To whom it may concern,
Too often I hear stories of child abuse on the news or on social networks. It is time that we do something about it. Yes it is going to cost money now, but in the long run it will save lives. There are many issues associated with child abuse; lack of knowledge, lack of help, Post-Partum Depression, and the cycle of abuse. I have several ideas that can help mothers and families get the help they need before the abuse ever happens.
The abstinence approach that our school’s sexual education classes preach is out dated and is not going to help anyone. We need a more practical approach to preventing unplanned pregnancy. We have a free way to reach at-risk parents so let’s use it. These classes should show real truths about raising a child. How much money it costs, the stability that children thrive on, statistics about single mothers. The truth is we need to educate teenagers about the fact that having a baby will not keep their boyfriends or make a perfect family. Showing the poverty and abuse that will occur can be a huge deterrent for these girls.
The problem is not just teen mothers, but unprepared mothers of all ages. There should be parenting classes free to the public, potentially even mandated by the hospital in order for your baby to go home with you. These classes need to have ways to calm your baby, ways to calm yourself, and ways to ask for help. If every parent understood that their child relies 100 percent on them, then it might be easier for the parent to regroup their thoughts and do what is best for the child. We need to make it easier for parents to find and ask for help. Not everyone has a support system and the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is true. If a mother is overwhelmed for whatever reason, she needs a break. There should be networking for these mothers/families to reach out to each other for help. Also we should have a postnatal check-up with both mother and baby where professionals can try to find signs of post-partum depression and give the mothers the help they need. If we have all these ways for mothers and families to reach out and get help then we should not need the next step.
Removal of a child from their home is traumatizing and can have lifelong effects. Unfortunately this is when the state takes its first steps. My hope is with education and help parents will never get to the point of losing their kids. We should have help and support available for parents before they resort to abuse. Let’s put in place stricter child abuse laws. We have the chance to change this broken system and I think it is time we do it.
Reunifications should only be the goal when the parent is ready and willing to take on the responsibilities. This should be a slower process and should be done in a half-way home where there are others to help the family move forward. If the parent can learn to show the child respect and is willing to do the work it takes to change their behavior, then being back with their parents in a safe nurturing home is the best option. The laws should change to put the child first. Parents lose the right to make the decisions when they show a lack of responsibility to their children. If reunification takes place and there is a relapse that should be it. As it stands right now the children can go back and forth over and over, this can be more damaging to the child. It should be easier for the state and judges to terminate parental rights in the interest of what is best for the child.
