Rally Together to Fight Against Youth Abuse

According to ChildHelp.org, a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds in the country. Protecting youth from violence is always a national cause that schools and law enforcement aim to protect against on a daily basis. However, for many people, unless they personally know a child or teen that has been a victim of violence, they often forget just how many cases there are in their own communities, with the high number of cases that go unreported.

With Detroit's significant crime rate and cases of sex trafficking on the rise in the state of Michigan, the surrounding counties do not take child abuse lightly. In Washtenaw County alone there are currently 29 Child Advocacy Centers both operating and developing. These centers have existed in Washtenaw County since 1985 and together police, prosecutors, and the Department of Human Services in Washtenaw County have collaborated together through a written protocol to investigate child abuse cases. A list of current partnered county and community agencies that serve as these centers can be found on the county's website:

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/living/child_advocacy_center

In 2014, state agencies found an estimated total of 702,000 victims of child maltreatment, with many more cases still unreported. With child abuse numbers continuing to remain high in the country, and on a local level, it is important to give attention to this issue. Participating in National Youth Violence Prevention Week is one small way that you can start advocating for change. It was co-founded by the National Association of Students against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) and the National Youth Violence Prevention Campaign.

“The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness and to educate students, teachers, school administrators, counselors, school resource officers, school staff, parents, and the public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence,” as stated on SAVE’s website. The week involves activities that demonstrate the positive role young people can have in making their school and community safer, and provides a step-by-step prevention and awareness guide to students and their mentors. For more information on National Youth Prevention week visit the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges webpage or ask your school counselor."

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