Silence can be fatal

When a child is being abused or neglected, family members and neighbours are usually the first to know. But some may fear telling anyone because they think that makes them a busybody. Others want to believe the best of people or are afraid they might be mistaken or will make things worse.

But it's important to think about the safety and welfare of the child and put his or her interests before those of adults.

If you do report suspected abuse, you are protected. Even if an investigation results in no further action being taken, the law will protect you if you disclosed or supplied the information in good faith.

If you suspect that a child or young person is being abused, you can report your suspicions to Child, Youth and Family or the Police. Phone the Child, Youth and Family call centre on 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 4569), or phone or visit your local Child, Youth and Family office. It will help to have as much information to pass on as possible.

If no abuse or neglect is found your identity is unlikely to be revealed to anyone.

More often than not a family may need some help to prevent things getting worse. In that case, often a family or whanau agreement is developed. This is an informal agreement that spells out the family or whanau's goals and the services that will be provided to help the family to meet the child's needs.

If there are more serious care and protection concerns, the child must be made safe. This may require court action.

In all circumstances where there is risk of harm to the child, a family group conference is convened. This is a formal meeting for members of the family to discuss with social workers what needs doing to make a child or young person safe and ensure he or she is well cared for. Families or whanau are entitled to participate in any decisions affecting them through the family group conference.

Child Youth and Family social workers would remove children from their parents or usual carers only as a last resort, and would try to place them with other family members if possible. Children are removed only when there is no other way of keeping them safe.

Children who are being abused or neglected may draw attention to themselves by wagging school or committing minor offences. Some of these children are facing serious personal difficulties and need attention.

A focus on the child alone leaves unanswered the question of why violence and neglect happens in the first place. Many programmes have been established throughout the country to help adults to stop inflicting pain on the people they live with. Most belong to the National Network of Stopping Violence Services, which you can phone on (04) 499 6384.

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Building Tomorrow - paths to prevent child abuse