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Every month should be Child Abuse Prevention Month

It was a good move on the part of Gov. Doug Burgum to declare April Child Abuse Prevention Month and award grant money to entities around the state to sponsor events dedicated to the cause.

Area communities receiving the mini grants include Divide County Social Services, Crosby; Foster, Eddy, and Wells County Social Services, Carrington, New Rockford, and Fessenden; Dunn County Social Services, Killdeer; Region 2 Parent Resource Center – NDSU Extension Service, Minot; Rolette County Social Services, Rolla.

However, perhaps it is better yet to consider every month Child Abuse Prevention Month and to support the development of numerous, year-round efforts at awareness, prevention and treatment/recovery.

News is filled with threats to children – to the point where perception far exceeds reality. As horrible as the specters are, school mass shootings are extremely rare, statistically. Violent crime has not increased in recent years; it has decreased. Even more common is the fear of stranger abduction and child abuse by strangers. These things do occur. However, they are relative anomalies. FBI statistics and law enforcement professionals nationally will assert that abduction and abuse are almost always committed by family members, family friends and others known to the victim and victim’s family.

Statistically speaking, a child is more at risk at home than virtually anywhere else. That is a result of child abuse.

Furthermore, child abuse and domestic violence are key roots to many social ills, from mental health issues and addiction ramifications to the perpetuation of the cycle of abuse: abusers tend to have been abused themselves.

While higher profile risks capture headlines and induce fear, it is the far more common scourge of child abuse that affects far more people directly and has the greater long-term impact on society.

That sounds like something that should be addressed every month.

Kids, Parents and Power Struggles: Secrets to Effective Discipline, an evening workshop for parents and professionals will be held on April 19, 6:30-8 p.m., at Grand Hotel, 1505 N. Broadway.

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