Grant County Sheriff's Department-Indiana Victim Assistance Program

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚
It’s so important to check in with yourself to make sure you’re meeting your own daily needs. Try asking yourself these questions to make sure you’re prioritizing your mental health. 🧠🩺

As we wrap up National Child Abuse Prevention Month, please remember: Indiana is a mandatory reporting state; anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must by state law make a report.

Being a bystander online means we can disrupt online harassment and abuse by reporting harmful comments, creating new threads of conversation to distract attention, and showing direct support for the victim. Never underestimate what a difference you can make in preventing violence, s*xual harassment, and hateful conduct. Learn more: https://nsvrc.co/TakingAction

Child abuse and neglect can be prevented. Our children can be raised in safe and nurturing communities. But prevention requires work. It requires education and trainings, family support, and more.

When you donate to Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, you help us make a difference in the lives of children throughout the state. Your contributions help support prevention training, Dads Inc, and so much more to prevent child abuse before it starts. With your help, we’re giving communities, professionals, and parents the tools they need to help caregivers and keep kids safe.

Donate here: https://www.pcain.org/get-involved/donate/

When it comes to s*xual activities that take place through screens — such as s*xting, sending n**e photos, or connecting for in-person s*x — digital consent is a baseline for moving forward.

Digital consent is a way to refer to s*xual consent that happens through screens.

A Symbol of Prevention

In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention. Why? Because by its very nature, the pinwheel connotes playfulness, joy, and childhood. It has come to serve as a physical reminder of the great childhoods we want for all children. And as a symbol, the cyclical nature of the pinwheel calls to mind the positive cycles of love and support we want to help families create.

It also represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur. Over a million pinwheels have been displayed since April 2008, and we hope you’ll join us by bringing Pinwheels for Prevention to your community, too.

To get involved or for more information: https://www.pcain.org/get-involved/pinwheels/

A safe online space is one that is inclusive – centered on respect and safety. By intervening when we see harmful content and behaviors, we can build a space where everyone is treated with dignity. https://nsvrc.co/OnlineCommunities

When children can’t advocate for themselves, they need people like you to speak up. That’s what it means to be an advocate—you help ensure that the children in Indiana have a voice, and that their needs are being met. Whether you’re speaking to your local community, state-level elected officials, or federal policy makers, your voice makes a difference.

For more information: https://www.pcain.org/get-involved/advocate/

Whether you're online or offline, connect with respect. During , learn from about the values, skills, and actions to build communities that thrive online and offline. https://nsvrc.co/SAAM2022

Shaken Infant Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma Prevention

Stay Calm. Take a Time Out. Be Cool.

Frustration with crying is the number one reason why babies and young children are shaken. Babies cry—it’s inevitable. Take a time out, but don’t take it out on a baby.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), a form of abusive head trauma (AHT) and inflicted traumatic brain injury (ITBI), is a preventable and severe form of physical child abuse. It results from violently shaking an infant by the shoulders, arms, or legs. SBS may result from both shaking alone or from impact (with or without shaking). The resulting whiplash effect can cause bleeding within the brain or the eyes.

Nearly all victims of SBS suffer serious health consequences and at least one of every four babies who are violently shaken dies from this form of child maltreatment:

Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of physical child abuse deaths in the United States.
Babies less than one year old are at greatest risk of injury from abusive head trauma.

The most common trigger for abusive head trauma is inconsolable or excessive crying.

For more information: https://www.pcain.org/prevention-resources/shaken-infant-syndrome-abusive-head-trauma-prevention/

Shaken Infant Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), a form of abusive head trauma (AHT) and inflicted traumatic brain injury (ITBI), is a preventable and severe form of child abuse.

Just like with abuse that takes place physically, online s*xual harassment and abuse can be traumatic. Online s*xual harassment and abuse can threaten your sense of safety and overwhelm the nervous system in the same ways as in-person harm and physical threats.

Online s*xual abuse can be traumatic and, if left untreated, can lead to PTSD and other long-term health issues. If you have experienced online s*xual abuse, know that you are not alone, the harm you have experienced is valid, and support is out there.

Learn more: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/2022/learn/supportingsurvivors

Physical abuse includes the infliction of physical injury or allowing another to do so. Physical indicators may include:

- Unexplained bruises, especially on “fleshy” areas of a child (buttocks, face, neck, backs of the legs)
- Any unexplained bruises on infants… (remember, “We don’t bruise ‘til we cruise”)
- Unexplained injuries
- Unexplained lacerations or abrasions
- Hemorrhages
- Burns by ci******es
- Burns by immersion
- Dental/oral injuries

Potential behavioral indicators may include:
- Verbally reports abuse
- Too eager to please
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Behavioral extremes
- Role reversal
- Developmental lags
- Appears frightened of caretaker
- Apprehensive children cry
- Exaggerated startle response
- School absenteeism

Potential behavioral indicators in abusive caretakers may include:
- Harsh disciplinarian
- Describes child in a consistently negative manner
- Defensive
- Conceals or misleads about child’s injuries
- Substance abuser

Neglect is the chronic failure to meet the basic needs of a child for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision.

Physical indicators may include:
- Flat, bald spots on infant’s head
- Dirty, smelly, torn, or inappropriate clothing for the weather
- Developmental lags
- Underweight

Potential behavioral indicators may include:
- Listless
- Begging/stealing food
- Constant fatigue
- Alcohol or drug use
- Reports being left alone

Behavioral indicators in negligent by caretakers may include:
- Substance abuser
- Chaotic life style
- Apathetic
- Expects too much of child

For more information: https://www.pcain.org/prevention-resources/recognizing-child-abuse-and-neglect/

Each person reacts to traumatic experiences in different ways, both in the immediate aftermath and long term. Sexual abuse taking place behind a screen does not make the impact on the victim less real. Learn more . https://nsvrc.co/SupportingSurvivors

Ten Reasons to Prevent Child Maltreatment

It might seem self-evident that we should work to prevent child maltreatment. The damage it may cause can be even more insidious and far-reaching than most people realize. Here are 10 reasons to prevent child maltreatment before it hurts children and communities:

1) Child maltreatment can be fatal. Each day in the United States, an average of five children are fatal victims of maltreatment. The vast majority of these children are under the age of five.

2) Child maltreatment can stymie a child’s normal growth and development. The emotional and physical damage a child may suffer from abuse and neglect is extensive. Documented consequences of maltreatment include chronic health problems, cognitive and language disorders, and socio-emotional problems such as low self-esteem, lack of trust, and poor relationships with adults and peers.

3) Child maltreatment is costly for many social institutions. Remediation of the immediate consequences of child maltreatment abuse costs child welfare agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities billions of dollars annually.

4) Child maltreatment costs continue to multiply over time. For example, children lost as a result of abuse or neglect never have the opportunity to contribute to society. In the past five years these deaths cost more than $3 billion in lost future productivity.

5) Child maltreatment victims may repeat the violent acts that they experienced. Although most victims do overcome the scars of their abuse, some may become abusive when they become parents or caregivers.

6) Treatment services, while critical, are often ineffective in permanently altering parental behaviors. Program evaluations have found that even sophisticated clinical demonstration projects, often consisting of weekly contact for twelve to eighteen months, only eliminate the future likelihood for physical abuse or neglect for less than half their clients.

7) Prevention programs targeted at parents before they become abusive or neglectful reduce the likelihood for future maltreatment. Home visitor programs for new parents have consistently demonstrated the most positive outcomes. Specific gains include improved parent-infant bonding, enhanced parenting skills, and more consistent use of health care services. Recipients of these services also have demonstrated a reduced rate of child maltreatment when compared to comparable groups of parents not receiving services.

8) Prevention programs targeted at children can improve a child’s awareness of how best to avoid child maltreatment and other unsafe practices. Repeated reviews of numerous evaluations of these programs indicate that such efforts can result in increased knowledge for children about safety rules and what they should do if they are being maltreated. Further, the programs create an environment in which children can more easily disclose prior or ongoing maltreatment.

9) Child abuse prevention efforts serve as a way to combat other social problems of concern to the public and to policy makers. Research has found a strong correlation between a history of maltreatment and a variety of adult problem behaviors, including substance abuse, juvenile and adult crime, and poor social adjustment. The consistent expansion of prevention services may well lead to the eventual reduction of these problems.

10) Child abuse prevention creates a more compassionate society, one which places a high value on the welfare of children. Insuring the safe and secure rearing of the next generation requires the efforts of all policy makers and all citizens. To the extent all are involved in the battle to prevent child abuse, all are made more aware of the need to nurture human potential in all that we do.

Source: Dr. Deborah Daro, Prevent Child Abuse America https://www.pcain.org/prevention-resources/reasons-to-prevent-child-abuse/

“Just log off” is not always an effective solution – rather than expecting victims to change or limit their online presence, we must address the root causes of s*xual harassment. Learn more . https://nsvrc.co/KnowTheFacts

Did you know that Indiana is a mandatory reporting state? If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, don’t wait! Please call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556.

Online harassment is no less harmful because it happens online. Virtual harassment can leave lasting harm, as the content is often public, un-erasable, and just as emotionally damaging as in-person harassment.

Online harassment and bullying are extremely common. Forty-one percent of Americans have been personally subjected to harassing behavior online, and an even larger share (66%) have witnessed these behaviors directed at others.

People from historically oppressed groups are more likely to be harassed online, and that harassment is likely to be more severe. Online harassment mirrors the inequalities we see elsewhere in society, often including racist, s*xist, transphobic, homophobic, ableist, or other hate speech based on aspects of someone's identity.

Victims of online harassment often have little recourse. Due to the anonymity of the internet, many victims have no idea who is behind the harassment and have few avenues to make it stop even if they do know the person causing harm.

Learn more: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/2022/learn/knowthefacts

Indiana Safe Haven Law

The Indiana Safe Haven Law enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. A parent, family member, friend, minister or priest, social worker or any responsible person may give up custody of a baby less than 30 days old to an Indiana:

- Firefighter
- Law enforcement officer
- Paramedic
- Physician
- Nurse
-Emergency medical technician
- Or other person who provides emergency medical services

As long as there are no signs of intentional abuse on the baby, no information is required of the person leaving the baby. Any knowledge of the date of birth, race, parent medical history, child’s health or anything that would be useful to the child’s caregiver would be greatly appreciated.

Once the baby is examined and given medical treatment (if needed), the Indiana Department of Child Services will take the baby into custody through Indiana Department of Child Services where it will be placed with a caregiver.

Effective July 1st, 2018, newborn safety devices, commonly referred to as “baby boxes”, were approved for operation at certain locations throughout the state.

Distressed parents can receive counseling and get addresses and directions for any hospital, fire station or police station in Indiana by calling the Safe Haven Hotline, 1-877-796-HOPE (4673), or 2-1-1.

Online s*xual abuse can include any form of s*xual harassment, exploitation, or abuse that takes place through the use of devices. As technology and the internet has become integral to our daily life, our awareness of ways it can be used to perpetrate harm requires equal attention. New concepts such as “s*xtortion,” “revenge p**n,” and “doxxing” have become widespread concerns and realities for victims. Learning how digital harm can occur and in what forms it takes is a needed starting point. Check out a glossary of terms here: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/2022/learn/knowthefacts

The Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline was established in 2010 to ensure consistent handling of calls alleging child abuse and neglect. This is the fact sheet for calls to the Indiana hotline in February 2022.

More fact sheets can be found at: https://www.in.gov/dcs/reports-and-statistics/dcs-hotline-statistics/

Online s*xual abuse can be any type of s*xual harassment, exploitation, or abuse that takes place through screens.

Forms of online s*xual harassment or abuse include:
• Online s*xual abuse can be any type of s*xual harassment, exploitation, or abuse that takes place through screens.

• Sending someone unwelcome communication about s*x or hateful comments based on s*x, gender identity, and/or s*xual orientation.

• Sending partners, friends, acquaintances, or strangers unwanted requests for n**e photos or videos or to livestream s*xual acts.

• Performing s*xual acts on we**am without the consent of everyone involved or in inappropriate settings (like during an online class or online work meeting).

• Sharing private images or videos without the consent of everyone involved (also known as revenge p**n or nonconsensual p**nography — which, as of February 2021, is illegal in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.).

• Sharing p**n in spaces where not everyone has consented to view it (for example, in inappropriate spaces like Zoom meetings, where this is also called Zoombombing).

• Grooming children to enable their s*xual abuse either online or offline.

For more information, please check out: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/2022/learn/whatisonlines*xualabuse

Ever wonder what happens when a call is made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline? This infographic shows the path from the initial call to contact with the local DCS office.

For more information: https://www.in.gov/dcs/

We believe that together we can build a safer online world. Join us in building online communities centered on respect, inclusion, and safety. https://nsvrc.co/SAAM2022

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Department of Child Services' Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline today. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. You can report abuse and neglect anonymously.

Do not wait for someone else to make the call. Your call may be the critical first step in protecting a child.

Learn more: https://www.in.gov/dcs/contact-us/child-abuse-and-neglect-hotline/

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are Building Safe Online Spaces — where harassment, assault, and abuse are taken seriously and have no place. https://nsvrc.co/SAAM2022

Be an advocate for all children! Together, we can let positive childhood experiences take root in our communities: https://preventchildabuse.org/growing-better-together-2022/

Growing Better Together 2022 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Plant seeds of a better tomorrow for all children & families.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to honor the voices and experiences of victims and survivors. www.nsvrc.org/saam

Help raise awareness for ! Follow Indiana DCS on Twitter (IndianaDCS) and Instagram () to spread the word!

https://www.pcain.org/
https://www.in.gov/dcs/

Since 1983, April has been designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This annual observance is focused on community-wide education and awareness to prevent child abuse. “Awareness efforts in Indiana community’s result in support, collaboration, and a commitment to
strengthening families and providing resources for a better, safer tomorrow for all children. Primary prevention is most effective at the community level, and as Hoosiers, we each play a vital role in keeping children safe, not only during Child Abuse Prevention Month, but year-round,” says Shannon
Schumacher, president and CEO of The Villages of Indiana.

Additional information can be found: https://www.pcain.org/
https://www.in.gov/dcs/

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Everyone has a role to play in ending s*xual assault, harassment, and abuse. www.nsvrc.org/saam

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Dating apps have long been home to horror stories of catfishing and creeps, but they've also enabled rapists to reach new victims from the safety of their homes. http://ow.ly/B7sY50Il9x7

Look over the following questions. Think about how you are being treated and how you treat your partner. Remember, when one person scares, hurts, or continually puts down the other person, it is abuse.

Does your partner ...
✅ Embarrass or make fun of you in front of friends or family? Put down your accomplishments or goals?
✅ Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions? Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
✅ Tell you that you are nothing without them?
✅ Treat you roughly -- grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you? Threaten or abuse your pets?
✅ Call you several times a night or show up to make sure you are where you said you would be?
✅ Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?
✅ Blame you for how they feel or act?
✅ Pressure you s*xually for things you aren't ready for?
✅ Make you feel like there "is no way out" of the relationship?
✅ Prevent you from doing things you want, like spending time with your friends or family?
✅ Try to keep you from leaving after a fight, or leave you somewhere after a fight to "teach you a lesson?"

Do you ...
✅ Sometimes feel scared of how your partner will act?
✅ Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner's behavior?
✅ Believe that you can help your partner change if only you changed something about yourself?
✅ Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make your partner angry?
✅ Feel like no matter what you do, your partner is never happy with you?
✅ Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?
✅ Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you broke up?

Learn More at https://ncadv.org/do-you-think-youre-being-abused

Due to the pandemic, feelings of isolation are perhaps more common now than ever before, but they are not new to those enduring abuse. Learn more at TheLastImSorry.com



Safe In Harm's Way Foundation, Inc. , Inc. OAAA Neon NYCIPG Health