Local health board talks child abuse prevention

By Bryce Kelly, Mt. Pleasant News

A statistical review of child abuse statistics for Henry County and the state as a whole rendered some rather surprising data for various members of the Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) board on Tuesday.

Department of Human Services worker, Russ Hayes, and Mississippi Valley Child Protection Center forensic interviewer, Amy Kuboushek, both say that although child abuse is an ever-present issue in every county and state, the nature of abuse and the factors leading to it are changing.

According to research given by both presenters, 83 percent of child abuse in Iowa involves the denial of critical care (clothing, shelter, food, supervision, etc.), while roughly eight percent of abuse to a child is physical.

From a national standpoint, there is a shift happening in the types of abusers most often perpetrating child abuse or neglect. According to the most recent Department of Human Services study in 2015, 26 percent of convicted child abusers are family friends/acquaintances of the abused child; 22 percent are youth services workers (such as a coach, youth program volunteer, or a youth mentor); and 16 percent are parents of the abused or neglected minor.

?These (statistics) usually surprise people, but it?s fairly consistent with what we are seeing (in this area and statewide). The idea of ?stranger danger? isn?t something that is as relevant as it used to be. Kids are statistically more likely to be abused by people they already know and have a relationship with,? said Kuboushek. ?And we are trying to raise more awareness about this.?

Currently, roughly 15 to 20 assessments are made a month in Henry County of alleged child abuse or neglect cases. Both Hayes and Kuboushek say that number will likely grow if the statewide trends continue. Hayes also noted that while an assessment may be performed by a caseworker, that assessment doesn?t always result in a proven case of child neglect or abuse.

A common and ever-evolving factor in child abuse or neglect, says Hayes, is the issue of drug and alcohol abuse. According to Hayes, caseworkers have seen a significant shift in the use and nature of drugs in Iowa, especially over the last 10 to 15 years, and insist these shifts do pose a significant danger to children.

?The drug scene in Iowa is becoming more complicated and drugs themselves are becoming more and more dangerous,? he said, adding the Internet has allowed drugs not commonly found in Iowa to be more easily bought and sold here.

Hayes also reported that marijuana in particular is not the kind most adults in their 40s and 50s think of.

?Marijuana is much more potent and has much more severe side effects than we have ever seen before. Depending on the types of marijuana or drug being used, it can give a person hallucinations, black outs, severe mood swings ? the whole gamut. And when this type of drug abuse is happening near or around kids, it often leads to a whole lot of issues related to abuse or neglect of a child,? he said.

Additionally, both Kuboushek and Hayes cited that human trafficking in Iowa is a growing threat to children in the state, despite many misconceptions that the practice is only done in more populated cities or in countries outside of the United States.

?It?s something that we are going to have to address more as a state because it?s not going away,? Hayes said with regard to the issue. ?Lawmakers and communities alike are going to have to take a stand against this if we want to meet it head-on.?

When asked what the average person can do to quell or protect a child from abuse or neglect, both experts cited the answers are easily doable by most people.

?I think if you are a mandatory reporter, understand that it?s your responsibility to say something if you see something,? said Kuboushek. ?It?s never a child?s fault for being abused, and it?s important that we as a community remember that.?

Hayes added that while training in spotting abuse or neglect is always good for any adult to get, he urged that people who simply get to know their neighbors will build stronger families and safer communities.

?Get to know people. Get invested in their lives. In many situations, kids in abuse feel like they have no one to tell or no one to turn to. Being a friend to the kids down the street or simply offering a friendly conversation to a family in the house next to yours is what?s going to make a big difference,? he said.

Arin Jones, of the Henry County Community Partnership for Protecting Children (CPPC), also educated the board on the adverse mental, emotional and developmental effects of childhood abuse and neglect. In addition, she stressed the importance of raising awareness of child abuse, reminding the board that April is Child Abuse Prevention month.

More information regarding the CPPC?s work to provide local resources and services aimed at keeping children safe from abuse and neglect can be found on HHCC?s website, www.healthyhenrycounty.org, or by calling 319-385-8126.

The next HHCC meeting will be held on May 2, 2017, at 1 p.m., in the Henry County Health Center Health Education Center.