Six hundred and thirty-four blue pinwheels flutter in the lawn at Wedgwood Christian Services this month – one for each child helped and as reminder that each person has a role to play in preventing child abuse.
““My number one rule is: if a child reports to you that he or she is being abused, do not question them just believe them. And tell them you believe them.”
Brina Tiemeyer, Director of Clinical Services, details how different forms of child abuse manifest, emphasizing that physical signs are most recognizable but behavioral shifts are often the most telling indicator.
“They don't really have a close bond with their peers. They seem to lack confidence, have really increased anxiety…They may really have extreme reactions to daily life stress and you're kind of asking yourself, okay, I don't understand why they just blew up, what just happened. And that could be another sign that there is abuse going on.”
Tiemeyer says protecting children is a collective responsibility, urging anyone who suspects abuse to contact police, even anonymously.
“You do not need to confirm; you do not need to be the investigator. If you suspect it is happening, then you need to report the abuse because reporting abuse, even if you are unsure, is never wrong.”
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