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By Ruth Purnell
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Beverly Leathers of the Rappahannock County Department of Social Services has offered her help in clearing up some of the more widespread misconceptions about child abuse.
According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, “there are six categories for a founded disposition of abuse or neglect and they are physical abuse, physical neglect, failure to thrive, medical neglect, mental abuse, and sexual abuse.”
A common misunderstanding is that the Department of Social Services’ role is to remove children from their homes when they have been victims of child abuse.
However, the reality is that the department only removes children when all other remedies have been exhausted. “The last thing we want to do is take children away from their families,” said Leathers.
Child Protective Services has changed drastically over the years, going from a system of “investigations” which was perceived as more punitive in nature, to having a choice between investigating allegations or doing family assessments.
Family assessments are seen as far more family friendly as they focus on identifying problems, providing services to enhance family functioning and ensure safety of the children.
“Our first priority is to strengthen the family, develop a plan, and deliver a service,” said Leathers who feels that by strengthening and maintaining families, when possible, everyone wins.
Leathers explained that there are four criteria that must be met before a situation is considered a valid report of child abuse, which could be either assessed or investigated:
• the child must be under the age of eighteen,
• the alleged abuse must have occurred in the jurisdiction of the department you are calling,
• the allegations must meet a definition of abuse/neglect, and
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