City College’s Early Childhood Education Department sponsored an event to highlight the topic of child abuse. The message was that child abuse in all forms is preventable.

Katharina Zulliger, project manager of Santa Barbara County Kids Network at the Child Abuse Prevention Academy said that most of child abuse—60 percent—is neglect.

“This is true for our county, this is true statewide and this is true nationwide,” Zulliger said.

The Santa Barbara County Child Abuse Prevention Council also sponsored the free event. Their speakers provided training to eighty-five community members and future mandated reporters, fields required by law to report child abuse.

Zulliger spoke alongside numerous advocates about abuse and engaging and strengthening families through child welfare and programs.

Among the issues discussed, was a message that child abuse in all forms—neglect, physical, sexual and emotional—is preventable.

“Mandated reporters play a really huge role in child abuse prevention,” Zulliger said.

Abuse can be prevented if physical and behavioral indicators are reported. “You want to have this information in the forefront of your mind,” Zulliger said.

According to Penal Code 11165.3, child abuse is the “willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child.”

“Young children are very dependent on the very people that might be inflicting that stress on them,” said Deborah Holmes, associate director of Child Abuse Listening and Mediation. “Whatever happens in the children’s environment, that will determine how the child grows, develops and organizes.”

Survival needs become “overdeveloped” and the other parts of the brain become, “underdeveloped” with neglect Holmes said. The child’s physiological needs take over their psycho-social health.

“The health effects of child abuse and neglect show risks for health complications like alcoholism, depression, chronic pulmonary disease and heart disease increased,” Holmes added. “If you can prevent child abuse, you can save on health care costs. It’s a different way of thinking about child abuse now.”

“We’re really excited to bring this to South County,” said Barbara Finch, council chair of Santa Barbara County Child Abuse Prevention.

“This is a great opportunity to open up to other departments who might be a mandated reporter,” said Julie K Smith, chair of early childhood development. “The students get a good idea of what their role is if they choose to be in education, health sciences or a public safety degree,” she said.

“I want to do counseling, work with kids,” Psychology student Alexander Caandoy said. “I feel like, aside from the certification, it will open doors to an internship.”

“Get Involved,” said Devin Drake, division chief of Child Welfare Services. “We want to get involved with as much prevention as possible. If we can eliminate abuse, our jobs—well—that’s great.”