A Safe Space To Share

Connie, a SCAN Prevention Coordinator, attended a local community fair to share how people can be a part of SCAN’s mission of strengthening families and protecting children. A woman, Sheri, approached the booth, and Connie could tell that she had something serious to share.

Reading her body language, Connie asked the person at the booth next to them to watch over SCAN’s booth while she brought Sheri to a quiet and more private area to talk more. Sheri shared with Connie that their neighbors, who had a child in the home, didn’t have running water and they were fairly certain the child didn’t have true access to a bathroom, rather having to use a bucket. She had also witnessed a few alarming interactions with the child, making her concerned for their safety as well as their physical care.

Talking through the situation, Connie convinced Sheri to call the Child Abuse and Neglect hotline, 1-800-800-5556, to report the situation. Sheri was nervous about making the call, but Connie reassured her of how this would help the child, that her identifying information would remain private, and walked Sheri through the steps of making the call.

Connie encouraged Sheri to share what she knew, and let her know that she could be transparent about not knowing everything. The important thing was not letting a lack of certain details prevent her from getting the child the help they need.