• The community plays an essential role in helping children who are suffering from abuse and neglect, and their families. • Many cases of child abuse and neglect can be improved by the family receiving the support it needs. • Removing a child from a home is a drastic step taken only when absolutely necessary. Case workers are trained to offer every opportunity and service available to help families improve their circumstances. • Reporting a suspected case of abuse or neglect can be a difficult decision to make. Advocates say it’s better to err on the side of caution than deciding to ignore the red flags. It could mean the difference between a family getting the help it needs and a tragedy occurring because it doesn’t.
CADILLAC — When the topic of child abuse and neglect is brought up, the most horrific cases often dominate the conversation.
These are the cases that get the most attention and shape the opinions of many people on the issue, said Karen Staub, prevention coordinator for the Wexford-Missaukee Child Protection Council.
These cases are extreme outliers, however, and Staub said the majority of households where child abuse and neglect occur contain hard-working parents who want the best for their children.
Many of these cases, Staub said, end with a positive outcome when the families are given the support they need.
Staub’s job is to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect, especially in April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Throughout the month, blue lights are strung up throughout downtown Cadillac and by businesses that want to help spread awareness.
The campaign used to include putting out blue pinwheels but a few years ago, blue lights were adopted as a substitute because they’re easier to clean up and don’t end up where they’re not supposed to be. The pinwheels still are used but in a more limited way.
One of the downtown businesses that is helping to spread awareness is Wildflour Bakery, at 105 South Mitchell St.
Owner Heather Goodman has been encouraging other business owners to take part in the campaign by hanging blue lights, informational flyers and other materials. She also bakes cookies in the shape of blue pinwheels and sells them on Fridays during the month of April to raise money for child-serving organizations in the area.
The way she sees it, this will not only help kids and their families but also will strengthen the workforce and the community, overall.
“Breaking that generational curse,” Goodman said.
There remains stigma surrounding the issue, however, and that is something Staub, Goodman and others are trying to change.
In Wexford and Missaukee counties, Staub said the rate of confirmed child and abuse and neglect cases, and active investigations, is higher than the statewide average, with Wexford County typically among the top five counties in the state.
Staub said they compare nearby counties to get an idea where Wexford and Missaukee stack up. Neighboring Grand Traverse County has a relatively low rate while Lake County to the west has the highest rate in the state.
There is a correlation between child abuse and neglect and an area’s income level, which is apparent in the difference between rates in Lake and Grand Traverse.
Staub said higher rates in Wexford and Missaukee counties likely also are due to there being an increased awareness and willingness to report here about potential abuse and neglect.
Abuse and neglect often doesn’t result in visible bruises or injuries. Those cases are relatively easy to identify.
More common types of cases involve things like food insecurity, inadequate health care, unstable living arrangements and other factors that can be addressed by a number of human services organizations in the area.
Signs that a family might be in this type of situation can be subtle, such as sudden changes in a child’s behavior or them saying things that are out of character.
“Something’s just off and you can’t put your finger on it,” Staub said.
These cases don’t usually involve law enforcement but can involve the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Anyone can report a case of suspected abuse or neglect and while Staub said it can be difficult to take this step, her advice is always err on the side of caution.
“Betraying someone’s trust, that’s always something that comes into your mind,” Staub said. “But getting families help, that’s the priority … Help is always offered to the families.”
Case workers aren’t trying to remove kids from homes and will do everything they can to offer assistance to families before taking this drastic step, which typically only occurs in the most dire circumstances.
Of course, Staub said the most extreme cases can involve immediate danger to a child. In these situations, the best decision is to not file a report with MDHHS, which can take time to process, but immediately call 911.
It takes a community to raise a child, Staub said, which is why it’s so important for everyone to pay attention and be aware of the signs that a child is in danger or family is in trouble.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Staub said reported cases of abuse and neglect decreased. After months of lockdown, however, Staub said there was a nationwide uptick in hospitalizations from child abuse and domestic violence.
Abuse and neglect didn’t stop happening during the pandemic but cases weren’t being reported in their early stages because schools weren’t in session.
Staub said teachers and other school officials are in contact with students every day and can see when things just don’t seem right with a child.
Catching cases of abuse and neglect early is crucial, Staub said, because it can be the difference between a family getting the help it needs and a tragedy occurring because it didn’t.
Mentoring a child is one of the actions that people in the community can take to prevent abuse and neglect.
Staub said mentoring children provides another stable, caring adult in their lives, and research shows the availability of healthy and supporting relationships can help children build resilience and achieve positive outcomes in the face of stress and adversity.
Mentoring a parent is just as important, Staub said, including by doing simple things such as offering a helping hand, inviting them to join you at a community event, project, or meeting, or participating in a school function. Doing this reduces feelings of isolation and stress and shows them they are not alone.
One of the top causes of abuse and neglect is lack of knowledge about child development, leading to unrealistic expectations for children and heightened stress for parents.
Speaking personally as a mother of four, Staub said she thinks one of the biggest misconceptions about parenthood is the notion that just because you have kids, you know how to be a parent.
“It’s a job you learn over time,” Staub said. “You’re constantly learning something new as that child develops.”
For many parents, what they know about raising children comes primarily from their own parents, grandparents and family members. Sometimes generational knowledge is helpful. Other times it can be harmful.
Much has changed in what we know about how kids grow, even things that Staub was taught when she first got into the field, such as how long it takes for a child’s brain to fully develop. It used to be thought this happened at around 16 years old. Later research determined it doesn’t happen until around 25 years old.
Many parents become frustrated with their children not doing what they say or misbehaving, leading to yelling, spanking and other types of discipline that are considered harmful today.
Staub said parenting is like any job that requires ongoing education and training, which is why she encourages parents to attend classes whenever they can.
Knowing what to expect from your children — and what their needs are — at every stage of development goes a long way toward reducing parent frustration.
Staub said there are dozens of organizations in the area that provide resources and support to families. For a list of those organizations, check out wexfordmissaukeedirectory.org.
Keep reading the Cadillac News for additional coverage of this issue through April, as well as a closer look at the origin of the Wexford-Missaukee Child Protection Council and the entity that funds it, Children Trust Michigan.