April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month

April  is National Child Abuse Awareness Month. In recognition of this very important month, the Manassas City and Manassas Park governing bodies have a banner over each city hall, proclaiming Child Abuse Awareness Month.  The banner also provides a number to call if child abuse is suspected.

The banner spent the first half of the month in Manassas City, and will be spending the latter half in Manassas Park. The goal of the banner is to get the message out   that abuse is a reality, it does exist and we can prevent it if we take the necessary measures, Manassas Park Social Services Director Addie Whitaker said.

Awareness of issues such as abuse is key in developing a healthy community, she said.  “The local agencies are working together to educate on the issue of child abuse and neglect,”  she said. The goal of awareness programs and social services is to aid in  the healthy development of children—children who will turn into productive members of society and who will help achieve a healthy community, Whitaker said.

Whitaker said she urges residents to not to be scared of making reports. Even their own family are the ones that need help, please reach out, she said. 

If not to the Manassas Park Department of Social Services, reach out to anyone who can help, as there are multiple departments and resources for counseling throughout the city and county, she said. Twelve to 13 calls a month actually solicit the need for investigation, and many more go unreported, she added.

Prevention is the biggest key to promoting a healthy society, so awareness months and any activities, residents and employees particpate in play a bigger part than they realize in the welfare of their community, Whitaker said. Walk-in reports are also welcomed by the staff, who is dedicated to protecting the children of the community, she said.

The Child Protection Partnership is comprised of child protection staff such as Whitaker, community leaders and local government officials. They will be holding a luncheon on Thursday, April 28 to raise awareness.

Not providing adequate food and shelter is neglect and neglect is one form of abuse, even if not intentional.  “Knowledge is Prevention," she said.

Situations of child neglect and abuse can be avoided by taking any preventative steps possible, she said.

Childhood hunger is a social problem under child abuse awareness and Manassas Park leaders are taking steps to address the issue.

Manassas Park Councilman Suhas Naddoni said he is doing his part in helping out not only his community, but the Commonwealth. Naddoni is working on instituting a program known as Share our Strength that is funded by a national non profit to end childhood hunger. This program has already been successfully implemented in the state of Maryland and Naddoni said he is working with the director in charge of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, to implement it in Northern Virginia.

Naddoni said his mission in implementing this program is to make people aware of the resources available to resolve the issue of child hunger. The nonprofit provides food to the communities it serves by teaming up with private and public sectors who sponsor the program.

Large companies ,such as Kraft Foods, have sponsored this program the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as other areas of the federal government  have allocated a certain amount of their budget to address the issue of child hunger.

Share our Strength is also dedicated to obtaining additional grants and funding for the program.

About 12.4 million children experience childhood hunger, Naddoni said. “Not many people are aware of the issue," he said

It is not a lack of money or of resources that present these issues from being solved— it’s the lack of awareness that the issue exist, he said.

Naddoni said he is concerned about the welfare of children in public schools who are currently enrolled in reduced or free lunch programs, because he is unsure of what will happen to them in a few weeks when school lets out for the summer and they do not have the option of breakfast and lunch from school.

Naddoni said he understands that most parents have their children’s best interest in mind, but that they do need help in being provided necessities such as food for their development. With America being one of the richest nations and one with leaders dedicated to the issues of their community, he feels confident that we will be successful in promoting awareness and taking action to solve this issue, Naddoni said.