'Better to be safe than sorry': Campaign preventing child abuse, neglect launches in DC

WASHINGTON (7News) — There’s a new effort to empower kids to share a phone number that could help a child experiencing abuse. The “NEED HELP” campaign through the Childhelp organization is launching in the greater Washington, D.C., area.

High schoolers will wear purple T-shirts featuring the National Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

Christina Ruiz is a child abuse survivor and a representative from Childhelp. She spoke with Lindsey Mastis during “The Wellness Desk,” about what she endured and how kids can help their peers experiencing abuse.

Watch the full interview here or below:

“I was a troubled kid,” she said. “That was me crying out for help.”

Ruiz said she was removed from her home when she was just two years old after witnessing violence. She said she was placed in foster care and from ages five to 13, she was frequently beaten and raped. It wasn’t until middle school that she said she realized what was happening to her was abuse.

“There is a need to continue to educate our children on, what is abuse. It’s still such a taboo topic, child abuse, sexual assault, we’re still learning to talk to our children about this,” she said.

For her, a program that included equine therapy helped put her on a path of healing. She was eventually placed with a different foster family which she said improved her life. Now she’s an advocate for kids.

“They’re being brainwashed to think that this is okay. That this is normalcy when in fact it’s not. And so for me, that’s how I was being raised,” she said.

Although adults often want to help, she said it's fellow kids that often make a difference. That’s why there’s an effort to distribute Childhelp’s hotline number by getting kids involved. The hotline also has a text feature.

“If you think child abuse is happening, or you have an inkling, to trust that instinct and make that call, it’s better to be safe than sorry,” she said.

She also said there are signs to look out for.

“Some warning signs of what that can be for children that are experiencing child abuse that are kind of red flags to look for are when they’re isolating themselves, and they’re not going to school. When they have bruises and are making up stories, you have to be mindful that maybe she didn’t fall for the third time this month,” she said.

She also said it’s important to help adults that experienced abuse, so the cycle of violence can stop. She’s teaching her own child to be an advocate for others kids as well.