MCLB conducts child abuse prevention summit

By Karen Cohilas - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - It's horrible to imagine, but each year in the United States, approximately three million children are abused in some way.

One in four Dougherty County girls, and one out of six boys will be sexually abused by age 18.

It's hard to hear those figures, but leaders want you to know that abuse happens every day, so you can help report it and prevent it.

A pinwheel on a windy day, typically found in the arms of a happy child. But those planted in the ground at the Marine Base represent something much darker. Each pinwheel represents a family in Dougherty County impacted by child abuse in the past year.

Cases like this one. "Cigarette burns, the child had been beaten on his feet as a means of discipline," said Forensic Interviewer Caitlin Cooper.

District Attorney Greg Edwards says few days go by where he doesn't see a new case in his office, and sadly the victims are often abused by someone who was also abused as a child. "This type of abuse is something that is learned and perpetuated," he said.

That's why the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany is working to raise awareness of the problem, and hoping to prevent future cases.

"It will take a community effort, both within the base and all the support we receive from the community outside the base to really defeat this problem," said Col. C. N. Haliday, Commanding Officer, MCLB Albany.

Caitlin Cooper is a forensic interviewer. She has the grim task of talking to kids who have either been neglected or abused emotionally, physically or sexually. "The cases that have affected me the most is the sexual assault cases, physical abuse, physical abuse, you can see it with your eyes, it's tangible, you can touch it, so it's very tough."

Base Commander Col. Christian Haliday signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month on the Marine Base and committed the people who work on the base to continue to work to stop child abuse, educate others and build healthy families.

The Dougherty County Division of Family and Children Services, the Lily Pad Sexual Assault Center, the Deputy Police Chief at MCLB, and the new parent support program at the base were all recognized for their efforts to prevent child abuse.

Leaders say anyone who knows of any type of child abuse should report it to authorities.

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