A recent report shows that 1 in 50 infants will be abused or neglected in the first year of life, many in the first weeks.
http://www.cnn.com/... This is a national disgrace, in my opinion. Childrens advocacy is a passion of mine. It's been a driving force for me for many years now. Child abuse is a cancer in our society and it comes in many forms, physical, emotional, and sexual.
Annually, there are almost 3 million reports of child abuse in the U.S. and it is probable that there are many more victims that go unreported. It is commonly accepted that the statistics we have to work with are but the tip of the iceberg. Due to the nature of the offenses, fear, shame, and other factors often deter reporting. Child abuse all too frequently is unseen, hidden, or even ignored. Children are the most vulnerable group in our society. If we, the adults, do not speak for them, defend them, protect them, I assure you, no one will.
Like any other disease, child abuse cannot be treated until it is recognized. We are making progress in that regard, yet we have far to go. There are things we can do, however. Each and every one of us can have an impact and improve the life of a child. The great thing about that is, when you help one single child have a safer, better life, there is a ripple effect. You give that child a chance to grow healthy, to become a well functioning adult that will someday have a family of their own and not burden that family by continuing the cycle of abuse.
One simple thing you can do is keep your eyes open and be aware. If you see a situation that looks abusive, report it. You don't have to investigate, let the professionals do that. You can join a mentoring program, be a Big Brother or a Big Sister, volunteer at a school, coach a sport, tutor, build a child's self esteem and make that child feel supported. These are important qualities that help children avoid victimization. And while doing any of these activities, listen when interacting with the children. Be aware. If a child appears to be in trouble, pick up the phone and report it. If you are not sure of the symptoms of abuse, please see the following link for a bare-bones rundown on the signs of various types of abuse. http://www.hhs.gov/...
If there is a CASA organization in your area, consider volunteering or donating. CASA was established by a judge, who felt his hands were tied by a lack of information. CASA advocates are volunteers, given free training and experienced assistance. The advocate is assigned a case, a child placed in the judicial system due to abuse or neglect in the home. The advocate speaks for the child in hearings and represents the interests of the child only. We often make sure the child gets a birthday and Christmas gift (sometimes the first in their short and pained lives,) has shoes, clothes, supplies for school, all the things that children in foster care cannot always be sure of. The advocate is often the only familiar face in court for the child, as social workers may be frequently rotated on cases. Unfortunately, many kids get "lost" in our complicated system and the advocate helps keep the case moving through the court so the child can get a permanent placement and stability, rather then bounce around foster/group homes for years. For a commitment of a few hours a month, or a donation, you can make an enormous difference in the life of a child. For more information about CASA, see the link: http://www.nationalcasa.org/
I find it ironic that parents so often warn children to be wary of strangers, yet for most children the larger risk of danger is much closer to home. "The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported an estimated 1,490 child fatalities in 2004." See the following link for an interesting fact sheet on the sad statistics of child abuse. http://www.childwelfare.gov/... It is widely believed that these numbers are much lower than reality. I know of a case where a 3 month old infant was found with a broken femur, leading to a reopening of an investigation into the parents regarding the death of an infant the prior year. The death certificate had shown natural causes and the matter had been closed. Upon re-examination, it was discovered the tiny infant had suffered over 50 fractures and succumbed to a heavy blow to the chest. Many deaths may not be reported correctly and it is also widely believed that abuse rates are under-reported. It is a tragic truth for many children that they are most at risk in their own homes, the place where they should be safest, and the abuser is typically a caregiver.
Our children are our future. Our children are a precious gift, they depend on us, and we have an obligation to put forth our best efforts to keep them safe and whole. When their own parents cannot or will not protect them, it is up to the rest of us to do so. Most of us don't like to think about these ugly things, that's understandable. I often hear, "how can you stand it? I couldn't listen to this stuff." My response is "if it's so hard for you to hear about it, think how hard it is for the child to live it." Most of us want to think that these things only happen to other people, but the truth is that abuse happens much closer to us than we realize. Approximately one out of four girls will be sexually abused in her lifetime, and approximately one out of seven boys. Acts of physical abuse and neglect are even more common.
Child abuse has been a national problem that was unnoticed for far too long. The first recorded complaint of child abuse had to be called in to the SPCA, because there was no agency to report to for children in the late 19th Century. Yes, we protected our pets before we protected our children. The invention of the X-Ray led to official recognition of the battered child syndrome in the middle of the 20th Century. I would like to see the 21st Century become the age where we eradicate child abuse. Oh, realistically, I know there is not a 100% solution, but I also realize there is much more we can do and these horrible statistics could be dramatically lowered.
I believe that education is key. The more we know, the less we will tolerate. Education will lead to prevention, which is the ideal. For every case we prevent, there is one less case to try, one less victim to put a shattered life back together. The victims not only suffer through the initial injury, they are often affected for life. Substance abuse, troubled relationships, self-destructive behaviors, depression, employment problems, sexual disorders, and other long term effects are common. Furthermore, child abuse is costing this national an estimated 150 billion a year by way of medical and legal costs, etc. We simply cannot afford to allow the status quo to continue.
One of the reasons I selected my candidate of choice for the upcoming election was because my candidate has done some good work in helping to create a database of sexual offenders and worked on legislation to stiffen penalties for sexual predators. The power of our vote is one more tool we can utilize in protecting our nation's children, our children. We can expect, demand, that our representatives do more to protect our children, prevent abuse, and make sure that perpetrators don't have a revolving door in the prisons, enabling them to reoffend so easily.
Get involved. Save a child.