Green ribbon signals hope to end abuse

Tomorrow is the traditional day for the wearin’ o’ the green — St. Patrick’s Day. While we are all for getting into the Irish spirit, wearing green will take on a whole new meaning in April, Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month

The 2008 Mint Green Ribbon Campaign, sponsored by Resource Information Directory (RID) on Child Abuse in the state of Alaska, marks the 10th year educational pamphlets with pins have gone out across the state, according to the organization’s Web site at www.ridalaskaofchildabuse.org.

In remembrance of two infant girls recently assaulted in the Mat-Su Valley, we hope you’ll not only sport the ribbon, but help with the fight against child abuse.

Kaydence was 5 months old when she died Nov. 17, 2007. Her father, Burton Grant Naczi, 23, is charged with second-degree murder extreme indifference and manslaughter. The 3-month-old daughter of Keir McGee-Vermont is recovering from injuries her father allegedly told police he caused when McGee-Vermont, 20, threw the baby into her crib because he was stressed out by financial issues. Her injuries included a closed head injury. Further investigation led authorities to charge the father with sexual abuse as well as first- and second-degree assault.

One baby dead, another seriously injured; both under the age of 5 months. Unfortunately, these are only two recent local examples of alleged child abuse.

A mint green ribbon wouldn’t have saved Kaydence’s life or the healthy future of the other baby, whose name has not been released. It is what the green ribbon represents that might have stayed the hands of Naczi and McGee-Vermont — education, awareness and intervention.

RID says child abuse is promoted by silence and ignorance. Too often, simple ignorance of the frailty of a young child can lead to death. Parents, often young themselves, bring babies home from the hospital without really knowing the tremendous responsibility and burden they hold in their hands. And very often, with couples who are no longer living together, fathers have precious little experience dealing with a baby.

Kaydence’s father left her in a car seat instead of seeking medical help. Was it fear of consequences alone or did Naczi fail to see the signs of his daughter’s deteriorating condition?

McGee-Vermont told police he tried to revive his young daughter by putting her in a shallow bath of cold water and holding her in front of the open freezer. Such tactics leave most of us aghast, but did he really believe that a suitable way to resuscitate his child?

There are many factors that lead to abuse — ugly and sometimes incomprehensible motivations for inflicting injury on a helpless child, very often one the abuser purports to love. We can neither understand nor excuse them. What we do know is that everyone in the sphere of a helpless child has an obligation to ensure the safety and well-being, emotional and physical, of that child. We have a duty to help if there are warning signs.

There are resources available to help — educational resources, counseling, intervention. Expectant, new and even “experienced” parents may benefit from parenting classes. Very often new parents are faced with situations they never anticipated and such classes help parents know what to expect and do.

Sometimes an offer to babysit for a few hours can diffuse an escalating situation. Sometimes more radical intervention is necessary. It isn’t always easy to know, but we must be advocates for those who cannot help themselves, like Kaydence.

Wear your ribbon for her and for other victims of child abuse, and do more than wear a ribbon. Let it remind you to reach out to help prevent child abuse.