Another myth is that it’s only abuse if the child is being harmed physically. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report that nearly 78% of child abuse reports were due to neglect.
It can be difficult to recognize when a child is being abused or neglected. Some common signs of abuse may include: unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, returning to earlier behaviors, such as bedwetting or thumb sucking, fear of going home, changes in sleeping or eating habits, changes in school work or attendance, and lack of personal care and hygiene.
If you suspect a child of being abused or neglected you should call the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline at 800-800-5556. Please don’t wait for someone else to make the call, a child’s life might depend on it.
One of Kroft’s goals is to increase the number of CASA volunteers and to look at other ways in which volunteers might mentor youth that are involved in delinquency court. "As April and Child Abuse Prevention month come to a close, please remember that child abuse does not go way if you ignore it. The responsibility to protect children falls on all of us," Kroft says.
If you would like to learn more about how you can make a positive change in a child’s life please contact Pulaski County CASA at 547-225-2227.
