GREENFIELD — Singing “You got the power in me, I’ve got the power in you,” Federal Street School students helped to uplift the mood for an annual event to bring awareness to child abuse.
The mayor spoke about his wishes that this event wouldn’t have to happen, the Northwest District Attorney expressed wishes to end child abuse altogether and the community gathered in the Greenfield Town Common, huddled together on a gray, drizzly day on Friday.
This year, once again leaders in the community raised a flag for Child Abuse Awareness Month. The day also rang in a reminder of the first anniversary of the opening of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and the North Quabbin.
“The change that we have seen is that it’s so much easier to bring people together in a family-friendly place,” Northwest District Attorney David E. Sullivan said after the ceremony.
Nonetheless he, and others in the community noted the severity of the issue, in what Sullivan called a “serious epidemic.”
Countywide, there were about 2,600 cases of child abuse reported to the Department of Children and Families last year, with about 650 of them becoming supported cases, which require government intervention, Children’s Advocacy Center Director Irene Woods said.
In 2016, 122 kids were interviewed by the department in Greenfield. Nearly half of the kids were boys. Most of the cases were concerning sexual abuse. National statistics show that one in six boys before the age of 18 will experience abusive sexual experiences, compared to one in four girls.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work in identifying the offenders that are really high risk offenders,” said Mary A. Kociela, the director of Domestic Violence Projects at the District Attorney’s Office.
Intervention is a significant part in the district attorney’s work, but so is prevention.
The director, who is also chairwoman of the mayor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, said a key effort the county is doing to combat the issue is helping first responders recognize signs of who may be a high risk offender.
Another element is education and training of families about how to respond to child abuse.
“Parenting is not easy and it’s difficult to come forward and seek resources in a time of need when people are confused or scared and not sure what to do,” Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru said. “Having this center and having this awareness makes it a little easier.”
As the community leaders left, some heading over to the court for its official opening in the hours following, the flag remained atop the pole, as it will all month long.