Q&A: How Abbott House supports children during Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the warning signs of abuse and to support organizations that protect and heal vulnerable children. News 9 sat down with Ronni Roney, Education Director at the Abbott House Child Advocacy Center, to discuss how the organization helps children and how the community can get involved.

Q: What is Abbott House, and how does it help children?

“What we do at Abbott House is we are a child-friendly space for kids to come and share their experience. So when there are allegations of abuse or neglect, that’s turned into law enforcement or DHS, and they ask us to do a forensic interview.”

Roney explained that trained interviewers meet with children in a neutral, safe environment, allowing them to speak freely without pressure.

“Before child advocacy centers like Abbott House, kids would have to tell that experience 10 to 12 different times,” Roney said. “Now they come to a place like Abbott House and say it once throughout an investigation.”

Abbott House also supports caregivers, provides referrals to counseling and basic needs, and offers medical evaluations to ensure children are safe and healthy.

Q: What are some signs of child abuse adults should watch for?

"Some signs that you might be able to look out for in kids are sudden behavior changes—if they are all of a sudden withdrawn or starting to have anxiety,” Roney said.

Roney also pointed to changes in eating habits, personal hygiene, and frequent absences from school without credible explanations.

Q: What can the community do to help during Child Abuse Prevention Month?

“The community can find a place in their area that is supporting child abuse prevention, like Abbott House, and wear blue—that’s our color of the month,” Roney said.

Roney emphasized the importance of volunteering, donating, and becoming an “alert adult.”

“Everything we do at Abbott House is free. And I really want to encourage people to give to make a more safe environment for kids,” Roney said. “ Speaking up and being able to kind of be that person,”

Q: Where can people find more information or get involved?

More information about the Abbott House Child Advocacy Center can be found on their official website.