Nash County social worker advocates for prevention of child abuse
Vickie Jones is a wife, a parent and a social worker at the Nash County Department of Social Services.
Another part of Jones' story is being a survivor of child abuse.
"My therapist gave me a voice," Jones said. "Once upon a time, predators had me under control.
"They had me afraid to speak about what happened to me."
On Thursday, Jones shared her story of abuse with a group of community members, law enforcement, and community advocates who attended a ceremony put on by the Rocky Mount Police Department for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Jones earned her bachelor's degree at 51. That's when she decided to leave her managerial position in the restaurant business.
"I was the oldest student in my class, but I'll tell you what, I was the most serious student," she said.
The degree helped her do the work she's always wanted to do: prevent the kind of abuse she went through.
"Give that child a voice," she said. "Give that child an opportunity to live by listening to them and discovering why they don't want to be around certain people or go certain places."
Child advocacy groups like Jo Ann's Place of Southmountain Children and Family Services said child abuse is growing in eastern North Carolina.
WRAL Data Trackers looked at child abuse court cases filed in counties in the eastern part of our state.
WRAL News found misdemeanor child abuse cases filed went down across the state; in Edgecombe County, went up 83% from pre-pandemic to last year, and 68% in Nash County.
WRAL Investigates uncovered a systemic failure within Nash County DSS's child welfare services, the very organization that is meant to protect abused children.
It led to a takeover by the state. Last week, the state transferred back control of the department to the county.
WRAL News asked Jones if she felt that the children were safe in this community.
"I do think we are prepared and committed and rearing to go to make sure no child is lost in Nash County," Jones said.
At the end of the ceremony, Jones placed a pinwheel in the garden outside the police department. It's a symbol of child abuse.
"If my message helps save one child, give one child the courage to say, 'This is what happened to me.' My job has been done," she said.
