MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- In an effort to increase awareness and help prevent child abuse and neglect, Team Moody’s wing leadership and the 23d Medical Operations Squadron’s family advocacy program participated in a proclamation signing in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 6, here.
This year’s theme is ‘keeping kids safe,’ which emphasizes safety, reducing distractions and accident prevention measures.
“Children are our future and we have to recognize the need to keep our children safe,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Brian Petrovich, 23d MDOS family advocacy officer. “This month is designed to help family and community members understand how important it is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect to promote kids social and emotional well-being.”
According to Petrovich, the first step towards breaking the cycle of child abuse is understanding what it is and all it entails.
“Child abuse is more than just physical harm,” said Petrovich. “Child abuse is also the continued emotional and verbal abuse, and neglect that constantly negatively affects children. The affects include having physical, emotional and social developmental difficulties. This continued pattern is dangerous because eventually these children will one day become parents and are prone to repeat that cycle with their kids.”
Petrovich credits parents misunderstanding the thin line [between discipline and abuse] as a root of the problem. According to him, parents should never discipline their kids when they are angry or verbally attack their kids. They should always seek to remain calm and not react immediately.
Petrovich added that another problem is family and community members not reacting immediately to various child abuse and neglect indicators which delay their decision to report abusive acts due to the fear of breaking up the children’s immediate family.
“The myth is that if [child care division] services gets involved, the kids will be removed and never go back to their families,” said Petrovich. “The whole concept is to get families the help they need. If children have to be removed from the situation, the reunification process is still able to happen. [The goal is] to promote the creation of a healthy relationship and provide proper child growth.”
The family advocacy program hosts several child and parental strengthening programs year-round to enhance safe relationships and resiliency within households.
To accomplish this, the family advocacy program acknowledges the role of building protective factors and promoting a healthy environment for kids to grow up in to prevent maltreatment and ensure they have a chance to successfully develop.
“Parents create and promote healthy home relationships that will provide kids with proper child growth by teaching love and logic principles,” said Lawanna Barron, 23d MDOS family advocacy outreach manager. “These principles encourage parents to offer empathy, understanding and unconditional love, allow children to struggle and solve their own problems and encourage children to success through personal thinking and learning. In addition, parents must set the example by always being a positive role model.”
Individuals interested in the family advocacy program’s resources can call 229-257-4805 for more information.