Child Abuse: It’s Happening in Our Community

The month of April is Child Abuse Prevention month.
 
In an effort to help raise awareness, local agencies are working together in hopes of putting an end to the growing problem.

Cass County Social Services roughly receives 2,500 reports of child abuse every year.

Local advocates say it’s an issue that isn’t being talked about enough.

Cass County Social Services currently has 125 assigned cases of child abuse as of March, which is an increase from this time last year.
 
“We were signing approximately a 100 to 101 cases. So there’s been a slight increase, I shouldn’t slight there is a fairly significant increase in the reports were getting and seeing,” said Rick VanCamp of Cass County Child Protection Services.
 
Experts say when dealing with an abused child it’s important to realize one thing.
 
“If I just save them from that abuse and neglect situation it will be all better, and that’s not really reality, there’s still some strong work to be done,” said Kelly Olson Counselor at The Village.
 
Anna Frisell of the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center says the first step for prevention is recognizing that it’s a growing issue in our community.
 
“It is happening, and we need to stop it, and the only way that we’re going to be able to do that is if we get together, and change the culture,” said Frissell.
 
The center is one of many resources that children are referred to as they start the healing process.

Last year the center took on more than 450 cases.
 
By the time many children actually reach those resources, they have already gone through several hoops in the process which Frissell says is an accomplishment in itself.
 
“It’s a remarkable process for that child to even get to where they’re coming to us. So that 470 are children that made it through those hoops to get to us,” said Frissell.
 
She says prevention will also take the watchful eye of people in the community.
 
“Someone has to recognize them; someone has to see that they need help,” said Frissell.
 
Frissell says out of those 470 children more than 100 of them had been sexually abused.