Campaign Urges Women To Pick Boyfriend Carefully

Recent violence against children has a county agency talking of reviving an old campaign with a message that apparently still needs to be heard. We report stories of child abuse all too often.

While the injuries may be different, the children are almost always six and under, and the person responsible is almost always the father or the mother's boyfriend. Local 12's Deborah Dixon tells us about a campaign that could stop the violence before it happens.

"When you choose a boyfriend, you're choosing for your child." When the video was made back in 2009, 35 percent of child abuse in Hamilton County was committed by a boyfriend. The campaign is called "Choose Your Partner Carefully" and "Know the Warning Signs."

Brian Gregg is with the Hamilton County Job and Family Services. "Is your child afraid to be with this person, does the person criticize your parenting, saying you're not strict enough. Then say maybe this person is not appropriate to care for my child."

Before a child is born, there can be a huge red flag. Domestic violence escalates during pregnancy. Theresa Singleton of the YWCA explains, "If someone treats you poorly during pregnancy, there is a guarantee of abuse after the birth and on going. It is not going to stop."

Abusers are often full resentment. "Abusers often have pathological jealousy, resentment of a woman's attention toward a child."

Resentment may have led to the murder of 2 year old James Livesay this year. The mother's live-in boyfriend is charged in his beating death. It may also have been the motive in the asphyxiation death of 15 month old Kayli Bates. Her father is charged with killing her.

Did Anthony Walton resent the two year old living with him and his girlfriend? He's charged with beating

earlier this week. Job and Family Services placed the boy with Walton's girlfriend, Mary Enzenbacher, who was a relative of the boy. The agency didn't think he was safe with his mother. Neighbors say they frequently heard children crying in this apartment where Alquan was beaten..and they could hear the children being called names.

If Mary Enzenberger knew about the beating didn't stop it or get him help she could be charged with child endangering. Before a child is abused, there are almost always warning signs. Someone just has to see them. Evidence in the Sims case is going to a grand jury.

Woman who want to escape violence can call the YWCA hotline at 872-9259 You can find information on warning signs at knowthewarningsigns.com.