A special parent panel discussion during last Wednesday’s Not One More Child in Arapahoe County community coalition event revealed what Human Services clients value during difficult times. The group focuses on building connections, sharing resources and creating innovative ways to build safe communities for children, with an eye toward helping end child abuse and neglect in Arapahoe County. 

The seven parents on the panel are current or one-time recipients of services in Arapahoe County Human Services (ACDHS). They agreed that, among other strengths, Human Services has been innovative, and builds strong community supports and effective family navigation services that are incredibly important to the long-term success of families.

ACDHS services are key to ensuring that vulnerable families can come together to support one another and tap into all the resources available to them, rather than “going it alone” or possibly taking out some of their stress on family members. “Understanding that I’m not the only one going through tough times with getting a job, single parenting and dealing with pandemic related issues helps me get through the rough times better - emotionally and mentally,” said one panelist. To paraphrase, “if families can come together to support one another and tap into all the resources available to vulnerable families, many would have a better chance of not giving up or possibly taking out some of the stress on their family members.”

In a report provided by ACDHS Child and Adult Protection Services, since the pandemic, the County has seen increases in:

• Substance use, domestic violence, and mental health crises among adults and children
• Social isolation of families
• Child maltreatment as stress and anxiety from the pandemic resulted in adverse child-parent dynamics
• Emotional stress, often because parents have needed to home school children while maintaining employment and working remotely, or they didn’t have remote work options but still had to make ends meet.
• Prolonged and complex trauma

The coalition plans to evaluate the information gathered from these parents and look for ways to continue improving the County’s services. The event was a good reminder that protecting children starts by understanding families’ needs. ACDHS continues to support families through various practices and philosophies that support parents and children simultaneously. Incorporating the “family voice” guarantees that our human services professionals are listening to and understanding the needs of those we serve. Visit www.NOMCinAC.org to learn more about Not One More Child in Arapahoe County.