Building safer communities — Services, support and Wyoming’s fight against child abuse

In Weston County, combating child abuse is not the work of a single agency.

It is a coordinated effort among local law enforcement, the Wyoming Department of Family Services, child advocacy centers, prosecutors, educators and community members — all working to protect children, support families and prevent further trauma.

For Newcastle police officer McKinzie Parrish, that collaboration is essential.

“DFS plays an integral part of our system,” Parrish said. 

While the Department of Family Services often responds immediately, child advocacy centers offer specialized services that can profoundly affect both investigations and outcomes.

“An astronomical difference,” Parrish said of child advocacy centers. “Instead of just going off of what we as cops think is right, they utilize trauma-informed practices.”

Parrish said she has seen in her role in law enforcement how those services improve legal outcomes while prioritizing children’s emotional well-being.

“I have seen first hand the difference that CAC can make when getting convictions,” she said.

A multidisciplinary approach

Child abuse investigations often involve multiple agencies working together to reduce repeated interviews, streamline services and improve support for victims.

“Extremely important,” Parrish said of the multidisciplinary approach involving law enforcement, DFS, prosecutors and child advocacy professionals. “It gets everybody on the same page right away.”

This coordinated system is particularly valuable in rural communities, where access to services can be limited. “That way there is not a retraumatization of victims,” she said.

In Weston County, families often face travel challenges to access forensic interviews or specialized care.

“To get a forensic interview done, we have to go to Rapid (City),” Parrish said.

That service gap remains one of the larger barriers facing smaller Wyoming communities, despite ongoing efforts to expand in-state resources.

(“As of June 2024, NCA Member Children’s Advocacy Centers served 2,269 counties through signed interagency agreements/MOUs [Memorandum of Understanding]. This means 72” of counties in the U.S. have formal access to an NCA Member CAC.” (Quote from National Children Alliance Website))

Addressing misconceptions

Like many professionals working in child protection, Parrish said one of the biggest misunderstandings is the belief that child abuse is rare in small towns.

“People think that it does not happen here, or that it is not as bad as we think it is,” she said.

Though Newcastle and Upton may experience less crime overall than larger cities, Parrish stressed that abuse can and does happen in every type of community.

Her work in law enforcement, paired with close exposure to child advocacy systems, has also changed how she approaches cases.

She said trauma-informed methods — such as adjusting environments and approaches when working with children — have become critical.

“If you can come in a trauma-informed way, not coming in a full uniform, it can be easier to get victims to trust you,” she said.

That approach, she added, often helps children disclose abuse more comfortably.

“It has allowed me to get disclosure from kids who maybe would not otherwise,” Parrish said.

Support beyond crisis response

State officials say prevention and support services are equally important.

In an April Child Abuse Prevention Month op-ed, Wyoming Department of Family Services Director Korin Schmidt emphasized that child safety begins long before abuse occurs. 

During April, blue pinwheel gardens mark the month in communities across the country. 

“The blue pinwheels remind us of the joy and possibility of childhood,” Schmidt wrote. “They also remind us that when families have the support they need, children are safer, communities are stronger, and the future is brighter.”

Through the state’s WY Home Matters initiative, DFS focuses on strengthening families through preventive services, early intervention and community support systems.

Last year, DFS helped nearly 500 Wyoming children who experienced abuse and neglect. The agency also worked alongside more than 3,000 families to provide resources aimed at safely keeping children in their homes whenever possible.

Schmidt noted that strong families rely on protective factors such as stable housing, employment, child care, social connections and parenting education.

“Strong, resilient families are built in everyday moments, when parents have the support they need, when communities rally around one another, and when families can access resources before challenges become emergencies,” Schmidt wrote.

Resources require investment

At a recent Newcastle town hall hosted by gubernatorial candidate Eric Barlow, Jewel Parrish, executive director of Child Advocacy Centers of Wyoming, raised concerns about Wyoming’s broader response to child abuse.

Barlow acknowledged serious statewide service shortages.

“We don’t have enough resources, not near enough resources,” Barlow said.

He specifically pointed to internet crimes against children investigations, trafficking prevention and victim support systems as areas needing greater state investment.

“There is a huge gap for services for young people in Wyoming,” Barlow said.

Barlow also stressed the importance of expanding mental health care for victims and families.

“If we want to actually protect people, we have to invest in that,” he said.

Jewel Parrish also clarified how victim services data is tracked under federal law, explaining that only primary victims — the children directly abused — are counted in official statistics.

“We are only allowed, when we claim data, to claim the child that was actually abused,” she said.

Secondary victims, such as children who witness abuse, may still receive services such as mental health care, though they are not included in the same statistical categories.

(Red indicates NCA Accredit Member status as of 2024.)

The human side of the work

For front-line responders like McKinzie Parrish, the emotional weight of child abuse cases is significant.

“Having a support system,” she said when asked how she copes. “Being able to be open about your emotions.”

She noted that law enforcement culture has evolved over time.

“Forty years ago, you bottled that up,” Parrish said.

What keeps her going, she said, is not simply convictions, but safety.

“The finish line does not have to be a conviction,” Parrish said. “The finish line is when we get these kids to a safe, healthy environment.”

A call for community action

Parrish urged Newcastle-area residents to remain vigilant and proactive.

“If you are not sure if it is abuse or not, call it in regardless,” she said.

Reports can be made through DFS intake services, local dispatch or anonymous channels.

“Do not be afraid to call and ask,” Parrish said. “You can always report anonymously.”

She also encouraged parents and caregivers to trust children when they speak up.

“Listen to your kids,” she said. “Your kids will tell you before anyone else.”

Looking forward

As Wyoming continues to strengthen child abuse prevention systems, officials and advocates agree that real progress depends on sustained partnerships, stronger services and public awareness.

From preventive family support programs to trauma-informed law enforcement practices, the state’s approach is gradually shifting from reaction to prevention.

For Newcastle and Weston County, that means recognizing child abuse as a local issue, improving access to services and ensuring that children and families know help is available.

“Bringing it to the forefront of people’s minds is extremely important,” Parrish said. “Not just in the month of April, but all the time.”