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 The month of awareness draws our attention to the
need. In 2015, 110,098 children were reported as abused or neglected
in the State of Illinois. In that same year, 380 children in Logan
County were reported as abused or neglected. Of those 380 Logan
County children, 152 children were indicated by the Department of
Children and Family Services as abused or neglected. As of January
31, 2017, 62 children in Logan County were placed outside of their
home in foster care, relative care, or group home settings.
As parents, we can be reminded of some basic
parenting suggestions from child abuse prevention programs:
1. Never discipline your child when you are upset. Give yourself
time to calm down and remember that discipline is a tool to teach
your child.
2. Remember that abuse is not just physical. Words and actions can
inflict deep and lasting wounds.
As parents, we can also be reminded of steps to
protect our children from abuse at the hands of others:
1. Always know your child’s activities and the people with whom they
are involved.
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2. Ensure that organizations, groups, and teams that your child
is involved with minimize one-on-one time between children and adults.
3. Make sure your child knows they can talk to you about anything
that bothers or confuses them.
Protecting the children of our community is not necessarily limited, however, to
parents. If you desire to answer the call to protect, get involved in your
community leadership or invest in vulnerable children and their families. If you
witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you
about abuse, make a report to the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services at 800-25-ABUSE or report it to your local police department.
April is National Child Abuse Awareness month. The month is coming to a close
but our vigilance to protect our community’s greatest asset should not.
[Jonathan C. Wright
Logan County State’s Attorney]
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