April 16, 2004 - April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month SRS Pushes for Recognition of Warning Signs and Risk Factors

Topeka—The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) wants to make Kansans aware that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The department is responsible for administering child welfare-related programs for the state. “Part of our agency’s mission is to protect the health and well-being of children,” said SRS Secretary, Janet Schalansky.

SRS statistics show that nearly 41,000 reports of abuse or neglect were made in FY 2003 with 7,085 substantiated cases. Members of the public can help prevent child abuse by recognizing the warning signs in children. Some of the many signs include nervousness around adults, aggression toward adults or other children, sudden or dramatic changes in personality, frequent or unexplained bruises or injuries, low self-esteem, and poor hygiene.

Just as children show signs of being abused or neglected, adults also exhibit behaviors that can lead to child abuse and neglect. Some of the behaviors include difficulty in controlling anger or stress, abuse of alcohol or drugs, the parent appears uninterested in the care or nourishment of their children, and a parent not coping well with physical or mental health issues within the family.

SRS wants to remind Kansans that preventing child abuse is everyone’s job. If a person suspects that a child is being abused or neglected, they should report it to their local SRS office, or law enforcement, or call the SRS 24-hour, toll-free phone number at (800) 922-5330.

Secretary Schalansky further stated that the goal of SRS is to keep children with their families whenever possible. She said that services provided by the agency or its contractors are focused on achieving this goal. “The greatest successes of SRS are the children who sleep safely and peacefully in their beds each evening as a result of some service provided by our agency and its contractors,” said Schalansky.