THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, September 20, 1994            TAG: 9409200005
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   37 lines

HELPING PARENTS, CHILDREN IS JOB FOR ALL

The Sept. 11 articles on child abuse were helpful. The point of view did not sensationalize or blame, which is often the stance taken with social problems.

I would like more reporting that explores solutions and programs and people who are making positive changes.

I have worked 20 years in the field of child abuse. I have come to realize that we need to see ourselves as a community of care givers for all of our children.

To blame abusive parents or bureaucratic, overworked social-service systems is to remove ourselves from responsibility.

Do not misunderstand me. There is never an excuse for hurting a child, nor is there an excuse for allowing our doors to shut and not hear the cries of the more vulnerable. We are all responsible. To offer a helping hand to friends, family or neighbors with children, to perhaps watch a child or run an errand are preventive measures.

To assist a parent in the grocery store, airport or shopping mall shows respect for the duties of care giving. To provide child care to physically, financially and/or emotionally overwhelmed parents demonstrates that we value children and understand the stress of caring for them.

The parents who abuse and neglect are manifesting our social values of aggression as solution, of isolation which results in striking out instead of reaching out, and of use of power (money, status and size) to control.

BETTY KEDROCK

Norfolk, Sept. 14, 1994 by CNB