How Can We Remain Socially Close to Our Most Vulnerable Children?
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. A year ago, we shared the story of one of our young ladies who told us the only places she ever felt safe were at school and church. Before coming to our Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Harrisburg, Missouri Neighborhood, she dreaded going home.
Thousands of other young boys and girls share her experience, but now their safe places have temporarily closed the doors. News reports abound, stating the likelihood of increased cases of child abuse during the pandemic.
What can we do? Stay at Home/Shelter in Place mandates make us feel helpless, but there are ways to reach out and stay in touch.
How can we remain socially close to the people within our circles of influence?
An article on the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) website states: People keep saying that social distancing is the wrong term right now. That we need to be physically distanced, but socially closer than ever. That’s the truth. If we’re going to help families who find themselves on the verge of a crisis, with risk factors for abuse increasing, we need to be as connected as possible. Let’s find the ways to connect and get creative in our emotional and concrete support for families so we can all help prevent child abuse.
Paige Douce, a Family Advocacy Specialist with Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries, is reaching out to the biological families of our former children. Words of encouragement, offers of help, and just checking in with them to see how they’re doing. A text, call or email can go a long way in letting someone know you care.
“We are all under a lot of stress, our families especially,” says Paige. “Trying to make ends meet and homeschooling their children is tough. No matter how old we are when we become stressed, we go into our survival brain. We go back to old habits. It is so important in this time to not only check in on our kids, but to make sure our parents are doing okay and have what they need. We want to help our families with physical needs, but most importantly remind them they are seen and cared for. They need to know we are for them and with them! By coming alongside and supporting them, we are able to build trust and provide a sense of safety for the parents and their children.”
We can all do our part to reach out and stay in touch with those who could use our help. Parents who have suffered job loss and the added stress due to school closures can especially use our support and encouragement during this time.
Harrisburg’s school district has been running the bus routes faithfully each day at lunch time, delivering meals to students’ doors. A sack lunch and that brief smile through the window or door lets them know there are other adults in their life who care. Larger school districts distributed tablets to all students to ensure that teachers could communicate via video chat. Smaller districts are also using video chats to stay in touch. Every little bit helps to let a child know someone cares. It also lets the adults in their home know that there is still accountability. Support. Concern.
Consider how you could video chat with children you know. Perhaps offer it as a break for their parents. Let the parents know you’re willing to read books or entertain their children via a video chat for a set amount of time, so the parents can have a few moments to themselves.
Get creative in finding ways to remain socially close to the children in your lives, like this grandmother who figured out how to play bingo with her grandsons via FaceTime.
Another way to help is by spreading the word and encouraging folks to become foster parents! A surge in foster care placements is expected following the pandemic. Our Foster Care Services staff are doing all they can to continue supporting and licensing new foster parents, in spite of isolation. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent, read details here.
We are not helpless during this time of isolation. All of us can instigate a connection, pray for those beyond our reach, and give to organizations like Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries who continue doing everything we can to ensure that children are provided with a safe place to be a child.
Finally, if you have reason to suspect abuse or neglect is occurring, there are signs to be aware of and systems in place for reporting it. Please read HERE for those details.
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