Onslow County DSS urges community role for Child Abuse Prevention Month

The Onslow County Department of Social Services urged residents Thursday to treat child safety as a community responsibility as the county observed Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Garrah Stanley, a social work supervisor with the Onslow County Department of Social Services, said the county’s theme this year is “doing things differently — believing in communities,” and emphasized a shift toward family-centered supports. “It takes everyone to keep kids safe,” Stanley said, naming teachers, neighbors, church members and other community members as part of a child’s circle of support.

Emily Jefferson, also with Onslow County DSS, reviewed practical safety measures the agency promotes to reduce the most common preventable harms to children. Jefferson listed home safety steps — locked firearms and ammunition, secured chemicals and prescription medications — and said caregivers should anticipate new mobile skills in toddlers to prevent access to hazards. “If your child can access these kinds of things, it’s not safe,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson also urged caregivers to follow the “ABCs” of safe sleep for infants: alone, on their back, in a crib or other safe, dedicated sleep surface. She said those practices reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The agency discussed water safety and the importance of clearly assigning supervision roles when several adults are present.

The DSS speakers described “purple crying” — intense periods of infant crying common to the first two to six months of life — and advised caregivers to place an infant down in a safe sleep space and take a short break if they feel overwhelmed. Both Stanley and Jefferson emphasized that caregivers should ask for help when needed and not hesitate to call intake to report concerns. Jefferson said the department is also recruiting foster families and runs parent-education classes throughout the year.

The program acknowledged Onslow County’s sizeable military population, including families connected to Camp Lejeune, and noted that service members may face limited local support systems when relatives live elsewhere. Stanley said that reality reinforces the need for a broader community safety net.

For people who want to report concerns or seek services, Jefferson directed listeners to contact the Onslow County Department of Social Services; she noted the county’s front office staff can connect callers to the appropriate intake or parent-education staff.

The agency framed the month as an opportunity to remind residents that prevention includes both reducing immediate hazards and strengthening family supports and coping skills.

Contact and outreach details mentioned in the program: callers were advised to search “Onslow County DSS” online to find phone numbers and office information.