The University of Oregon College of Education’s Center for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect (CPAN) recently released its Prevention Education and Advocacy for Childhood Empowerment (PEACE) final report.

This new report summarizes the center’s first major steps to center youth, particularly those who are part of historically excluded groups, in the way that we think about the prevention of child maltreatment in Lane County.  

In Lane County, over 24,000 youth are estimated to have experienced abuse and neglect, a figure likely understated and that does not include identity-based violence. A 2019 pilot of the Oregon Child Abuse Prevalence Study found 47% of youth who had experienced abuse or neglect in Lane County had never disclosed their experiences to anyone.

CPAN aims to address the culture of silence surrounding child maltreatment by building programming and providing recommendations for community partners to better meet the needs of youth across Lane County. This report, based on feedback from 62 Lane County youth and 21 adults who work with children and families, provides insights on the strengths, needs, and gaps of our community and offers key recommendations developed by CPAN’s Youth Advisory Council members.

The report compiles feedback received from both youth and adults around Lane County and Oregon. The CPAN team then worked with its Youth Advisory Council and youth from the Oregon Child Abuse Prevalence Study to collaboratively identify key recommendations and themes that arose. 

Key Themes

Youth reported feeling valued through respect, representation, inclusion, and acceptance. When youth described the characteristics of a trusted adult, they highlighted authentic listening, reliability, and lightheartedness. Adults consistently highlighted amplifying youth voices, authentic listening, remaining consistent, and the importance of enabling youth leadership as tools to combat adultism.

When reflecting on their childhood, youth wished adults had modeled healthy relationships, allowed for learning from mistakes, and communicated patiently. Adults focused on the importance of modeling healthy relationships and highlighted the lack of resources and community spaces for youth, especially in rural areas.

While discussing the current reporting system, youth identified fear, not being taken seriously, the anticipation of negative repercussions on relationships, and inconsistency with reporting as barriers to accessing support. Adult responses focused on echoing the ineffective mandatory reporting system that does more harm than good with a distinct lack of accountability and timely intervention, and a need for clearer next steps with a focus on being more supportive than punitive.

Recommendations from Youth

To make youth feel more valued, they emphasize the importance of listening and engaging in meaningful conversations. At the individual level, youth want adults to advocate for them and genuinely consider their thoughts and feelings. In relationships, they seek open-mindedness and healthy communication from parents and caregivers, while at the community level, they suggest more educational events for families and opportunities for youth input in community decision-making. Societally, they desire greater representation in media and policies that appreciate their perspectives.

They also express a need for safety and trust in their relationships with adults. They wish for adults to set aside personal biases, respect their boundaries, and model healthy emotional skills. In community settings, they call for adequate representation and implementation of youth voices within their communities. On a broader scale, they advocate for lowering the voting age to enhance their involvement in policy making. To break down barriers to seeking help, youth request adults pursue education on help-seeking processes and support reforms to current systems that can feel intimidating. They want to establish trusting, equal relationships with adults and have access to supportive environments, such as mentorship programs.

Finally, they stress the need for clearer policies regarding mandatory reporting and more resources outside traditional systems like law enforcement. Overall, youth advocate for concrete support systems that empower them to seek help and feel valued in their communities.

Recommendations from Adults

This project emphasizes the centering of youth voices, but the report also summarizes recommendations and ideas shared by adult participants in the focus groups. 

Although many adult ideas aligned with those of youth, adults expanded on the recommendations with regards to representation. Developing culturally relevant partnerships and enhancing community collaboration can improve resource allocation and programming, effectively supporting traditionally excluded youth by creating spaces that address their unique needs.

CPAN hopes that this report will a steppingstone for our community to work toward bridging the gaps identified and making current resources more accessible to youth.