Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OK - For many years, April has been recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year, Cherokee Nation sponsored events that heighten awareness of a broad spectrum of children's issues ranging from dental hygiene, fingerprinting, abuse prevention, and even an exhibit by a skilled rattlesnake hunter.

But according to Linda Woodward, director of Cherokee Nation Children, Youth and Family Services, child abuse prevention is an area where Cherokee Nation Child Welfare staff members have long taken the lead.

"Child abuse is an ongoing crisis in Oklahoma and throughout the entire United States", Woodward said. "Today’s families encounter things that were unheard of even four or five years ago. We’ve experienced an economic recession, layoffs, school shootings, increased illegal drug activity and many things some parents simply are not equipped to deal with. Too many times the victims are innocent children."

Fortunately, the Cherokee Nation has designed programs to help Indian families. The Cherokee Nation Child Protective Services Unit is designed to strengthen and support Indian families by providing intensive home-based training and referral services that meet individual family needs.

Protecting Indian children is an area that captures the heart of Principal Chief Chad Smith.

"In 1978, the United States Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act", Smith said. "This law protects the best interest of Indian children and promotes the stability and security of Indian Tribes. That Act states that ‘there is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children.’ The Cherokee Nation recognized that a long time ago. Our goal is to build strong families and I’m encouraged by the progress we are seeing in our Child Welfare programs."

Woodward is worried that many cases of abuse are not being reported.

"I think that there’s a misperception about what child abuse actually is", Woodward said. However, federal, state and tribal law is very clear on the definition of child abuse.

Child abuse is defined by law as harm or threatened harm to a child’s health and welfare by the acts or omission of the child’s parent(s), caretaker, and/or guardian. Child abuse is broken down into four basic categories: physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and psychological maltreatment.

Physical abuse is non-accidental physical injury to a child under the age of 18. Physical neglect is failure to provide a child under the age of 18 with basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, educational opportunity, protection or supervision. Sexual abuse is sexual exploitation of a child or an adolescent for the gratification of the perpetrator or another person. Psychological maltreatment is rejecting, terrorizing, isolating, exploiting, corruption or denying emotional responsiveness.

Federal, state, and tribal law requires every person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child under 18 is being abused or is in danger of being abused to report the suspicion of abuse to the Department of Human Services. If the abuse occurs on Indian Country or an Indian child is involved, contact Cherokee Nation Child Protective Services, phone: 918-456-0671 (extension 2220).