Child Abuse Prevention Month: Protecting District Children
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—an annual effort to raise awareness about the harmful impact of child abuse and provide resources to build strong and thriving families.
The trauma children experience from abuse can be devastating: It can induce powerlessness, fear, recurrent hopelessness, and lead to school failure and involvement in the criminal justice system. In fact, children who experience child abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
Everyone can play a role in keeping District youth safe. Here are some tips to recognize, prevent, and report child abuse:
Recognizing Child Abuse
Abuse can come in many forms, but the four most common types are physical, sexual, emotional and neglect. Symptoms of these types of abuse vary, but below are some signs that can guide you in determining whether you need to seek help for a child:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts, or other physical injuries
- Unusual fear of certain people or places
- Change in attitude toward school or academic performance
- Lack of interest in friends, sports, or other activities
- Sleep disturbances, including nightmares or night terrors
- Incorporating sexual subject matter into drawing, writing or play
- Change in eating habits
- Self-mutilation or change in body perception like thinking of self or body as dirty or bad
- Suicidal thoughts
Tips for Keeping Kids Safe
One of the best proactive ways to keep children safe from physical and emotional abuse is to equip parents and caregivers with the skills and tools to manage stress in a healthy way. Here are some factsheets that can help adults with parenting skills, food assistance, housing support, and other stressors for parents.
There are also several organizations in the District that offer community-based services that can help parents build strong, healthy families:
Reporting Child Abuse
If a child tells you that they have been abused, remain calm and don’t overreact. Reacting with disbelief or anger may cause the child to feel more ashamed and guilty, shut down, or change their story. Listen to the child, ask open-ended questions like “Can you tell me more?” and assure them what happened is not their fault.
As a reminder, District law requires all adults to report suspected child sex abuse. People who regularly work with children, like teachers or doctors, must always report suspected abuse or neglect of ANY KIND for those under 18. Failure to report could result in a fine up to $1,000. Click here to learn more about the District’s reporting requirements.
Immediately report suspected or known abuse to the District’s 24-hour, confidential Child Abuse Hotline at (202) 671-SAFE or (202) 671-7233. For immediate, life-threatening situations, contact the Metropolitan Police Department by calling 911.