Stopping abuse

Two million Americans used cocaine and 33.5 million drove drunk during the 30 days prior to a recent survey taken by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association.

In 2001, more than 1,100 reports of child abuse or neglect and 819 reports of domestic violence were logged in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties.

It is no surprise then that substance abuse and family issues ranked third and fourth, respectively, in a recent survey of community problems by the United Way of Southeast Missouri and the Community Caring Council.

Programs like the Cape Girardeau County drug court, DARE, Mid-America Teen Challenge and the Gibson Recovery Center educate people about substance abuse and help others in recovery, but the people who know say more help is needed.

A family drug court that provides treatment and counseling for parents involved in cases of child abuse or neglect is one need, but certainly there are others.

The region has a variety of programs to help families take on problems such as lack of affordable child care, getting off welfare, the lack of affordable housing and the lack of parenting skills. Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, says the main problem may be a lack of awareness of these programs on the part of the people who could use them.

First Call (334-4357) is a hotline that refers people to the resources that are available. Once the call is made, programs like Parents As Teachers and the Safe House for Women and others wait to help.

A recent four-part series in the Southeast Missourian examined these and other problems identified by the United Way-CCC survey. We read about Latoshia Reed, who used the state's welfare-to-work program to find a job in the Family Support Division of the Department of Social Services. Habitat for Humanity is building her and her three children a new home.

Help is available. More help is needed. Getting help to the people who need it may be the biggest challenge.

This summer, the United Way and the CCC are expected to complete their plans for countering all four of the community's biggest problems, a list topped by lack of transportation and lack of access to medical care. This is a big effort. The quality of life for everyone in the community is at stake.