In a stately move to combat the grim reality of child maltreatment, Multnomah County has officially designated April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This declaration underscores the growing concern over child abuse and neglect, considered a crisis in public health and safety across the community.
With state regulations demanding a comprehensive approach to tackling child abuse, Multnomah County's Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Team (MDT) spearheads the initiative. The team, as reported by Multnomah County news, is tasked with ensuring that each case of child abuse is dealt with the urgency and thoroughness it warrants.
The foundation of the MDAT's strategy is collaboration, bringing together heavyweights from CARES Northwest, law enforcement, schools, medical facilities, health departments, the Oregon Department of Human Services, and Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice. District Attorney Mike Schmidt highlighted the significance of this partnership, saying, "In the period of time I have worked at the multidisciplinary team, I have come to realize and appreciate that I’m standing on their shoulders as part of the work that we do, and we can’t do it without them."
Within the ceremonial walls, celebrating the Board's proclamation, officials emphasized the scope of the challenge. Chuck Mickley, a senior deputy district attorney dedicated to child abuse cases for over a decade, laid bare the numbers: "No one likes to think about the fact that in the state of Oregon just in January 2024, there were over 13,000 reports made to the child abuse hotline statewide. Of that, 4,000 of those reports ended up sufficiently concerning enough to warrant investigation by the [Oregon] Department of Human Services," he disclosed in a statement echoing the collective intent to intensify preventive measures.
Mickley also acknowledged the role of CARES Northwest, praising their commitment to providing children a safe space to disclose abuse and offering crucial post-trauma services. "Not only providing a place where children can talk about the horrible things," he said, "but also for their work to provide after care, therapy and counseling to the children so the healing process can be more complete." His gratitude also extended to the state for equipping parents with the necessary resources to nurture their kids in a healthy environment.
The stark reality of child abuse, as cited by Multnomah County, reveals an alarming 87,529 reports of abuse and neglect across Oregon in 2022, with Multnomah County itself accounting for 13,243 reports. The collective efforts during this month of awareness aim to lower these numbers through reflection, action, and advocacy, driven by the belief, as Mickley put forth, that "You providing this forum, and the opportunity for people to think about it, is as important as anything in preventing child abuse in the future."
