>> Noticed a drastic drop in
calls to the Child Protective
Services hotline.
To give you an idea the first
week in March, we got a 438
calls and which was normal that
was kind of the usual flow of
calls and by the last week of
March when schools were closed.
We only received 125 calls and
it's been pretty steady that
amount since then between one
to 200 calls.
So we knew that the majority of
our calls come from the
schools.
They're the people that have
the most consistent interaction
with children, they're able to
see them the most see what's
going on down. So we knew that
was school shutdown and
children not being seen by his
either normal supportive adults
in the schools
added to all the stressors that
came along with her open so
people families concerned about
their health families concerned
about loss of income loss of
employment tension, loss of
housing.
Increase stressors also
increase the risk of family
violence. So we knew that this
was kind of a perfect perfect
storm. Member really worried
about kids some potential signs
that you want to look for when
you're interacting with a child
or a family either virtually or
in person. There are some
specific things that you can be
looking for just kind of on the
have those on on top of your
mind. I mean what would be the
parents or caregivers behavior
so is there seeming very
overwhelmed. There threatening
a child. The rating now making
her full remarks that might be
a clue for you that something's
going on there that you might
need some more support and that
child may be at risk.
Some things for the child
looking at their physical
appearance.
So again this may be more in
person of things like
unexplained bruises welts marks
it's things like that. If the
child appears to be
undernourished so they look
like they've lost a lot of
weight
in terms of a child's behavior,
changes and lose so sudden lack
of engagement things that they
used to be really excited about
now you're not seeing that
crying uncontrollably appearing
to be withdrawn appearing to be
fearful, you would call 911 and
not Child Protective Services
if such a child is in immediate
danger or is under the age of 7
and his alone.
911 is able to get there much
faster than Child Protective
Services has and they will
alert us as well.
That's that's better to ensure
an immediate response. If you
have concerns about a child's
safety more in general. Please
call the chopper to services
hotline. That number is 7 '03 3
to 4 7400 and that number's
answered 24 hours a day 7 days
a week. You can make a report
or discuss your concern it
doesn't have to necessarily be
a report you could just say
have concerns about this and
Seminole pop that through with
you. You can also make calls
anonymously. If a child does
disclose something to you the
number one thing you can do as
lesson. I'll be there for that
child tell them you care you
want to help
let them know they're not alone
and this isn't their fault.
Don't get into a lot of
questioning them about it just
let them talk,
and let them know that you know
you're you're safe person to
talk to.
