When the horrors of child maltreatment, torture, sexual abuse, or starvation strike our community, we tend to quickly look for someone to blame. The recent deaths of two 16-year-old girls in Central Iowa, Natalie Finn and Sabrina Ray, underscore the value each of us has in weaving a safety net that strengthens families and protects Iowa kids.
We all have a role to play in the development of our children. This includes becoming involved in situations where children’s well-being is or can be jeopardized. Our responsibility cannot be outsourced to a single agency or department, and we must hold those who victimize our children accountable.
Fifty-six percent of adults in Iowa report experiencing some type of abuse or household dysfunction growing up according to Iowa’s 2016 Adverse Childhood Experiences data.
[For more of this story, written by Liz Cox, go to http://www.thegazette.com/subj...ng-children-20170619]
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