Gov. Gregoire proclaims April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

OLYMPIA -- One phone call can help save a child's life. By calling 1-866-ENDHARM, parents and caregivers who feel they may harm an infant, child or other vulnerable person can get help for their family and themselves. Callers can also use the phone line to report abuse. That call can be the first step in intervention that will prevent further abuse.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an annual observance proclaimed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in our state and by governors across the nation, with the purpose of raising awareness of child abuse and the steps everyone can take to prevent harm to our most vulnerable citizens.

"Child abuse and neglect often occur when people find themselves in stressful situations, without community resources, and not knowing how to cope," Gov. Gregoire said in the March 25 proclamation. "Dialing the DSHS toll-free number 1-866-ENDHARM makes it easier to protect the vulnerable."

Children's Administration hears from not only those required to report child abuse and neglect, such as professionals in law enforcement and health care, but from concerned neighbors, grandparents and others who place that often difficult call to Child Protective Services. In fiscal year 2008, calls from caring individuals on behalf of children they believed to be in harm’s way resulted in more than 36,000 investigations.

"Preventing child abuse is everybody’s business. Notifying Children's Administration of suspected abuse or neglect of children is a step in healing families," said DSHS Children's Administration Interim Assistant Secretary Randy Hart. "In these tough economic times, family and friends can also help each other before a family is in crisis. Be a resource for vulnerable children."

Suggestions include pulling together a neighborhood playgroup, watching your neighbor's children while she or he runs errands or looks for work; volunteering at the local library to read to children, or with many other agencies helping families and children.

The 1-866-ENDHARM help line is one of many resources available to caregivers and the public to access help and information or to report suspected abuse and neglect to Child Protective Services. The helpline is not a replacement for emergency services. If the child or vulnerable adult is in an immediate danger or it is an emergency situation callers should dial 911.

Trained operators are available at the toll-free number, 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276), 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Callers who do not speak English will be asked to stay on the line for an interpreter in their language. A customer service specialist who is bi-lingual in English and Spanish is immediately available during most daytime hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Callers who are deaf or hard of hearing or with a speech disability can call 1-800-624-6186 to place a direct TTY call.

A fact sheet featuring the common signs of possible child abuse and neglect and useful links about Child Abuse Prevention Month is attached, along with the END HARM logo. This information can also be posted to blogs or other media. More information about stopping child abuse is also available from the DSHS Children's Administration Web site at www.dshs.wa.gov/geninfo/endharm.html.

No Excuse 4 Abuse, a tuneful collaboration of youth from Allen Renaissance Inc. in Tacoma and the Department of Social and Health Services is getting great reviews on the DSHS YouTube Channel (at www.youtube.com/WAstateDSHS). No Excuse 4 Abuse is a two-minute music video for and by youth advocating the need to speak out against and report domestic violence and child abuse. Broadcast quality copies are available to media on request.

###

DSHS does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.