KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas wants you to wear blue today, and post it online to raise awareness for child abuse.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Kansas State Child Death Review board are encouraging Kansans to wear blue and post a picture on social media with the hashtag, #wearblueday.
The effort is part of Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse. Typically, people are encouraged to wear blue to the workplace. But due to stay-at-home orders as a result of COVID-19, the awareness has shifted online.
Social distancing has already had a significant impact on report of child abuse in Kansas.
The Department for Children and Families reported the daily average of calls made to the state’s Protection Report Center has dipped from 200 per day in 2019 to 102 per day last week.
The center’s phone number remains active for Kansans to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect at (800) 922-5330. In cases in which the child may be in imminent danger, call 911.
Warning signs of child abuse may include:
- Parents or caregivers who lack social contact outside the family.
- Parents or caregivers who have alcohol or drug abuse problems.
- Parents or caregivers who are excessively controlling or resentful of a child.
- Parents or caregivers who may belittle children by either directly criticizing them or using subtle put-downs disguised as humor.
- Victims who exhibit a lack of trust, are fearful or anxious about going home, have uncontrolled emotions and lash out in anger.
- Victims who may become depressed and withdraw from others.
- Victims with unexplained injuries, excessive sadness or crying, flinching at sudden movements and difficulty sleeping.
- Children who are neglected often have bad hygiene, wear ill-fitting or dirty clothing and have untreated injuries or illnesses. They can appear underdeveloped and malnourished and are frequently late or missing from school.
- Children with injuries on the stomach, cheeks, ears, buttocks, mouth or thighs.
For additional information on child abuse and neglect, visit www.ag.ks.gov, or call (785) 296-7970.
