- Whom you observed and interacted with in your setting during these 2 weeks
The director that I observed was the Early Head Start director. The early head start director, teacher's and family advocates deals with families who have low income. The teachers/family advocates help these families by any means necessary by helping with early intervention services, referrals for WIC, shelter, etc. While talking to the director, we talked about child abuse within the center or any hands on experience that she might have had. She said to her current knowledge, there hadn't been in child abuse in the center.
And she clarified that she knew child abuse meant sexually, physically, verbally, and mentally. She stated, that at another center where she worked at, a teacher had suspected that a child was being sexually abused. The little girl didn't want people to get too close to her. She brought it to her attention, but there wasn't enough evidence to bring it forth to the Child Abuse Hot line. But, the teacher continued to document. I also talked to the teacher's about any suspected child abuse within the center or if they had experienced any from somewhere else and they told me no.
- Any special learning experiences insights, challenges, etc. related to your topics/focus questions and/or advocacy efforts in this setting, the community, and/or the field
I learned from this experience, that even if you don't have enough evidence at the time, document until you have enough. As well as always pay attention to other signs of abuse. A child can be abused in more than one way. As a advocate, you are suppose to be there for the children, as well as the families. You try to help and aid them in any means necessary. You are not only an advocate at work, but at home and in your community as well. I learned that child abuse happens everyday, and some time isn't even caught. The child or even adult can hold it in for so long, because they are embarrassed, ashamed, or hurt by what happened. But, the best piece of advice that I learned from this interaction, was to document everything.
