July 27 was a bad day for children in Alabama; there were six headline stories on July 27 addressing abuse of children across our state, as well as one story dedicated to the overall ranking of Alabama as 47th in the United States related to the health, education, economic security and well-being of Alabama’s children (according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count Data Book).

9:19 a.m. – Premature infants found flushed down toilet into septic tank;

10:24 a.m. – Huntsville police arrest a man after they said he tried to kidnap a child;

11:08 a.m. – Andalusia mom and beau broke little girl’s arm, locked her in bedroom so they could eat lunch;

11:12 a.m. – Huntsville police investigating possible child abuse;

2:47 p.m. – Jefferson County man indicted on child pornography charges;

2:51 pm. – Man arrested for child pornography.

This is unacceptable and it stands to threaten the core of each of our neighborhoods and communities. It is time to get serious and make a commitment to support t he prevention of child abuse in a systemic, methodical, planned manner that is both efficient and effective in its implementation and delivery. Everyone has a role to play and something to contribute: money, time and talent, professional services, something to teach, tutor or mentor. Get out of your comfort zone and make a difference. Abuse and neglect of children will affect the quality of your life and the lives of your children, regardless of where you reside. July 27 certainly represents the severity of the problem, now it is time to demonstrate our absolute intolerance of child abuse by taking action in each neighborhood, community and hamlet of our state. We will be judge your treatment of the very young and the elderly, it is time to take inventory of the social behavior around us and take action.

Kelly Parris-Barnes

Director

Alabama Department of Child Abuse Prevention

“Children’s Trust Fund”