When communities unite: Protecting children from abuse
Protecting children from harm requires a coordinated, informed, and proactive approach. KARE House, a children’s advocacy center in Haywood County, is dedicated to supporting children and families affected by abuse, neglect or exploitation. This work is carried out through comprehensive services including outreach, advocacy, specialized interventions and a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach designed to put children first.
At the center of this approach is the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), a group of professionals from different fields who work together when there are concerns about child abuse. Rather than agencies operating in isolation, the MDT brings together law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, mental health providers, prosecutors and victim advocates. Each member contributes their expertise to ensure a coordinated, thorough and child-centered response.
The primary goal of the MDT is to protect children while minimizing further trauma. One of the most important ways this is achieved is through a streamlined process for gathering information. Instead of repeating their experience multiple times, a child shares their story one time with a trained forensic interviewer in a safe, supportive space. The process is child-centered and focused on comfort and trust — not interrogation. This interview can then be shared across the team, reducing stress on the child while preserving the accuracy and integrity of their story.
Beyond the interview process, the MDT works together to coordinate every aspect of the response — prioritizing the safety, healing and long-term stability of each child. Families are supported throughout the process with access to counseling, advocacy, and resources that help them navigate difficult circumstances. By improving communication and collaboration, the MDT ensures that no part of a child’s well-being is overlooked.
KARE House also offers safety education in all of Haywood County’s elementary schools. These programs are designed to teach children the skills and knowledge they need to recognize unsafe situations and seek help. KARE’s Body Safety program focuses on clear, age-appropriate concepts that empower children without causing fear. Students learn the difference between safe and unsafe touch, and they are taught that their bodies belong to them and that they have the right to say “no” if something makes them feel uncomfortable or scared. Students are also taught to identify trusted adults they can talk to if something feels wrong. This reinforces the idea that they are not alone and that help is available. A key part of the program is learning how to respond if someone violates a boundary by using the three-part safety rule: say “no,” get away, and tell a trusted adult. Children also learn to distinguish between safe secrets (like surprises) and unsafe secrets that need to be told.
For caregivers, it is important to understand that body safety education is not about exposing children to inappropriate content. Instead, it means using child-friendly language and concepts to build confidence and awareness aimed at preventing abuse from ever occurring. These programs are carefully designed to match developmental levels and are delivered by trained educators in a classroom setting.
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The goal is to create an environment where children feel safe asking questions and speaking up. Caregivers play a vital role in reinforcing these lessons. Talking regularly with children about feelings, boundaries and safety helps build trust and keeps communication open. When children feel heard and believed, they are far more likely to speak up if something is wrong.
Protecting children is a shared responsibility. Through coordinated response efforts like the MDT and proactive safety education programs, communities can work together to prevent abuse and support those affected by it. We all have a role to play in keeping children safe.
For more information or to get involved, visit karehouse.org.
(Abby Bearden is Chief Operating Officer at KARE.)
