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Help Us Prevent Child Abuse
Five things you can do right now to help prevent child abuse and neglect:
1. Reach Out: Anything
you do to support kids and parents can help reduce the stress that often leads to abuse and neglect. Reach out to children and their parents and offer a helping hand.
2. Raise the Issue: By
educating yourself and others, you can help your community prevent child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. Take action by getting involved with PCA-JC!
3. Know the Risk Factors: Child abuse occurs in all segments of our
society. Risk factors are greater in families where parents seem to have economic, housing or personal problems, are isolated from their family or community, have difficulty controlling anger or
stress, are dealing with physical or mental health issues, abuse alcohol or drugs, or appear uninterested in the care, nourishment or safety of their children.
4. Recognize the Warning Signs: A child’s behavior may signal abuse or
neglect long before and change in physical appearance. Some of the signs may include nervousness around adults, aggression toward adults or children, inability to stay awake or to concentrate,
sudden, dramatic changes in personality or activities, unnatural interest in sex, frequent or unexplained bruises or injuries, low self-esteem, or poor hygiene.
5. Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect: To report suspected abuse or neglect in Johnson County, call (319) 339-6166 or (319) 356-6050.
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