National Child Abuse Prevention Month:Voices from the Front Lines

National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Voices from the Front Lines

Every April, we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month by raising awareness of our shared responsibility to keep children safe from abuse or neglect.

We spoke to the Monroe County Child Protective Services Training Team (CPSTT) about what prevention looks like in their daily outreach efforts—and what resources they use in training the next generation of caseworkers who intersect with families in our community.

Primary and Secondary Prevention

“Our focus is to help kids and ensure their safety,” said Jillian Evans, CPSTT Supervisor with over 20 years of experience working within the Monroe County Department of Human Services. “To do that, we need to help families first.”

Evans oversees a team of two senior caseworkers and four casework coaches who train and develop new caseworkers in Monroe County. Primary and secondary prevention are core principles in their curriculum.

Primary prevention aims to reduce risk factors for child maltreatment through resources and services that are available to anyone in the community. These supports help to strengthen vulnerable families, with the goal of keeping a situation from rising to the level of CPS involvement.

“Supports can look like helping a family meet tangible needs, like food, clothing, and shelter,” said Julie Nichols, Administrative Caseworker for the Monroe County Department of Child and Family Services. Nichols has 22 years of experience working within the department. “Primary prevention can also be supporting a family through referrals to services to meet underlying needs such as mental health, substance abuse, or parenting education.”

“We need the community in partnership with us to recognize the needs of every child and their families,” said Camy Sylvester, CPSTT Casework Coach. “For mandated reporters, that should start with a simple conversation with the child or family.” Sylvester has nearly five years of experience working with CPS.

Poverty, substance abuse, and untreated mental health concerns can quickly unravel a family that is struggling. When CPS is involved, caseworkers connect individuals and families to targeted resources specific to their needs. This secondary prevention reduces the likelihood of abuse or neglect from recurring.

“A common misconception is that we step in to remove children,” said Madison Bittner,

CPSTT Casework Coach with five years of experience working with CPS. “The reality is that we are here to provide support to families. And we meet really resilient families in our daily work.”

In the Media

“The media portrays CPS caseworkers as overworked, not caring or knowing how to keep kids safe,” said Evans. “It perpetuates the stigma that keeps families from asking for help.”

Media tends to dramatize and foster negative stereotypes of the child welfare system, including the role of CPS caseworkers.

“I came to the job knowing what families can go through,” said Yesenia Fonseca-Alicea, CPSTT Casework Coach. She is the newest recruit to the Training Team but has six years of experience working with CPS. “TV and movies often get it wrong.”

However, there are real stories that get it right, notably the memoir and documentary Healing Neen, which is used as a training tool to educate new caseworkers on trauma-focused care and in understanding family dynamics.

“The story of Tonier Cain (who overcame a childhood of severe abuse, homelessness and addiction through intervention) is about client resilience,” said Alison Chrysler, CPSTT Senior Caseworker. Chrysler has 14 years of experience working with CPS. “Her ability to turn her life around underscores the need for prevention, especially for those who have experienced generational trauma.”

“People need help, not punitive measures,” offered Katie Alkins, CPSTT Senior Caseworker with eight years of experience working with CPS. “Everyone has a story. Trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) need to be addressed.”

Alkins referenced The Pitt, a popular medical drama series that premiered on HBO Max last year, as an example of an accurate portrayal of social workers. In Season 2, episodes 2 and 3, a child is brought to the ER with suspicious injuries.

“In these episodes, social workers and doctors, who are mandated reporters, gather information prior to a report being made,” explained Alkins. “It portrays the intervention piece accurately, as cases don’t always rise to the level of abuse or neglect.”

“There is a Ted Talk by Jessica Price, who wrote “Broken,” a book from her time as a child welfare worker,” Evans said. “Her message is one of strengthening families through help and support. Being able to partner with a family and listening to their story without judgment is the first step in any helping relationship.”

Support Before You Report

CPS does not operate in isolation—schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, neighbors and relatives all play a role in prevention.

“We like to think of ourselves as mandated ‘supporters,’” said Evans. “Prevention is about what we can do together.”

“It is about getting to know families and making sure their basic needs are being met,” said Danielle Deruyter, CPSTT Casework Coach. “Everyone is human, just show up and ask questions to know what supports they need.” Deruyter has 10 years of experience working with CPS.

Here are some ways everyone can help:

• Learn the signs of abuse and neglect
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-do-i-recognize-child-abuse-and-neglect/
• Offer help to overwhelmed parents in your community
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-to-ask-questions/
• Understand prevention and how to access resources
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-can-i-help-prevent-child-abuse-before-it-happens/
• Report concerns responsibly when necessary
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/working-definitions-of-sexual-abuse-physical-abuse-neglect/

“We need to normalize asking for help,” said Nichols. “Negative stigmas isolate families.”

“It takes a village,” said Chrysler.

CPS does not operate in isolation—schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, neighbors and relatives all play a role in prevention.

“We like to think of ourselves as mandated ‘supporters,’” said Evans. “Prevention is about what we can do together.”

“It is about getting to know families and making sure their basic needs are being met,” said Danielle Deruyter, CPSTT Casework Coach. “Everyone is human, just show up and ask questions to know what supports they need.” Deruyter has 10 years of experience working with CPS.

Here are some ways everyone can help:

• Learn the signs of abuse and neglect
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-do-i-recognize-child-abuse-and-neglect/
• Offer help to overwhelmed parents in your community
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-to-ask-questions/
• Understand prevention and how to access resources
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/how-can-i-help-prevent-child-abuse-before-it-happens/
• Report concerns responsibly when necessary
  https://www.dorightbykids.org/working-definitions-of-sexual-abuse-physical-abuse-neglect/

“We need to normalize asking for help,” said Nichols. “Negative stigmas isolate families.”

“It takes a village,” said Chrysler

RESOURCES:

 

MyWayfinder

https://community.my-wayfinder.org/

The MyWayfinder platform offers a large database of local providers, making it simple to search for and connect with a wide range of essential services, to find the support you need.

Care Portal

https://www.careportal.org/

The Care Portal platform enables real-time sharing of needs from vulnerable children and families with people in the community who are ready and willing to help.

OCFS HEARS Family Line

(Help, Empower, Advocate, Reassure and Support)

1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277)
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/cwcs/hears.php

The HEARS Line connects people with existing resources in the community and empowers them to utilize those resources. The HEARS Line intentionally exists outside of traditional child welfare to reduce both the stigma and fear people have about seeking help.

 

Children’s Bureau/Child Welfare Information Gateway

https://www.childwelfare.gov/preventionmonth/