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Child Abuse Prevention in Buncombe County
In 2020, 3,101 reports of child abuse and neglect were investigated by Buncombe County Child Protective Services (CPS), a reduction from 3,207 reports investigated in 2019. While these numbers seem optimistic at first glance, we know that COVID-19 had a profound impact on reporting last year, not just in Buncombe County, but across the country. While the pandemic stay home orders helped keep us safe from the virus, they also meant that the major reporters of child abuse and neglect (teachers, coaches, counselors) no longer had in-person interactions with young people that helped identify signs of abuse. The pandemic also introduced conditions that increase rates of abuse and neglect like stress and uncertainty.
“We know a few things about child abuse and neglect,” said Heather Sellers, Social Work Supervisor for Buncombe County Health and Human Services. “It’s common and it’s damaging to the fabric of our community and the development of our next generation. But the most important thing to know is that it’s preventable.”
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in Buncombe County, there are a number of supports in place to help parents and children thrive and be healthy.
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Protective Factors
According to preventchilddabusenc.org, protective factors are the ingredients every community needs to reduce child abuse. Protective factors include:
- Resilience - Resilience is the flexibility and inner strength necessary to bounce back when things are not going well. Adults who can cope with the stresses of everyday life, as well as an occasional crisis, have resilience.
- Understanding of Child Development - Adults who work with or parent children are set up for success when they understand how children develop and adjust their expectations accordingly.
- Connection to Community Supports - When adults and families have their basic needs met: food, clothing, housing, and transportation, they are less likely to experience extreme levels of stress. Sometimes, adults and families need community supports to help them meet these basic needs. Knowing how to navigate resources within the community is an essential part of reducing child abuse and neglect throughout our communities.
- Social Connection - Social connections act as a safety net, especially in times of increased stress. When adults have a strong and supportive group of friends and/or family, they are better able to navigate challenging situations.
“A safe and stable environment for kids is the natural result of a community that supports the health and resilience of the adults in their lives,” says Heather Sellers. “When adults do not have the support, tools, and resources they need to cope with everyday life, occurrences of child abuse and neglect increase. On the contrary, when adults support one another and are supported by their communities, they are more resilient, healthy, and have the ability to cope with challenging situations without adversely impacting children.”
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Support for Parents
Adults who are resilient, understand how children develop, are familiar with community supports, and have authentic social connections are able to create safe and stable environments in which kids, families, and communities can thrive. Buncombe County offers several programs that are built to equip adults with these protective factors. Click on the links below to learn more about each one.
Triple P -?the?Positive?Parenting?Program is a whole system of supports for parents and people caring for young children (ages 0-12) in Buncombe County. Some parents are just seeking brief advice to handle minor disobedience or survive toilet training, while others may need lots of direct support as they learn positive ways to deal with their children's severe or aggressive behaviors.
Nurse-Family Partnership - NFP is an evidence-based community health program that helps transform the lives of vulnerable mothers who are pregnant with their first child. Each mother served by NFP is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits that continue through her child’s second birthday.
NC 2-1-1 - Links to local resources including food, housing, utilities,?counseling, healthcare, and more. Dial 211 or 888-892-1162
Circle of Security Parenting™ - is an opportunity to join other parents just like you for an eight-week class where you’ll learn to:
- Strengthen your relationship with your child
- Be present with your child during the best and toughest of times
- Recognize your child’s needs and make sense of his or her behavior
- Meet your child’s needs by being bigger, stronger, wiser, and kind
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Signs of Abuse
Communities across the world have come together to develop systems and structures that work to protect children from abuse and neglect. These systems depend on everyone working together to recognize and report child abuse and neglect. Below are a few common signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect. If you recognize these symptoms in a child/caregiver in your life, it is time to make a report. Making that report helps us all err on the side of caution in the best interest of children.
The Child:
- Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
- Displays overtly sexualized behavior or exhibits sexual knowledge that is inconsistent with their age
- Has not received medical attention for a physical injury that has been brought to a parent’s attention
- Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
- Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
- Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too responsible
- Comes to school early, stays late, and does not want to go home
- Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
- Has bruises or marks in non-prominent, “fleshy” areas of the body (for example, inside of biceps or behind the knees)
- Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school
- Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home from school
- Shrinks at the approach of adults
- Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver
The Parent or Other Adult Caregiver:
- Shows little concern for the child, rarely responding to the school's requests for information, conferences or home visits
- Denies the existence of or blames the child for problems in school or at home
- Asks the classroom teacher to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
- Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
- Demands perfection, or a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
- Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury
- Describes the child as "evil" or in some other very negative way
- Is abusing alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs, and that abuse is having an adverse impact on the child
- Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
- Has a history of abuse as a child
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Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect in Buncombe County
Reporting abuse and neglect is a way to ensure that families are offered the resources they need to be safe and healthy. To make a report, call (828) 250-5900.
Buncombe County Child Protective Services works to support families and protect children by investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and determining how best to support their health and safety. In North Carolina, all individuals over the age of 18 who suspect child abuse or neglect, for any reason, are required to call Child Protective Services and submit a report. Here is what you need to know:
- Reports can be submitted anonymously (you don’t have to disclose who you are to submit a report)
- While it is not required, it may be helpful to submit your name and phone number in case more information is needed. All information you submit to the caseworker is confidential.
- Your report should include:
- The name[s] and address of the individual suspected of abuse
- The name and address of the child’s caregiver
- The name and age of the child
- Present whereabouts of the child if not at the home address
- Reason for suspecting abuse
- Any additional information you think is helpful to report
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A team of social workers will open an investigation within 24 hours of a report being made. If evidence of abuse and neglect is found, further action will be taken to ensure the safety of the child[ren]. The goal of Child Protective Services is to support families and protect children. Removing the child[ren] from the home is the last resort, a step taken only when absolutely necessary. Reporting abuse and neglect is a way to ensure that families are offered the resources they need to be safe and healthy.
To make a report, call (828) 250-5900.
Together, we can help prevent child abuse and build a healthy community for all of our children.