April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and as a community, it’s everyone’s responsibility to create a safe environment where children can thrive. Here are 3 ways you can help prevent child abuse and how CASA of Travis County is working to ensure all the children served are protected.
1. Recognize the Warning Signs
Signs of physical and sexual abuse can include:
- injuries with no explanation
- acting out at school or other behavioral changes
- depression, withdrawing socially, or other shifts in emotions
- changes to eating and sleeping habits
- developmental regression
Emotional abuse, including name-calling and rejection, is also harmful and might take longer to recognize.
2. Teach Children About Abuse and Safety
- As you learn about the signs of abuse, share them in a way a child can understand.
- Talk to them about who they feel safe talking to if someone makes them uncomfortable or hurts them.
- Tell them it’s ok to say “no” when anyone touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
The more children learn what’s acceptable and what’s not, the more likely they are to tell someone when they don’t feel safe.
3. Know How to Report
- If you see signs of abuse, immediately report it to child protective services or local police.
- If a child tells you they’ve experienced abuse, listen carefully before responding. Reassure them they did the right thing by speaking up and that what happened wasn’t their fault.
How CASA is Protecting Children
CASA of Travis County is committed to child safety in all our programs and policies. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Earning accreditation through Praesidium by undergoing a thorough assessment of our organization to mitigate the risk of sexual abuse.
- Having a Director of Quality & Safety to provide an additional layer of oversight on cases.
- All CASA staff and volunteers are mandated reporters and must report abuse within 24 hours. The hotline website is available here.
For more information on how to prevent abuse and helpful resources, head to preventabuse.com. Working together is the only way we can help build a community where all children can be safe, with the hope of growing up in a nurturing home.
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