WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — April is a special month for Takesha Wright, a parent support specialist at the Parenting Path in Winston-Salem. It is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

She makes house calls to homes that have been identified by other agencies as places where child abuse or neglect is or could be happening.

 

What You Need To Know

  • April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

  • Parent support specialists go into homes to educate families and help parents cope with stress

  • Under North Carolina law, it’s mandatory for any adult to report the possibility of abuse or neglect of a child

“There are a lot of tough jobs. There are a lot of tougher jobs than what I have,” Wright said. “Somebody has to do it, and I have the passion and the drive to do it, so I just think about that and think about the people I’ve helped.”

Wright says the pandemic has unfortunately shielded evidence of abuse and neglect in some children, because many of them have not been in school on a regular basis and not been out in public as much.

“I feel like a lot of the things that we call neglect are just not knowing,” Wright said. “And once we know better, we do better. So I love being able to go out and help people and help kids have happier and better lives."

Wright hopes people take this month to reflect on the children in their lives, and realize that speaking up about any red flags can help or even save a life in some cases. 

If you believe a child could be experiencing abuse or neglect, contact your county’s department of social services.