Dear editor:

With April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, I wanted to acknowledge the great job that Wood County did last year for the candlelight vigil. As an abuse prevention advocate, I was encouraged by the turnout and agencies represented, especially for the size of our county. The message was clear that our county takes care of children, and that children need to be safe. I am looking forward to this year’s vigil.

Part of caring for children is not just rescuing them from harm but providing necessary supports in the aftermath. This involves trauma-informed care in child-serving spaces like home and school, so that children who have experienced harm at the hands of a caregiver can learn to rebuild trust with safe authority figures. (The Neurosequential Network and the Attachment & Trauma Network have resources on this topic.) 

As we all remember and acknowledge the importance of preventing child abuse, let’s continue to work as a community to adequately support the children whose abuse we could not prevent, but whose healing and future we can support. These kids may have had a hard start to life, but they can overcome – with our help.

Faith Colson

Quitman