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How You Can Help a Child Who’s Been Abused or Neglected

All families face challenges. In some cases, these challenges can be harmful to children if his or her basic needs aren’t being met, such as being provided with safe housing, food, and if there is abuse toward the child.

A 2018 report from the Child Welfare League of America shares that in 2016 in Nebraska, 2,783 children were found to be victims of abuse. Of these children, 86% were neglected, 12% were physically abused, and 6.4% were sexually abused.

Placing a Child in Out-of-Home Care

When the wellbeing of a child becomes a concern and the court system determines that a child cannot remain safely in the home, the child is placed in out-of-home care. Child welfare professionals first try to place them with a relative or a trusted adult that they know to reduce the amount of trauma they are going through. If one can not be found, the child is then placed with a trained foster family for care.

While a child is in this temporary placement, social workers work expediently to identify the factors that led to the child being removed from the home and provide support to the parents so their child can safely return home. Additionally, a caseworker is assigned to the child and ensures all their needs are being met.

Click here to learn about the types of abuse and neglect that lead to out-of-home care for a child.

Ways You Can Help a Child Who’s Been Abused or Neglected

Become a Foster Parent

The most impactful way you can help a child who’s been abused or neglected is to become a foster parent and provide love and support to them while their parent(s) work toward reunification. You get to make a significant impact on a child who is going through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Making this decision is a big step, and it’s understandable if it seems like an overwhelming prospect at first. However, the experience is unlike any other. You don’t have to be the perfect parent, and people from all walks of life become foster parents. Click here to read real-life stories from KVC foster parents and learn more about foster parenting. If you’re interested, KVC Nebraska will provide you with free training, resources and ongoing support. Click here to learn more.

Educate Others

Help spread the word about child abuse and neglect prevention! You can share facts about child abuse and educational articles on social media, in a personal blog and through other means. The US Department of Health and Human Services provides several free resources that you can share. We also frequently publish helpful information on our blog and Facebook page on a wide variety of topics related to child welfare.

Volunteer at Your Local Child Welfare Organization

Volunteering is an excellent way to help children in need. Volunteers can provide temporary care for children, help with fundraisers, plan events for children and families and much more. Click here to check out some of our upcoming events throughout Nebraska. If you’re pressed for time, donating is also helpful. Donations don’t have to be monetary and can come in many forms, such as school supplies, clothing, food and other essential items.

Work with Us!

If you want to provide direct care for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect but foster parenting isn’t right for you, consider a career with KVC. We offer many opportunities throughout Nebraska for compassionate people wanting to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Search our open jobs by visiting kvc.org/careers.

Join the KVC Health Systems team at www.kvc.org/careers

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