We can all recall a time when we wish someone had stood up for us—at work, with friends or maybe in our relationships. For some of us, perhaps that time was when we were kids and we couldn’t stand up for ourselves.
According to the annual report on child abuse and neglect in the military for fiscal year 2024, of all the reported cases that met Department of War criteria for child abuse and neglect, more than half (56.8%) involved victims age five or younger.
The Army community is well-positioned to help protect this vulnerable population. We can all play a role in creating a stable, nurturing environment for our Army-connected children, said Dr. Carmen Leggett, Family Advocacy Program Specialist with the Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness.
“It is vital to the long-term strength of our children and the overall Army community,” Leggett said. “Safe, supported children lead to healthier and more resilient Soldiers and Families and reduce future harm, strengthening readiness and building a stronger force for generations to come.”
Leggett said there are several ways the Army community can help prevent child abuse and neglect, including:
- Creating and strengthening support networks to help one another
- Promoting positive parenting
- Reducing stigma around Families seeking help
- Staying alert to signs of stress in Families
- Staying alert to warning signs of child abuse and neglect
- Reporting if you suspect a child is being abused
To protect our Army youth, it’s important to know the warning signs of abuse. Leggett said they include but are not limited to:
- Behavior changes: acting out, aggression, or regression in behavior.
- Physical indicators: children wearing long-sleeved clothing in hot weather to hide bruising, different bruises at various stages of healing indicating ongoing abuse, or a child nursing an injured limb.
- Warning signs for sexual abuse: sexualized behavior or a child having knowledge of sexual behavior that is not age appropriate.
- Neglect: a child with poor hygiene, who has a constant odor or has an unkempt appearance. The child may always be hungry or frequently absent from school.
- Emotional abuse: Noticing a parent is always belittling, threatening or humiliating a child. The child may appear to have no confidence; not think they are smart or good enough and may self-isolate.
Those who suspect a child is being abused may hesitate to report it because they don’t have concrete evidence or they don’t want to inadvertently harm a Family or the career of a Soldier. But even if you aren’t sure, it’s important to trust your instincts.
The normal process after a report is for FAP and the Army Criminal Investigation Division to investigate—if there is no evidence of abuse, then the case is closed. If the abuse is substantiated, an assessment is done and a community response team is formed to ensure the child’s safety and to recommend interventions. Most often FAP will work with the Family by offering counseling and teachings on better parenting skills—unless the abuse rises to a criminal offense, in which case there may be judicial actions, Leggett said.
Often, parents may have grown up in a home where abusive behavior or neglect was commonplace and they may think it is normal or not know better ways to parent. FAP can help them learn the skills to parent better, Leggett said.
Leggett stressed the importance of prevention. If parents are feeling stressed—maybe they are parenting alone while their spouse is deployed, or their spouse recently lost their job, or they feel overwhelmed—it is better for them to be proactive in seeking help and resources from FAP.
“We can help you before things escalate,” Leggett said.
She also encourages community members to help each other. They can offer to help out a struggling parent with errands, babysitting or chores; befriend them and reinforce positive parenting; or connect them to FAP and other resources. She said that support is important, especially for Families overseas, when it’s often a necessity to lean on each other.
“Protecting children is a shared responsibility,” Leggett said. “The more we work together to reduce the stigma and strengthen our support systems and stay alert to Families under stress, the safer and more resilient our children and the entire Army community become.”
If you are a child being abused or you suspect a child is being abused, contact your local installation FAP office, Military Police, CID, Child Protective Services or call 911. You can also tell someone who is a mandated reporter, like a Commander, Child & Youth Services staff, a teacher or Behavioral Health staff. If you suspect that a child is being abused and you are not sure what to do, contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 to have someone talk to you about options. You can also contact your unit Chaplain or call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453.
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