PEORIA, Ill. – The weather did not allow for the placement of blue pinwheels around the Peoria County Courthouse, but that did not keep people from marking April as Child Abuse Prevention Month Friday.
During a “Hearts Around the Courthouse” ceremony moved indoors, Crittenton Centers CEO Jeff Gress says he was reminded recently of how adults can best be aware of child abuse, as he was on the floor at school helping kids build something with Legos.
“We need to take that same kind of energy and excitement, take it out into our communities, take it to the places we work, to the people we interface with, to our neighbors,” said Gress. “Have a watchful eye to the children of our community. Be ready to make that call if it’s necessary to report something that you see that you think isn’t quite right.”
Child abuse has been in the news a lot recently, especially with the case of two parents accused of killing their son.
While not specifically mentioning that case, Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos tells a crowd a lot of the child abuse her office sees can be the type most people can’t see.
“It’s injury after injury, little by little, that grows into a big bruise. Or, pound by pound, that child shrinks,” said Hoos. “That abuse happens for weeks, months, and, sometimes, even years.”
Hoos says that’s the type of abuse that, all too often, becomes the norm for a child victim, so, they often don’t speak up. Those children, Hoos says, everyone needs to fight for, before they ever get to the Peoria County Courthouse — or, worse, the cemetery.
Another sign that child abuse may be in the home, is in pets, according to Kitty Yanko with the Peoria Humane Society.
“When children are neglected or abused, animals typically are, too,” said Yanko. “It’s been evident over the years that, sometimes, the first indication that there is a problem with neglect or abuse in a family dynamic is the pet.”
Yanko also has been a foster parent — one of several groups recognized during the ceremony. Others included investigators, prosecutors, judges, and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
(Will Stevenson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD)
