What Kind of Jobs Involve Rescuing Abused Kids?
A child in an abusive living situation should be removed from it as soon as possible. People interested in helping abused children can follow the career path that most interests them; they can be involved in law, medicine or social work. Though social workers have the most direct contact with abused children, each professional situation puts you in a position to help rescue abused children. Jobs in this field typically require many years of education or training; there are specific procedures laid out in each type of job for rescuing abused children.
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Law Enforcement
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Law enforcement officers work to capture people who abuse and injure children. They investigate reports of child abuse and, if it is warranted, remove children from the negative situation. Officers also gather evidence against child abusers and testify in court. Lawyers interpret the evidence and often prosecute child abusers to keep them away from children or even put them in jail. When a police officer removes a child from a dangerous situation, he may call a social worker to assist or to place the child and evaluate potential replacement housing.
Social Work
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Social workers help remove children from dangerous situations. They also evaluate adults to determine whether they’re suitable guardians for abused children. Social workers are trained to work with at-risk populations, including children who have been abused and have physical or emotional problems. They are licensed by the state where they work; licensure involves a combination of education, experience and testing. Social workers also monitor visits between children and parents, testify in court and oversee foster care programs. They are able to work with children who have been abused and help put them on a positive life path.
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Medical Jobs
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Doctors, nurses and counselors help rescue abused children from bad situations. Guardians ad litum, for example, evaluate the people in a child’s life and the perspective of the child herself to determine where she should be living; they are usually trained to counsel children. Doctors and nurses are trained to recognize the signs of abuse. They often separate a child from her parents until trained law enforcement officers and social workers can show up to determine what should happen.
Tips
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Anyone working with children should be trained to recognize the signs of abuse. A child exhibiting abnormal behavior, whether they’re withdrawn or over-aggressive, should be observed. If the behavior continues, there can be problems at home. A child who is often injured or jumpy may be experiencing abuse at home. Not all abused children are physically injured; some are emotionally abused or neglected. The majority of reported child abuse is actually neglect, according to Childhelp.org. Unless you are a trained professional and know the proper procedures, do not intervene. Speak to a law enforcement professional or your local department of social services to have someone investigate the potential problem.
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