April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The citizens of Cook County share a desire to make our community as peaceful and prosperous a place as possible. To move forward, we rely on healthy, functional families that nurture today’s children into tomorrow’s community leaders. Child development is therefore a foundation for community and economic development.
Child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect can only negatively affect child development and a child’s prospects for growing into a healthy and happy adult. Toxic stress releases harmful chemicals in the brain. Early life experiences that are disruptive, neglectful, abusive, unstable, or otherwise stressful to babies and children impair growth and make it harder for the brain to form healthy connections.
Research has shown that certain key protective factors can reduce and eliminate “toxic stress.” These include nurturing and attachment for children, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete supports in times of need. Children are a vulnerable population and can be isolated in the home without an ability to communicate fears or call for help. It is the responsibility, then, of adult neighbors and community members to speak for them and protect them. If you know a child who is abused or neglected, report it to Cook County Public Health and Human Services (387-3620) or to the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office (387-3030). Contact Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota at 1-800-CHILDREN or pcamn@pcamn.org for more information.
Molly Hicken
School Community Action Team
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