In California, recent statistics showed nearly 500,000 children were referred to Child Welfare Services for investigation of abuse and/or neglect. In Yolo County the number for suspected abuse/neglect is approximately 1,500 children a year, resulting in almost 250 children now in child-welfare supervised placements.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month; a time when we pause to reflect on the helpless children suffering in the control of parents or caregivers who have anger issues; drug, alcohol, or pill addictions; financial irresponsibility; mental health instability; and/or just don't care enough to make the right choices to protect the children in their care. Each story is unique, but the themes are the same -- substance abuse, poverty, food and shelter insecurity, stress, and more stress.
In Yolo County 18 percent of our residents experience food insecurity; more than 9 percent of our workers are unemployed (highest rates are in Woodland and West Sacramento); and nearly 45,000 (16 percent to 18 percent) of our children live in poverty. This is higher than the statewide average of 14 percent.
You might ask yourself, "How can this happen?" Or, "What can I do to help prevent this from happening to so many children?"
The Yolo County Children's Alliance and Child Abuse Prevention Council has adopted a theme this year of "It's Our Turn.
n Spend time with a child. Any activity that makes a child feel special and loved is quality time and makes a difference.
n Pay attention. If a child you know is struggling, find ways to appropriately intervene to offer help to the family. Maybe it's rides to and from school. Maybe it's getting them to after school or weekend activities. Maybe it's buying a coat or pair of shoes.
n Report obvious child abuse. If you know a child or witness a child being abused or seriously neglected, please call the Yolo County Child Protective Services at 669-2345.
n Know whether you are a "mandated reporter" (such as teachers, health care providers, social workers, etc.), and, if so, don't hesitate to report child abuse or neglect.
n Consider becoming a foster parent. Through the excellent work of the Woodland Community College Foster and Kinship Care Education program, we have nearly tripled the number of foster homes in Yolo County -- to 86. But we need more compassionate and loving foster parents to help keep Yolo County children in Yolo County when they are placed into foster care. This helps the county keep local children in local communities where they are already enrolled in and receiving services such as education and health care.
n Visit your local family resource center if you need some help. Family resource centers are located in Woodland, Davis, Winters, Esparto, West Sacramento, Knights Landing, Yolo, and Clarksburg. FRCs help families obtain free food, health care, case management assistance, and parenting classes.
Thankfully, most children in Yolo County live in stable and secure homes. But too many children don't. We hope you will join the Yolo County Children's Alliance and Child Abuse Prevention Council in saying "It's Our Turn" to be proactive and protect our kids.
-- Don Saylor is the chairman of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and chairs both the Yolo County Children's Alliance Child Abuse Prevention Council and First 5 Yolo Children and Families Commission.