Is it just me, or do most parents secretly love when their kids head back to school and life settles into a routine again?
Don't get me wrong—I love summer. I love the vacations, afternoons at the pool, backyard barbecues, and having a little more flexibility to spend time with family and friends. But there is something comforting about backpacks by the door, earlier bedtimes, cooler evenings, and maybe even a little college football.
For many families, back-to-school season is exciting.
For others, it is something entirely different.
For some children, the first day of school means spending the day worrying about the parent they left at home with an abusive partner. They wonder what is happening while they're gone and whether everyone will be okay when they get home.
For others, school is the only place they feel safe. It may be the one place where no one is yelling, no one is walking on eggshells, and no one is afraid. For some children, it also means receiving a hot meal after a summer of uncertainty.
For some, back to school is more about safety and survival than academics and recess.
Unfortunately, these aren't stories that only happen somewhere else. They happen right here in our community.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 7 children experienced abuse or neglect in the past year, and 1 in 4 children will be exposed to intimate partner violence during childhood. Children who witness domestic violence experience real trauma, even if they are never physically harmed. A child does not have to be hit to be hurt.
Home should be the safest place in a child's life. Sadly, for too many children, it isn't.
As schools across the Treasure Valley welcome students back this month, I want to ask our community to do something simple but incredibly important:
Let's Keep Kids Safe.
Whether you're a teacher, coach, bus driver, crossing guard, cafeteria worker, school resource officer, neighbor, carpool parent, or simply someone who cares, you may be the one safe adult a child needs.
Notice the child who suddenly becomes quiet.
Notice the one who seems afraid to go home.
Notice the seat that is often empty.
Notice the unexplained bruises, the constant exhaustion, or the dramatic change in behavior.
Notice the child who just seems...different.
You don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes noticing is the first step toward changing a child's life.
In my role as Executive Director of Faces of Hope, I have witnessed the extraordinary impact that one caring adult can have. I've seen teachers make phone calls that changed a child's future. I've seen neighbors speak up. I've seen coaches, friends, and complete strangers become the reason someone found safety.
When the people who are supposed to love and protect you are the ones causing the harm, life can feel incredibly lonely.
No child—or adult—should have to face that alone.
If you are concerned about a child, trust your instincts. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, Faces of Hope is here to help. Our advocates, counselors, attorneys, and case managers are ready to walk alongside survivors as they begin their journey toward safety and healing.
Because every child deserves to feel safe—not just at school, but at home.
With Gratitude,
Paige
