The child welfare system focuses primarily on the safety and well-being of children under the care of parents and guardians. However, as children and families prepare for a new school year and wrap up summer camps and activities, it’s a perfect time to talk to children about staying safe with peers and about recognizing and preventing peer-on-peer child abuse. The immediate and long-term impact of peer abuse overlaps with many of the impacts of abuse perpetrated by adults. Adults have an important role to prevent abuse among children and help children know they can reach out for help to stop ..read more

Remember the campaign in which Smokey Bear told everyone, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires”? You probably do, since 80% of American still recall Smokey and his message from the campaign begun in 1944. It helped millions of Americans realize their role in preventing wildfires and greatly reduced uncontrolled fires. Now think about your role in another campaign to save precious lives, and consider how YOU can prevent child abuse. All of us can be a positive influence in a child’s life. At the very least, we all can help spread awareness and prevention essentials. (Hint: Start by sharin ..read more

How Social Workers Can Help Abused Children Heal Though we may not want to believe it, abuse directed at children is heartbreakingly increasing. A report from U.S. News reveals that since the beginning of the pandemic, childhood abuse has nearly tripled nationwide. According to analysts, this comes as a result of stay-at-home orders and heightened friction due to familial challenges. Understandably, this has created an epidemic within the pandemic that cannot be overlooked. The importance of social workers has been underscored during this trying time. The Effect of Abuse in Childre ..read more

The Birmingham’s wanted to make a difference but weren’t sure how deeply they wanted to get involved.  For a few days, they cared for two brothers, Matthew and Jamie, whose current foster parents were on vacation.  At the end of their stay, the boys were told that they would always be welcome if they ever needed help in the future. The two boys went back to their previous foster family, then eventually were returned to their extended family. They were able to reunite with an aunt and uncle. Matthew and Jamie were excited to finally be with family again. Their cas ..read more

A group of Maryland high school students have teamed up to help spread the word about the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. Students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School created t-shirts emblazoned on the front with the message “NEED HELP?” and on the back information about how to call, text or online chat with the Hotline. The students say they wanted to give fellow students a way to learn about how to reach out to the Hotline without having to even acknowledge that they are suffering from abuse or neglect. The students are wearing the shirts to school throughout the month of April fo ..read more

Gymnast, Survivor & Activist Kim Bergman Hello my name is Kim Bergman and I am a survivor of child sexual abuse.  I was 12 years old when my gymnastics coach, David Byrd, began abusing me.  Over the years I have learned that I was not David Byrd’s first victim or his last.  David Byrd had a reputation in the gymnastics community for inappropriate behavior.  Unfortunately, those rumors went ignored and Byrd was granted unlimited access to young women and children.   I fell in love with gymnastics and the Magnifcent 7 after the 1996 Olympics where Kerri Strug ..read more