BY BRANDY TEMPLETON
Local organizations dedicated to protecting children gathered at locations throughout Iredell County on Monday to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month.
In Statesville, two trees at the corner of Tradd and Water streets, were adorned with blue ribbons to honor the children who have been victimized.
Tonya Fowler, executive director of Pharos Parenting, said public education is an important step.
“We just want to get the message out about awareness, and we chose trees visible to the community to tie ribbons for the month of April. It’s a way for organizations to show solidarity in the fight against child abuse.”
Representatives of the Iredell County Department of Social Services, Guardian ad Litem’s Office, Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center, and Children’s Hope Alliance participated in the event, along with Pharos Parenting. Mayor Costi Kutteh was present to support the effort.
Similar events were held throughout the day in Troutman, Mooresville and Taylorsville.
Karen Thompson, program administrator for Iredell County Department of Social Services, stood alongside Mayor Kutteh as he read a City of Statesville proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Statesville.
“In the federal fiscal year 2022, 3.9 million reports of child abuse were made to child protective services,” he stated.
Kutteh and Thompson expressed their hopes that eventually there would be no more annual celebrations because abuse would end.
However, reports of child abuse are increasing, and children in all demographics groups are being victimized, Thompson said.
“We’re seeing more and more with rising illegal drug use,” she shared. “There’s a correlation between the county’s fentanyl and methamphetamine addictions and our child abuse problems.”
As a result of increased abuse cases, Iredell County DSS is opening an office in Mooresville soon.
Once DSS staff identifies a problem or confirms abusive behavior, they take the necessary steps to protect children and educate parents.
“We bring recognition to the parent on how their behavior affects the child by referring to counseling or by requesting mental or psychological health evaluations,” Thompson said. “We can’t do it by ourselves. We need the community to get involved.”
Beth McKeithan, executive director of the Dove House, spoke of what childhood should be.
“Childhood is supposed to be a time that’s whimsical and fun,” she said. “But abuse is on the rise, especially with the influence of social media.
Child advocacy groups are seeing an increase in reports of “sexstortion.” Boys between ages 12 to 13 years are especially vulnerable.
“One boy was communicating with his predator through a smart fridge,” she said.
Only 30 percent of sexually abused children report it. In those cases, victims typically only share 30 percent of what happens.
“They’re often scared to tell the whole story,” McKeithan explained.