How to spot signs and behaviors of child abuse
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month, and local agencies say they have seen cases increase. The Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County serves about 2,000 kids each year.
Diana Schunn, the CEO of the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County, says everyone has a part to play in protecting children.
“Child abuse happens all around us,” Schunn said. “We, as adults, have the opportunity to recognize child abuse and be proactive. We have the opportunity to be able to provide safety for children, and the only way we can do that is if we feel like we have the tools to be able to do that.”
Their education is focused on helping people feel more comfortable with the recognition of child abuse and knowing how to report it.
Signs include when children are afraid of going to familiar places when they’re scared of people they wouldn’t normally be afraid of, and when they don’t want to go home. Another sign Schunn mentioned is when children act out more sexually than they ought to be at their particular age group. She says the placement of bruises can also be a sign.
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“Seeing bruises that wouldn’t normally belong in a space where if we fall and injure ourselves, those are kind of common bruises, but when we start to see bruises on the face, in the ears, other parts of the body that wouldn’t normally be accidental in nature, we would be more concerned for abusive kinds of situations,” Schunn said.
Schunn says abuse can also be emotional. Adults can also look out for patterns and pay attention to behaviors.
“Sometimes it’s subtle in nature, but other times it’s a pattern. We start to see that children may be progressively just less and less engaged, more isolated and feel like they need more support systems because they’re receiving less support in the home system,” Schunn said.
Dr. Kerri Weeks is a child abuse pediatrician and echoes that everyone has a role in keeping kids healthy and safe.
“Everyone has children in their immediate vicinity they can make an impact on,” Dr. Weeks said.
She says investing in them and young families provides a sense of community and hope.
“Any time you’re supporting a child, investing in them, you’re preventing maltreatment, and you’re helping them become resilient,” Weeks said. “When you invest in parents, you invest in that child whether you’re offering encouragement, support, financial support, anytime you’re there for a young family, you are impacting that child.”
Dr. Weeks says the community is the eyes and ears, so come forward if you see concerning behavior. Contact 1-800-CHILDREN to make a report to the Department of Children and Families.
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Dee Nighswonger is the Wichita Regional Director for DCF and says vulnerabilities can lead to unhealthy ways of coping and that issues are related.
“That can be anything from family-friendly policies in the workplace to making sure that we’re addressing food insecurity and safe housing,” Nighswonger said.
She says one goal in Sedgwick County is to reduce the need for foster care. Over 1,300 kids are living in foster care in the county.
“We have a disproportionate number of kids represented in the foster care system here in Sedgwick County, and so we’d like to see what we can do to bring more people into the conversation and really step up as a community to walk alongside these families and in a more proactive and partnership way, collaborating with them,” Nighswonger said. “We are just really focused on bringing the community into the conversation. The problem of child abuse is a public health problem. It is a community problem we need to be working together to create an environment or create communities and environments where families can be successful and feel supported.”
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