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Roanoke Valley nonprofit fighting to protect children during Child Abuse Prevention Month

โ€˜Unfortunately, child abuse is very prevalent in our communityโ€™ | In our viewing area, Roanoke City saw the highest: 2,937 cases

ROANOKE, Va. โ€“ April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and one Roanoke Valley nonprofit is determined to make a difference in the lives of children.

About 1 in 4 children experience abuse or neglect, including in Southwest and Central Virginia.

โ€œUnfortunately, child abuse is very prevalent in our community,โ€ said Sammi Rader, the director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in the Roanoke Valley.

CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to look out for the best interests of children whoโ€™ve been abused or neglected and placed into foster care.

โ€œChild abuse doesnโ€™t always look like bruises. It can be a child not having eaten for three days at a time. It could be a child not having adult supervision for multiple hours at a time. It could be having a parent that is using substances and canโ€™t adequately care for their child,โ€ said Rader.

According to Virginiaโ€™s Department of Social Services, during fiscal year 2022, there were 35,917 reports of child abuse or neglect.

In our viewing area, Roanoke City saw the highest: 2,937 cases. Across the Commonwealth, 29 children died as a result of abuse or neglect.

โ€œWeโ€™re getting a lot more reports,โ€ said Janette Craghead, the director of child abuse prevention at the nonprofit Childrenโ€™s Trust. โ€œWe donโ€™t know if the numbers are higher because itโ€™s happening more or if people are reporting more.โ€

Childrenโ€™s Trust offers training and education for teachers, businesses and even families to break whatโ€™s sometimes a generational cycle of abuse.

โ€œOvercome those obstacles and making sure that they donโ€™t repeat the pattern,โ€ said Craghead.

She says to look out for signs of abuse or neglect:

  • Obvious signs of physical abuse like bruises or burns
  • Changes in behavior (withdrawal, aggression)
  • Poor hygiene
  • Consistent hunger

And if you see something, donโ€™t be afraid to speak up.

โ€œI think if everybody does their part, a lot of children can be saved,โ€ said Craghead.

The Virginia Child Abuse Hotline is: 1-800-552-7096.

For more detailed information about reports of child abuse and neglect across Virginia, click here.


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