Spotting the signs — Child abuse in small towns

April marks Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the realities of child abuse, supporting families and educating communities on how to protect children.

For Jewel Parrish, the work is both urgent and deeply rooted in community awareness. As executive director of Child Advocacy Centers of Wyoming, Parrish helps oversee services aimed at supporting children and families across the state — including those in rural areas like Weston County.

“We are a nonprofit organization,” Parrish said. “A big part of my work is to build those services across the state, make sure kids, even in rural communities, receive help.”

Parrish’s path to the role began years ago through a lifelong interest in advocacy. She studied psychology and criminal justice in college, later building a child advocacy center from the ground up in Montana before moving to Wyoming in December 2023.

Child advocacy centers, often referred to as CACs, play a key role in how abuse cases are handled. They provide a safe, child-focused environment where trained professionals conduct forensic interviews.

“They are science-based interviews that ask questions to the child that allow them to tell their story in a nonleading way.” Parrish said. “They put the child at the center of the case.”

A statewide issue with local impact

While child abuse can feel like a distant issue, Parrish said one of the biggest misconceptions is that it does not happen in communities like Newcastle.

In reality, the data tells a different story. According to 2025 data from the Child Advocacy Centers of Wyoming, 1 in 7 children in Wyoming experiences abuse. The same report shows that 449 children were served through CACs, with sexual abuse accounting for 58% of reported cases and physical abuse, 25%.

Additionally, 95% of children knew their abuser, and 30% of sexual abuse cases are never reported.

“Child abuse happens everywhere; Wyoming is not immune to it,” Parrish said. “Children that come to us, when they reach our doors, they have already experienced that abuse or neglect.”

For rural communities like Weston County, the challenge is not just awareness but access to services.

“In Weston County, we do not have a CAC,” Parrish said. “Most of the time we travel to South Dakota to receive forensic interviews.”

Efforts are underway to expand services within the state, including plans to build a new center in Gillette.

Why awareness matters

Parrish emphasized that awareness is one of the most powerful tools communities have in preventing abuse.

“The more the community is aware of child abuse and what it looks like, the more people are on the lookout,” she said.

Recognizing warning signs does not always mean identifying something obvious. In many cases, the signs can be subtle.

“A lot of people think that they need something really big and really concrete,” Parrish said. “Even if you suspect it and are seeing little signs, you should report it. It is a smaller piece of the bigger puzzle.”

Warning signs can vary widely from child to child, making community education critical. Parrish also pointed to stigma as a major barrier that prevents families from seeking help.

“There is a huge stigma around child abuse,” she said. “A lot of parents will blame themselves, even if the offender is outside the home.”

A national perspective on prevention

The importance of prevention is echoed at the national level. Takkeem Morgan, with Prevent Child Abuse America, said NCAPM serves as a critical reminder of the need for proactive solutions.

“From a national standpoint, it is extremely critical,” Morgan said. “It is a cliché, but children are our future. As a community and as a nation, if children are being stifled, that means our futures are being stifled.”

Morgan said one of the organization’s key goals is shifting the focus toward prevention before abuse occurs.

“Our organization is steadfast in our belief that child abuse prevention is the status quo,” he said. “Put in place the policies and practices so children and families are safe and thriving.”

He added that prevention requires a coordinated, community wide effort.

“Prevention can only happen in partnership,” Morgan said. “Families are complex; abuse and neglect is complex as well.”

That includes recognizing “protective factors” such as connection and support systems.

“Making sure families are not facing challenges in isolation,” he said. “Everyone plays a critical role.”

Legal system sees local realities

At the local level, Jeani Stone sees firsthand how these cases impact families in Weston County.

“We have our fair share,” Stone said.

She noted that substance abuse, particularly methamphetamine, is a significant factor in many cases.

“Methamphetamine is the No. 1 thing we are seeing right now,” she said.

Cases handled by the county attorney’s office can range from domestic violence situations to neglect and physical abuse.

Stone said many cases stem from issues such as substance use, domestic violence and neglect, including situations where children are exposed to unsafe or unhealthy home environments.

Stone explained that the legal process often begins after an investigation by the Department of Family Services, but her office does not always require substantiation to move forward.

“Once we have the reports, we can move forward,” she said. 

Despite the seriousness of these cases, Stone said there are common misconceptions about how the system works.

“Some people think that DFS or law enforcement is going to come in and take your kids,” she said. “Eighty percent of the time, at least in the cases I work, the kids go back home eventually.”

The ultimate goal, she added, is reunification whenever it is safe to do so.

A community responsibility

Officials agree that preventing child abuse is not just the responsibility of agencies or the legal system — it requires community involvement.

“There are a lot of individuals in our community that watch out for kids,” Stone said. “It takes everyone being mindful.”

She encouraged residents to report concerns, even if they are unsure.

“I would rather err on the side of caution if you have concerns,” she said. “Wyoming requires suspected abuse and neglect to be reported.”

For Parrish, that message is at the heart of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“Child abuse happens here in our community,” she said.

Nationally, she noted, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18, and many cases go unreported.

“We need to start thinking of who has access to our children,” Parrish said.

Looking ahead

As April continues, local and statewide organizations are working to raise awareness and provide education opportunities. One upcoming event includes a presentation at the Newcastle High School auditorium on April 29 focused on internet crimes against children and online safety for parents.

Parrish said awareness is only the first step — but it is a critical one.

“I think for Weston County, just knowing that it happens here and that there are resources available here in Wyoming is the most important thing,” she said.