Listening Place educates on child abuse
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PARKERSBURG -- Blue and silver pinwheels are on display around the area to symbolize happy childhoods and bright futures for victims of child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
The Children's Listening Place is educating the community about its mission to ensure "guidance, protection and help to children and families affected by abuse," according to its website.
By working with law enforcement, Child Protective Services, mental health and medical professionals, the organization is able to assess home issues and work through them.
In observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Executive Director Greg Collins of the Children's Listening Place shared statistics about the organization and its impact on the community.
Collins is a recently retired lieutenant from the Parkersburg Police Department who decided to focus on this mission, which he describes as a worthy cause.
"It made all the difference in me (by) switching positions. This is a total mission that I can get behind for sure coming from a law enforcement perspective," he said.
Last year, the Listening Place helped 604 children, a 22 percent increase from the previous year.
"The shocking reality is that statistics show one in every 10 children you know will likely be the victims of sexual abuse by the age of 18," Collins said in a press release. "Child abuse is happening every day, right here in our community."
Child Advocacy Centers in the state also helped over 4,000 children who had endured abuse. The number of children served has increased by 34 percent within the past five years with most of the abuse involving sexual assault.
"When a child enters our CAC, they have just experienced the unimaginable. They have the opportunity to talk to an interviewer who is trained to ask age-appropriate, non-leading questions in a way that reduces the trauma of telling their difficult story," the release said.
From the recorded interview, decisions are made in the best interests of the child and their family.
Collins said the best way for the community to help this effort is to be mindful of child abuse situations and how common they are in the area.
"Sometimes when things don't happen to you or your family, you're oblivious to what's going on around you. When you look at statistics, you look at how much child abuse in is our region and become aware of it, the numbers are pretty scary," Collins said. "Just because they don't deal with what we're dealing with, doesn't mean it isn't happening."
The many professionals it takes to help these children and families should also be recognized for their efforts, Collins said.
"There are people who are dealing with these child crimes daily to the point of sometimes being overworked. Trying to deal with them is important. It's (important) as a community to get behind all those different workers and to give them the support, finances and the recognition they truly deserve," he said.
Community members can help this effort by donating to the Children's Listening Place as it is a non-profit and only receives funding through grants and donations. Donations can be made on the website, www.childrenslisteningplace.org and through the Facebook page.
The Children's Listening Place is participating in Give Local MOV on May 4 and Collins said that is a good time for people to donate.
"This month, we recognize and bring awareness to the issues of child abuse by placing pinwheels in our yard and holding children in our hearts," the release said. "The next time you see a pinwheel, think of how we as a community can prevent abuse before it happens. May we all hold these 4,400 West Virginia children in our hearts and support the journey of each of them is on toward hope and healing."
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.