MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Patrons gathered to attend child abuse prevention training as part of Child Abuse Awareness Month at Marston Pavilion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, April 7.
With reports of cases of child abuse rising across the country, Camp Lejeune is taking steps to confront the issue head on. The training helped care providers and members throughout the community to recognize the signs of child abuse, how to help victims and prevention.
“We are providing units and those who work in the trauma care arena with more tools on how to deal with victims and how to strengthen the care and awareness of what they have gone through,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Castellvi, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, MCBCL.
Attendants received training and information through a presentation that provided statistics, research results and numerous ways victims respond to abuse. The training also included a variety of topics ranging from how to recognize trauma, respond to it, reactionary drug use, the abused victims healing process and ways for providers and patrons to help abused victims.
“They were informed about what it may be like for a child to experience trauma and what services the patients need so the child and the family can heal,” said Dr. Jennifer Prince, the behavior health program manager at Marine and Family Programs Division. “The training also covers more about providers who would treat someone with trauma, and what a provider looks for and thinks about, including how to approach the treatment. It really gives them a broader perspective of the whole process.”
The training gave a realistic insight of how to approach child abuse trauma cases and prevention.
“We want to do more to prevent child abuse, sexual assault and domestic abuse,” said Castellvi. “The more understanding we have of what our victims go through the more we can take action to try and prevent it.”
If anyone witnesses or is suspicious of child abuse they should call the Family Advocacy Program at 449-9563.
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