u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eBy Claire Louge, Executive Directoru003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pexels-elly-fairytale-4008885-scaled.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-10872 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pexels-elly-fairytale-4008885.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eCompassion and accountability are sometimes seen as opposing concepts.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe have compassion for families who are struggling and overwhelmed. But when abuse and neglect happen, we want to hold people accountable for harming children.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eIs it possible to be both compassionate and hold people accountable? I think it’s not only possible, but necessary in creating the world we want.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eCompassion without accountability ignores the power of choice. Accountability without compassion ignores the power of circumstance. Compassionate accountability is u003cstrongu003erecognizing that circumstances shape our choices. u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eYou and I both know that behavior doesn’t happen randomly. Behavior is shaped by u003cemu003eour conditionsu003c/emu003e: our past experiences and the circumstances we are in. Child abuse and neglect are behaviors that are born of conditions. When we understand this and that we, as active members of this society, have a part in changing conditions that incubate child abuse, we realize that u003cemu003eweu003c/emu003e can prevent child abuse.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003ePrevention, therefore, is about compassionate accountability. It's holding each of us accountable for protecting children. It's holding parents accountable. It's holding the government accountable. It's holding you and me and your neighbors and everyone accountable. We can change the conditions, and so we are accountable.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eHow?u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can make the resources families need to be safe, well, and together more u003cemu003eaccessibleu003c/emu003e. We can make u003cemu003efinding resources easieru003c/emu003e.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can u003cemu003eencourageu003c/emu003e people to access those resources. We can u003cemu003emake it normal to ask for helpu003c/emu003e. u003cemu003eWe can ask for help u003c/emu003ewhen we want it to demonstrate that asking for help is normal.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can offer coaching for parents who want tools to help them be the parents they want to be. We can ask for their perspective and allow them to teach us.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can recognize the power of connecting people to each other. Who we connect to is a central part of our life circumstances. Connected, we thrive.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWhat conditions are we creating or letting happen that affect people's behaviors? Let's do what we can to create conditions that help people thrive.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eBecause this isn’t about choosing compassion or accountability. It’s about choosing compassion u003cemu003eand u003c/emu003eaccountability. It’s about having compassion for people - for children, for parents, for people working to help children, and for people working to help parents, and for ourselves, as we try our best every day to survive, thrive, have purpose, and belong. It’s also about accountability - not accepting behaviors that harm people, and working to change the things that we know lead to those behaviors.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe all have a part in creating the conditions that lead to people’s behaviors. And when we recognize that, and change the conditions we know lead to harm into conditions that we know lead to thriving, that’s prevention. That, we can do.u003c/pu003e
