LETTER: Looking back on month of April

April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here at SCAN, we’ve spent the last few weeks reaching out to people with a new message: Pause for a child.

There are times when we all need to be reminded to take a break from the rush and stress that surround us in our lives. We might need a coffee break or a vacation. But the pause we’re talking about is
different. It’s about stopping for a moment and directing your focus toward the children in your life. Those in your own family. The children in your neighborhood. Even strangers on the street.

As parents, a pause can help us control our emotions and be positive in our discipline. As community members, a pause can help us be role models, be engaged with our community and be advocates
for all children.

But one thing we hear repeatedly is that when people — even mandated reporters such as teachers and medical professionals — do take that pause, and then witness something in a child that is
unsettling or concerning, they aren’t taking a stand, and they are often not reporting the incident to local authorities. We’re asking everyone to pause, take action and be persistent.

When a call is made to Child Protective Services (and calls CAN be made anonymously), it usually does not result in a child being removed from his or her home. In fact, the majority of reports do not
even go directly to “investigation” status. They enter a “family assessment” track where local agencies work to connect both parents and children with the resources, support and advocacy they need to
build a healthier, stronger family.

By pausing, and then taking action, one person can launch a critical “pause” for a family that can forever change a child’s life. It can be a time for those parents to find the help they need to nurture their
children and stay together.

Taking a pause is not always an easy thing to do, but it is always the right thing to do. We’ve developed a variety of resources to help parents, families and community members learn how to pause for
the children in their lives, and they’re all available online at our new site, www.pauseforachild.org.

To report child abuse in Prince William County, call 703-792-4200.

To report child abuse in the City of Manassas, call 703-361-8277.

To report child abuse in the City of Manassas Park, call 703-335-8898.

Or call the 24-Hour Virginia Helpline/Hotline at 1-800-552-7096.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

DIANE CHARLES

Executive Director

SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia