April means awareness -- talk about child abuse

It's a well-known fact that problems do not go away simply by ignoring them. In most cases, the failure to address a problem causes it to grow and fester, not the other way around.

And so it is with child abuse -- an epidemic that affects Alaska with much more force than other states. Alaska has a rate of child abuse three times higher than the national average, according to information from Valley Hospital Association. Last year, 17,457 reports of child abuse and neglect were received across the state. More than 10 percent of those were received in the Mat-Su Borough -- and that's not counting the instances of abuse that go unreported.

Child abuse is not a family problem, not something that only affects the people giving out or receiving the abuse. It is your problem. It is our problem. It affects every member of every community in every city across the nation. And it's not going to go away if we turn our heads.

April is Child Abuse Awareness month in Alaska, and it's a good time to remember a few key points that were provided courtesy of The Children's Place, a center where an abused child can receive a physical examination and talk to law enforcement authorities, eliminating the need for a child to talk about the painful incident in repeated interviews.

Child abuse and neglect is a community problem. No single agency or individual acting alone has the knowledge, skills, or resources to end child abuse and neglect.

Preventing child abuse challenges us to work together. To succeed in ending child abuse, we must include prevention efforts in our schools, clinics, churches, day-care facilities and in each neighborhood, village and city.

Strengthening families is at the heart of prevention.

The majority of parents love their kids and don't intend to harm them. Extending support to parents and care givers is key in reducing the number of incidents of child abuse and neglect.

Parents who have been abusive or neglectful have the capacity to change.

Children deserve to grow up in a safe, secure environment free from violence. Growing up in their own family is best for children, as long as they are safe. When parents can't meet their children's needs or keep them safe, sometimes children need to be removed from their home to protect them.

Child abuse is everyone's concern. Be part of the solution.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact the Division of Family and Youth Services at 745-1701 or the Alaska Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-478-4444. For more information on becoming a foster parent, call the Foster Parent Training Center at 1-800-478-7307. For more information on how you can help prevent child abuse and neglect, contact The Children's Place at 357-5157.