(WSIL) – News 3 continues to delve deeper into National Child Abuse Prevention Month, highlighting another local organization advocating for children and families.

Caritas Family Solutions is a not-for-profit organization that supports programs in central and southern Illinois with programs to assist elderly infants. One focus of the group is the nursing program, which is the largest in southern Illinois and the second largest (private agency) in the state.

According to CEO Gary Huelsmann, if there is abuse or neglect at home, children are accepted into the care system, making it unsafe for them to be in that environment.

“How it looks for a child is different from what it looks like for a teenager,” he explains. “Usually there is depression or traumatic stress symptoms like withdrawal.”

Most of the time it is neglect such as substance abuse, mental health problems, domestic violence, or other factors.

According to the state, up to 100,000 abused and neglected children are not reported to the Department of Child and Family Services each year.

All calls to DCFS are anonymous and the department staff will decide whether the report needs to be investigated. When abuse and neglect take place, the child is placed in protective custody to reunite with their parents.

Until this can happen, the child or children will be placed with foster parents. Most often these will be family members such as a grandma or aunt and uncle, but anyone can be certified as a foster parent.

“Our job is to improve the situation,” says Huelsmann. “Minimize the traumatic effects of being away from home and help begin the healing process for this family and these children.”

The organization has programs such as counseling and intact family services that provide parenting courses, clothing, and other needs.

“I don’t want to demonize families that their children are in our care because they have problems,” he says. “You need support. You need treatment. You need therapeutic treatment. You may have experienced violence yourself.”

Once the parents have gone through the steps to improve themselves and home life, the child can return. This is what happens 2/3 of the time.

According to Huelsmann, there are situations when it is best for the child to stay with foster parents or be adopted.

To report child abuse or neglect, call 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873) and learn more about Caritas Family Solutions.