OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family Services Administration held a Child Abuse Awareness Walk at the Claude Cox Omniplex on May 2. The walk, originally rescheduled due to rain, saw supporters walk around the Mvskoke Dome to bring awareness to the issue of child abuse.
The walk saw different CFSA departments set up booths offering games and giveaways. These departments included state unification, promoting safe and stable, foster care, permanency and the family protection team. Community members had the opportunity to meet employees from the department and become familiar with the services and resources they offer for families experiencing child abuse.
According to the Indian Health Service, one in seven Native American children experience child abuse or neglect. Native Americans have the highest rate of victimization, 15.2 per 1,000 children in a population of the same race or ethnicity. Child abuse is defined as maltreatment of a minor by a parent or caregiver that results in harm, the potential for harm, or the threat of harm.
CFSA Team Program Manager Kayce Isham (Choctaw) knows that reporting child abuse can be a tough call to make. On the one hand, family members who suspect that a child is being abused want the abuse to be reported. However, they may believe that if a report is made, it will mean that the child will be removed from their home permanently. Isham says that is not the main goal of her department.
“I want people to know that it is okay to report any suspected child abuse and neglect. I know it can be scary or people think we’re going to come in and remove your children but our ultimate goal is to preserve our families and keep children in homes,” Isham said. “Sometimes we can provide assistance or help to the families to preserve it and keep a safer place for the children.”
Isham advises that the first step when making a report is to call the Children and Family Services office and request to speak with their intake. From there, they will collect all available information on the family suspected of abuse including names, addresses, and demographics. The case then goes to Isham’s desk. Isham and the family team protection supervisor will review the case to see if it meets the criteria for an investigation. If it does, an investigator is assigned to go to the home or school of the child to interview them, their families and caregivers. Once all the information the department needs is gathered together, a safety decision will be made to determine what the best solution is for the child and their family.
All reports made to Children and Family Services are anonymous. The department is not allowed to disclose the identity of someone who files a child abuse report. According to Isham, abuse not only pertains to violence.
“It is okay to report, we do protect the reporters. We don’t go in thinking that we are just going to remove children,” Isham said. “People don’t always think of neglect as an issue. More children are removed for neglect purposes than just abuse. Anytime you suspect it or have a suspicion, call it in. We will make that decision if we think that is something that should be looked at.”
To report a case of child abuse, call the main CFSA office number at 918-732-7869. To learn more information about the specific services CFSA offers, visit their web page on the main MCN website.
