WALK FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

Hundreds of children and adults participated in some part of the The Red Lake Family & Children Services annual Child Abuse Prevention Walk on Tuesday April 26th, 2011. The ³Walk² started at 9:00 am at the junction of Hwy. #89 and Hwy. #1, and headed south to the Seven Clans Casino - about five miles. The line of walkers stretched nearly a half mile.

The Walk for Child Abuse Prevention is an annual event event organized by the dedicated staff of Red Lake Family and Children¹s Service held during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to Family and Children¹s

Service staff person, Candace LaGou, lunch was served upon arrival at the casino to all the participating walkers, and to some elders who were bussed in from the Jourdain/Perpich Center.

Meanwhile, events were happening at elementary schools on the reservation also organized by the staff at Family and Children¹s Services. At Ponemah Elementary, Red Lake Elementary, and the Mission Schools, staff gave out the same T-shirts that the walkers received. ³I believe the kids at each school walked for a bit too², said LaGou. She also said that there were drawings at each school for two bicycles and MP3 players.

³We would like to thank the people that donating the bikes and Walmart for donating the mp3 players², said LaGou.

More on Child Abuse Prevention (Edited from the Minnesota Department of Human Services)

In 2009, about 70 percent of all determined child abuse victims in the state suffered from neglect, 20 percent were physically abused, 16 percent suffered sexual abuse, 1 percent suffered medical neglect and some children were victims of more than one form of abuse and neglect, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

In 2009, 4,742 children were abused and neglected in the state; 44 children suffered life-threatening injuries and 21 children died from maltreatment.

The median age for child abuse victims in Minnesota is 6 years old. Seventy-six percent of all alleged offenders were the victims¹ birth parents. Other relatives, including stepparents, adoptive parents, grandparents and siblings, accounted for 12 percent of offenders. Parents¹ companions accounted for 7 percent of offenders. Licensed child care providers, foster parents and facility staff accounted for 2 percent of offenders. Three percent were other non-relatives, and some children were victims of more than one offender, according to the DHS.

What is Considered Abuse and Neglect in Minnesota

Neglect

Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment; over 60 percent of all reports in 2009 were allegations of neglect. Neglect is usually involves the failure of the child¹s caregiver to:

€ Supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medial or mental health care, or appropriate supervision

€ Protect the child from conditions or actions that endanger the child

€ Take steps to ensure that a child is educated according to the law.

Exposing a child to certain drugs during pregnancy and causing emotional harm to a child may also be considered neglect.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is any physical injury or threat of harm or substantial injury, inflicted by a caregiver upon a child other than by accidental means. The impact of physical abuse can range from minor bruises to severe internal injuries and death. Physical abuse does not include reasonable and moderate physical discipline of a child that does not result in an injury.

Mental injury

Mental injury is harm to the child¹s psychological capacity or emotional stability evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment of the child¹s functioning.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is the subjection of a child to a criminal sexual act or threatened act by a person responsible for the child¹s care or by a person who has a significant relationship to the child or is in a position of authority.

Current facts

Each year, county and tribal child protection agencies throughout Minnesota respond to thousands of reports of maltreatment of children. In 2009, over 17,000 reports of child maltreatment were addressed by the child protection system. Approximately 70 percent of the reports received a family assessment, while the remainder received a family investigation. The Minnesota Department of Human Services works closely with state¹s 87

counties and 11 American Indian tribes which provides direct services to families and children in the child protection system.

The purpose of child protection services is to help protect children from physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse, and to help families get the services they need to end abusive behavior and/or provide for their children¹s needs. The program is mandated by state and federal law (Minnesota Statute 626.556, the Reporting of Maltreatment of Minors Act, and CAPTA, the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act).