SC attorney general observes 13th annual Children’s Advocacy Center Day

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Last year in South Carolina, children’s advocacy centers responded to more than 13,000 cases of children allegedly being abused or neglected.

Wednesday at the statehouse, Attorney General Alan Wilson recognized these centers for their work responding and preventing child abuse in the state.

“They reduce the trauma,” Wilson said. “They streamline the process to make it easier for investigators and prosecutors to go after criminals who abuse children. Most importantly, it reduces the trauma for the children.”

A team of professionals trained to communicate with children provides services to more than 13,000 children for allegations of child abuse.

“The most common form of child abuse reported at children’s advocacy centers was sexual abuse. There was also a lot of physical abuse and neglect as well,” said Thomas Knapp, SC Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers director.

Neglect can be harder to pick up on since it comes in many forms.

“Neglect can range from failure to provide proper nourishment for a kid. It can revolve around not taking proper care of a child,” Knapp said. “A parent may be leaving young children home alone for extended periods of time. That’s some of the common forms of neglect but children can also be witnesses to things like domestic violence.”

While the advocacy centers help children after abuse, detecting it is down to adults who interact with kids.

You are asked to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Service.

“Children will normally make a report to a trusted adult, like a teacher or caregiver,” Knapp said. “That’s reported to law enforcement or protective services. They make referrals to the children’s advocacy centers to make sure the child’s needs are being met.”

Other groups such as the Children’s Trust of South Carolina work to prevent child abuse by working with new parents.

Attorney General Wilson is asking lawmakers for more funding for these organizations and programs.

“We are seeking more funding from the federal government but in the interim we are asking for the state to step up,” the attorney general said. “Once these victim service providers shut their doors, it’s almost impossible to reopen them and those services go away forever. We don’t want that to happen. Those are some things we are advocating for.”

Across South Carolina, 17 children’s advocacy centers help kids who are victims of abuse.