in front of the YMCA.

Each represents a child served last year by Richland County Children Services.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here are four things you need to know:

Child abuse is not rare

At least one in seven children in the United States has experienced abuse or neglect in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The types of offenses that require reporting generally fall into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. 

Abuse and neglect impact more than just a child’s immediate welfare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they can lead to emotional and psychological problems like impaired social-emotional skills or anxiety. 

Exposure to violence in childhood increases a child’s risk of injury and substance abuse in adulthood. It makes them more likely to be victims and perpetrators of violence. It’s even associated with delayed brain development, lower educational attainment and limited employment opportunities. 

Chronic abuse may result in toxic stress, which can change brain development and increase a child’s risk of PTSD and memory problems.

Child abuse and neglect aren’t always visible

The types of offenses that require reporting generally fall into four categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. 

Children can also be emotionally abused when they are rejected, berated, or continuously isolated.

Neglect occurs when of parents or other caregivers to provide a child with needed food, clothing and care.

For years, neglect was the most common form of child abuse in Richland County. But documented cases of physical abuse have increased significantly since 2023, according to Richland County Children Services Executive Director Tara Lautzenhiser.

Lautzenhiser said the increase is largely tied to children who test positive for drugs obtained in the home.

RCSS drug tested 623 children last year. Around 40 percent of those children tested positive.

The most extreme case involved a 1-year-old who tested positive for meth, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and medetomidine, a pet tranquilizer.

Lautzenhiser said children can ingest these substances unintentionally when paraphernalia is left lying around, through second hand smoke or via residue on household surfaces.

Richland County Children Services does more than investigate abuse and neglect cases

Last year, Richland County Children Services investigated 975 cases of suspected abuse, neglect or other child welfare concerns.

Those investigations revealed 283 credible cases of abuse or neglect. An additional 227 cases identified families in need of services (FINS). 

Lautzenhiser said FINS cases do not involve parents or caregivers who are abusing or neglecting their children. Instead, FINS families may be referred to or contact the agency directly because they are in need of help or connection to resources in the community. 

The agency also handled 23 dependency cases, which occur when a child is left without proper care for other reasons. These cases may involve children whose parent or guardian passes away, becomes too ill to care for them or is arrested for reasons unrelated to child abuse or neglect.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing child abuse

During a recent awareness rally at the YMCA, local leaders urged community members to do their part to prevent abuse and neglect.

All community members can learn the warning signs of abuse and neglect and make a report if they suspect a child is unsafe.

Signs a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect include:

• Unexplained injuries
• Changes in behavior
• Fear of going home
• Fear of certain adults
• Changes in eating or sleeping
• Changes at school
• Lack of personal hygiene 
• Risk-taking behavoirs
• Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge of sexual topics
• Extreme behaviors like excessive crying, truancy or running away
• Attention-seeking behaviors
• Changes in mood or personality
• Excessive worry or fearfulness
• Decrease in confidence or self-image
• Increase in unexplained health problems such a stomach aches or headaches
• Self-harming behaviors
• Regressive behaviors like thumb sucking or bedwetting
• Withdrawn, fearful behavoir
• Extreme weight change

Reports of suspected child abuse and neglect can by made by calling the 24/7 child abuse report headline at 419-774-4100. All calls are confidential.

Community members can also help by supporting the families and children in their lives, as well as family-focused programs in the community.

Parents can do their part by:

• Fostering loving and trusting relationships with their children.
• Asking for support if they feel overwhelmed.
• Teaching children to trust their instincts if they physically or emotionally comfortable around an adult.
• Teaching children age appropriate information about their bodies and physical boundaries.
• Emphasizing that children can bring any concerns to a parent.
• Emphasizing that adults should not ask children to keep secrets.
• Teaching children that they have a right to be safe.
• Educating children about how to stay safe online.

Richland County Children Services is asking community members to sign a child abuse prevention pledge for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“The pledge card is a simple but powerful way for people to show their commitment to protecting children,” said Brigitte Coles, Richland County Community Engagement Supervisor.

“Seeing these cards displayed throughout the county sends a strong message that Richland County stands united for child safety.”