Opinion

To prevent abuse and neglect in Wyo, everyone has a role

by Korin Schmidt May 19, 2020

Reports of abuse and neglect are down because kids are having fewer interactions with those most likely to report a problem, like teachers and daycare providers, according to the Department of Family Services. (Courtesy of the Wyo. Dept. of Education)

Based on the most recent Department of Family Services intake data, reports of child abuse and neglect are down an astonishing 30%! Has Wyoming discovered the secret to preventing abuse and neglect?

As much as we wish DFS could claim credit for the decline in reports, it is more likely due to temporary changes in how abuse and neglect are reported. Our department relies on teachers, doctors, police officers, and members of the public to report potential cases of abuse and neglect. With schools and child care centers closed due to COVID-19, many of these reporters are no longer in direct contact with children and families.

The sad truth is that abuse and neglect may simply be going unreported.

Schools are doing their best to maintain contact with families through e-learning, phone calls and mail. But, we know that not all families have access to the internet, a computer, a reliable phone or even a stable address and living situation. Those families most likely to go unseen are already under high stress and have the fewest resources.

DFS serves as a safety net for families on the brink, providing food stamps, utility assistance, child care subsidies and social services. Rising unemployment and lack of income could unfortunately push more children and families over the edge. Over time, we have learned many reports of neglect are related to a lack of resources — a stable, well-paying job and home environment and concrete supports for children and families — rather than a lack of love.

So what can we do now?

Reach out to your neighbors. Volunteer in your communities. Ask how people are doing. Ask them what they need. Ask them what is going well. You don’t need to have the answers, only be willing to help navigate. Helping others can help ourselves to feel more in control during this challenging time.

Government agencies and nonprofits can use creative solutions to reach families directly and to identify those at risk. For example, adolescent mental health providers are taking respite walks with kids to give parents and kids a much-needed break. Some municipalities are identifying households that suddenly stop paying their utility bills for referral to Wyoming 2-1-1 for utility assistance.

And ask for help if you are struggling. Asking for help is a sign of strength — you know yourself, your family, and their needs better than anyone. Call your local DFS office, school district, Wyoming 2-1-1, or neighbor for support.

And what about the future?

Research shows children do best when they can live safely at home and when their families have opportunities for success. The Family First Prevention Services Act provides new federal funding opportunities to states to prevent abuse and neglect. Wyoming will soon be launching its “WY Home Matters” initiative to take advantage of this opportunity to support children, strengthen families, and build resilient communities. We hope you’ll join us at a future community meeting.

Prevention of abuse and neglect starts at the community level, and each and every one of us has a role to play. While the numbers are moving in the right direction, we want them to be moving for the right reasons.

Support informed commentary — donate to WyoFile today.

Korin Schmidt

Korin Schmidt is the executive director of Wyoming’s Department of Family Services. Gov. Mark Gordon appointed her to the post in February 2019. More by Korin Schmidt

Join the Conversation

1 Comment

WyoFile's goal is to provide readers with information and ideas that foster constructive conversations about the issues and opportunities our communities face. One small piece of how we do that is by offering a space below each story for readers to share perspectives, experiences and insights. For this to work, we need your help.

What we're looking for:

Your real name — first and last.
Direct responses to the article. Tell us how your experience relates to the story.
The truth. Share factual information that adds context to the reporting.
Thoughtful answers to questions raised by the reporting or other commenters.
Tips that could advance our reporting on the topic.
No more than three comments per story, including replies.

What we block from our comments section, when we see it:

Pseudonyms. WyoFile stands behind everything we publish, and we expect commenters to do the same by using their real name.
Comments that are not directly relevant to the article.
Demonstrably false claims, what-about-isms, references to debunked lines of rhetoric, professional political talking points or links to sites trafficking in misinformation.
Personal attacks, profanity, discriminatory language or threats.
Arguments with other commenters.

Other important things to know:

Appearing in WyoFile’s comments section is a privilege, not a right or entitlement.
We’re a small team and our first priority is reporting. Depending on what’s going on, comments may be moderated 24 to 48 hours from when they’re submitted — or even later. If you comment in the evening or on the weekend, please be patient. We’ll get to it when we’re back in the office.
We’re not interested in managing squeaky wheels, and even if we wanted to, we don't have time to address every single commenter’s grievance.
Try as we might, we will make mistakes. We’ll fail to catch aliases, mistakenly allow folks to exceed the comment limit and occasionally miss false statements. If that’s going to upset you, it’s probably best to just stick with our journalism and avoid the comments section.
We don’t mediate disputes between commenters. If you have concerns about another commenter, please don’t bring them to us.

The bottom line:

If you repeatedly push the boundaries, make unreasonable demands, get caught lying or generally cause trouble, we will stop approving your comments — maybe forever. Such moderation decisions are not negotiable or subject to explanation. If civil and constructive conversation is not your goal, then our comments section is not for you.