JEFFERSON COUNTY, OH — A nationwide movement to protect children is drawing attention this month to the warning signs of abuse and the steps adults can take to create safer environments for kids. In Jefferson County, a local church and child advocacy experts are working to raise awareness and encourage caregivers to be proactive.
According to the Nationwide Children’s Alliance, child abuse remains a significant public health issue in the United States, with more than a half a million children identified as victims annually. Experts say child abuse does not always have a warning sign and that it may be difficult to notice when something is wrong.
Amy Lingerfelt said changes in a child’s behavior can be a signal that something may be happening. “They might suddenly be more emotional, more dramatic, or withdrawn. They may act out at school. They may be angrier or they may go out of there way and lean into perfectionism,” Lingerfelt said.
Lingerfelt said the center uses the “Darkness to Light” Stewards of Children curriculum, a training for adults focused on protecting children from sexual abuse. The training is broken down into five steps: learning the facts, minimizing opportunity, talking openly about issues, recognizing signs and reacting responsibly.
Lingerfelt emphasized the importance of how adults respond when a child opens up. “If you remain calm, you’re telling the child that this is a safe thing to talk about, which is opening that door to ongoing communication,” she said.
Experts also encouraged caregivers to be mindful of internet safety. Lingerfelt said children can face online predators through social media, game chats and other online platforms. “Make sure that you’re monitoring their devices. Make sure that they’re only going on apps and websites that are approved by you and that you’ve done your research on them. Don’t blindly approve them. Please look them up,” she said.
Lingerfelt said adults can help prevent child abuse by maintaining open communication with children, calling it a “number one” predictor that they will be safe. “Preditors go out of their way to identify children that are lonely, withdrawn, isolated. So if you can be a safe person in a child’s life, if you can be a safe adult for them, you are safeguarding them that much more from abuse,” she said.
More information is available at acaringplacecac.org. The center can also be reached at 740-266-3988, a 24/7 line, for those interested in learning more about the training.
————————————————
