(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

While plenty of politicians claim they are pursuing the agendas they do because they want to protect children, organizations such as the North Star Child Advocacy Center are actually doing just that. And in the first half of 2025, they are seeing an increase in the need for their work.

Serving Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Pleasants and Calhoun counties in West Virginia — as well as doing some work for other counties in the Mountain State and in Ohio — North Star has conducted 14 more forensic interviews between January and June 2025 than during the same period the year before.

So far this year, North Star has performed in Wood County 281 forensic interviews, 15 medical exams and 47 therapy referrals for children who are part of investigations initiated by law enforcement or number of referrals that Child Protective Services accepts as investigations.

“In the next couple of months, we could get record breaking numbers, we never know. North Star will be prepared for whatever comes our way, doing our best to help our teams with their interviews, then attempt to heal each child that comes through our door so they can be a productive member of society,” said Greg Collins, executive director of North Star.

Think about the toll it must take on those trying — truly — to protect children; to help them feel safe to learn and grow. But they are dedicated to doing it because the real dangers faced by far too many children in our region are not disappearing.

And too many lawmakers have chosen to focus their attention elsewhere.

“When you’re in this work, you hope the numbers decline because there are fewer child abuse incidents and you are doing a good job on all fronts to make this happen,” Collins said. “But the truth is there is likely no decrease in the cases and it comes down to the boots on the ground fighting this epidemic.”

Those fighting are not doing so for recognition or political leverage. They are fighting for our region’s kids when many others don’t give them a second thought. For that, as Collins so perfectly put it, “they deserve praise and grace from everyone.”

Thank you.