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News Release

Multnomah County Declares April 2024 As Child Abuse Prevention Month (Photo) -04/04/24

Today, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Division, and CARES Northwest appeared before the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to make the proclamation of April 2024 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” Presenting to the Board were DA Mike Schmidt, Senior Deputy District Attorney Chuck Mickley, CARES Northwest Executive Director Jenny Gilmore-Robinson, and DHS District Manager for Child Welfare Sherrelle Jackson.

By declaring April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners made findings that include:

  • Child abuse and neglect is a serious public health and safety problem that impacts all of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone;
  • We must all recognize the signs of child maltreatment and take appropriate steps to safeguard children by reporting concerns and connecting families with the help they may need; and
  • Effective child abuse prevention and intervention efforts succeed because of coordinated partnerships between government, child welfare, health, schools, law enforcement and community organizations.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said: “Child abuse is an obvious, yet hidden problem. By providing a collaborative, coordinated, trauma-informed response to child abuse, our community can have a positive impact on the health and safety of the more than 150,000 children living in Multnomah County today, and on the well-being of the adults those children will become.”

CARES Northwest Executive Director Jenny Gilmore-Robinson said: “I’m grateful that we take this time to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month each year because it is a chance to shine a light on this often-hidden public health crisis that many would understandably rather pretend does not exist. Equally important, it is an opportunity to reinforce for our community the powerful idea that child abuse can be prevented.”

Senior DDA Chuck Mickley leads MCDA’s Multi-Disciplinary Child Abuse Team Unit. The Unit has three primary functions: coordinating child protection efforts and policy with community partners to make and keep children safe; prosecuting felony crimes involving child victims, including homicide, physical abuse, abandonment, neglect, and sexual exploitation and sexual assault of children where the suspect is not considered a stranger to the victim; and protecting children though litigating dependency cases in juvenile court.

Senior DDA Mickley said: “For over the past 11 years, I have been dedicated exclusively to the prosecution of child abuse cases. During that time, I’ve seen an amazing range of emotions, from the carnage that child abuse visits upon children, to the resilience that children demonstrate and the care and attention they receive from the people who support them – in law enforcement, at DHS, and at CARES Northwest.”

According to the most recent Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Data Book, there were 87,529 reports of child abuse and neglect in Oregon in 2022. In Multnomah County, there were 13,243 reports of abuse and neglect. The most common family stress factor when child abuse was present was substance abuse. The next most common stressors were domestic violence.

In thanking County Commissioners for the proclamation, Mickley said: “Child abuse is a hidden problem despite the numbers. People don’t think about it nearly often enough, and providing this forum and the opportunity for people to think about it is critically important in preventing child abuse in the future.”

Multnomah County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team

Oregon law requires that every county use a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse intervention. In 1989, the law specified that every county create a multidisciplinary team coordinated by each county's District Attorney. The Legislature recognized then, as it does still today, that identifying and responding to child abuse is complicated and requires complex collaboration and consistent teamwork to adequately address child abuse situations.

The Multnomah County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) includes representatives from CARES Northwest, local law enforcement, public schools, hospitals, health departments, local mental health service providers, the Oregon Department of Human Services, and Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice. The team works with community partners to protect children who have been abused and neglected while ensuring that all practices are trauma-informed and mitigate the life-long consequences of child abuse.

Members of the Child Abuse MDT were also present at today’s Board meeting on behalf of the thousands of children and families they serve.  

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse

It’s important to know the warning signs of abuse because children often can’t or won’t speak up if they are being abused. They rely on the people around them to recognize something isn't right. Warning signs include:

  • Physical signs on the child, such as unexplained or unusual injuries.
  • Things the child says or does, such as running away from home, self-harm, or fear of their parent or caretaker.
  • Things the ​​caretaker says or does, such as ignoring the child's needs or isolating the child.

Call 855-503-SAFE (7233) if you think a child is being abused or neglected. 

  • You will talk​ to a Child​ Welfa​re screener. 
  • Be ready to give information about the child, such as their name, age, and where they live (if you know). 
  • The screener will ask about your concerns, including anything the child has said.​​​ 
  • What you share will be kept private (confidential).
  • Read the Child ​Abuse Reporting Guide​ for more information about what to expect when you call. 

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