Prevent Child Abuse in Nevada, Nation, is Campaign's Message
RENO, Nev. – Raising awareness about the services available to help rescue victims of child abuse is the goal of a national campaign that's now underway.
Amanda Haboush-Deloye, director of programs for the Prevent Child Abuse Nevada, says National Child Abuse Prevention Month encourages victims and others to report cases of suspected child abuse.
She says the majority of child abuse cases in the state involve neglect of children under the age of five.
"Lack of supervision,” she explains. “Not having the appropriate food or nutrients in the house. Living in an unsafe or an unclean environment."
Haboush-Deloye says signs a child might be abused include sudden changes in behavior, physical bruises and broken bones, as well an unclean or disheveled appearance.
Haboush-Deloye says there are about 20,000 cases of suspected child abuse reported to Child Protective Services and law enforcement agencies in Nevada each year.
She says some people are reluctant to make such reports, but in her view, everyone has a moral obligation to do what they can to protect children.
"It's better to report and for them to find nothing, than to not report and the child is actually in a dangerous situation," she stresses.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, during a recent year, more than 3 million cases of suspected child abuse were reported nationwide.
