Through the Eyes of a Child

eyes: eyes

As employees of county and community agencies, parents, grandparents and neighbors, it is our responsibility as a community to watch over our children. It is our responsibility to advocate for children, especially those who are victims of abuse and neglect. We, as adults, need to use our knowledge and skills to strengthen and support all our community’s children and families.

The Kern County Department of Human Services has developed “Through the Eyes of a Child”, a hands on training which takes the training participant on a short journey in a child’s shoes. As you embark on the journey, you are taken to familiar places or perhaps to places you have never before experienced or imagined. This journey will be memorable. As we become adults, we forget what life is like through the eyes of a child. What does a child feel, see and hear? What does a child whom is a victim of abuse and neglect feel, see or hear? What happens to these children? Each participant will experience…

Through The Eyes of A Child

The goals/objectives of this training are:

  • Participants will have greater knowledge of what a child experiences in the world of child abuse and neglect;

  • Participants will be able to identify some of the significant indicators of abuse and neglect;

  • Participants will be reminded of their role and responsibilities as mandated reporters under the Child Abuse Reporting Law;

  • Participants will receive information on how their involvement in a child’s life helps that child overcome abuse and neglect and become a healthy adult; and

  • Participants will be provided information on community resources that serve children.

Through The Eyes of A Child will be an ongoing training at DHS’s new Kinship Center, 3409 Wilson Rd. in Bakersfield. Trainings will begin on January 7, 2002.

This is a 45-minute presentation, which can accommodate groups of no more than 15 people. For reservations, contact the Kinship Center at (661) 868-8800. eyes: eyes

matter: matter
WHAT’S THE MATTER HERE?

That young boy without a name, anywhere I’d know his face, in the city, the kid’s my favorite, I see him, see him, see him all the time.

I see him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father, the kid half-naked,
And I say to myself, what’s the matter here?

I’m tired of the excuses everybody uses, he’s their kid, I stay out of it. But who gave you the right to do this?

We live on Morgan Street, just ten feet between,
And his mother, I never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day.

Threats like, “If you don’t mind, I will beat on your behind! I’ll slap you, slap you silly!”
Make me say, oh, what’s the matter here?

I’m tired of the excuses everybody uses, he’s their kid, do as you see fit.
But get this through that I don’t approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.

“If you don’t sit in your chair straight, I’ll take this belt from around my waist…And don’t you think that I won’t use it!”

Answer me and take your time, what could be the awful crime he could do at so young an age?
If I’m the only witness to your madness, offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear.

All these cold and lonely things that you do well I suppose you do because he belongs to you.
And instead of love and the feelings of warmth, you’ve given him these cuts and sores that don’t heal with time or with age.

And I want to say, “What’s the matter here?”
But I don’t dare say…

-Robert Buck/Natalie Merchant


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