We know that violence against children is ugly! We also know that is imperative
for you to know the facts ... so you can help others.. so you can help yourself.


Knowledge is power and the more you know - the more
you can help!

Each year over 3 million children are reported as victims of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and death - and those
are only the ones that were reported! In the year 2000 approximately 5
million reports were made. Of those 5 million plus kids, over 98,000 children were treated just for sexual abuse.1

Child abuse is reported-on average of every 10 seconds. Because so many cases of child abuse go unreported, it is estimated that 3 times the number
of children that are reported, are actual child abuse victims.

Each year almost 1.8 million children are reported missing - many of them abducted from their own homes and front yards.2

In the USA, Children are more apt to die from abuse than from accidents. Child abuse permanently disables 18,000 children and youth every year and seriously injures 565,000 are seriously injured every year.3

Sadly,child abuse kills more than 3 children every day in America. Most of the children who die are younger than six years of age. Of these fatalities, 85 percent were under the age of six; 44 percent of the children were under
the age of one.4

One in five children will be sexually abused by the age of 18 and 97% of
individuals institutionalized for violent crimes were themselves abused as
children. 5

Nine in 10 Americans surveyed regard child abuse as a serious problem, yet
only 1 in 3 reported abuse when confronted with an actual situation. 6

Abusers … Who are they?
Abusers can be a relative, friend or neighbor!

Child Abuse Does Not Discriminate ... It knows no color, no race. Child
Abuse happens in every city, town and state, in all parts of the world … Even
in your own neighborhood!

Abused children are Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American. Abused children come from the poorest and the richest families
and every type of background in between.

Abused children come in all shapes and sizes. Abused children have one thing
in common … PAIN!

Innocence belongs to children. They're robbed of it the moment an adult comes along who is a product of abuse, rage, drugs, alcohol, violence, life's daily stresses and a whole host of other anomalies ... and the cycle continues.

Abused children can show physical signs of abuse as well as have developmental problems. They can be socially, educationally, and sometimes emotionally slow. 
They can show signs of anger, hurt, confusion, and even worse — violence!  

Society has shown us that abused kids are more likely to become high school dropouts, substance abusers, pregnant teens, use guns, and become juvenile
and adult criminals.  Children who suffer from abuse can become adults with a
host of additional problems such as poor self-esteem, staying in dead-end jobs
or worse — not being able to keep a job.

There are high unemployment rates among adult abused children. They can be
full of anger, can mistrust in relationships, are more apt to commit road rage, and more horrific violent acts, and contribute to the high cost of our mental health and welfare programs. Their self-esteem is shattered. Abused children can grow up to
be adults who continue the cycle of child abuse.

                 Forms of Violence Against Children

Violence Against Children includes: physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, neglect and abandonment, and death.

Physical Abuse: Today's parents and childcare givers face different challenges and stresses than those of earlier generations. Adults become stressed from life's daily challenges and can even be the product of child abuse themselves. That's when Physical Abuse can occur. They become upset with kids and - suddenly they're shaking, slapping, hitting, kicking, burning, choking, pinching, paddling, shoving, whipping, biting, pulling hair, throwing things at them, and stabbing and shooting them.

Sexual Abuse: is a child becoming a sexual partner for an adult. Anyone under the age of 18 who is used by an adult for sexual gratification is being Sexually Abused. Sexual abuse is fondling, exhibitionism, and intercourse. If you notice sudden changes in your child's behavior, bedwetting, fears and phobia, significant changes in school performance, hesitancy to be alone with a certain person, age inappropriate sexual knowledge, promiscuity and language; sore, red, bleeding, itching, burning genital areas, discharge and unusual odors, pain on urination, stained underpants, sexually transmitted diseases, self-destructive behavior, acting more immature and infantile, running away - this can be Sexual Abuse. If a child tells you they've been sexually abused, believe them - children rarely lie about sexual abuse

Emotional and Verbal Abuse: undermines a child's foundation, spirit, and psychological and social development. Calling a child names, yelling, screaming, threats, bullying, comparing kids negatively to others, public and private humiliation and shaming, unrealistic and extreme demands made on a child, intentional withholding of a parent's love and affection, and telling them "they're no good, worthless, bad or a mistake" ... this type of abuse is very harmful to kids. Their self-esteem is shattered — possibly throughout their adulthood, and can affect their whole lives.

Neglect and Abandonment: is a deliberate refusal and failure of parents toprovide their children with ample food, ample and appropriate clothing, inappropriate and/or no shelter, guidance and supervision, inadequate hygiene, and the proper medical and dental health care.  A refusal and failure to provide nurturing, and -- physical and emotional affection, (not telling kids you love them, not hugging them, not praising them, not paying attention) and abandoning children -- are all acts of neglect and abandonment and, undermines a child's foundation, spirit, and psychological and social development.

      Death: Child abuse at its worst form.

Who Hurts Children?
A child abuser is most often a person closely related to the child. Abusers can be parents, step-parents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, visitors in the home, and childcare givers. Rarely is a child abuser a stranger. 

Child abusers do not discriminate. Abusers can be found in wealthy homes ... in poor homes ... in all religious and ethnic groups ... and are generally average adults who have trouble coping with life stresses. They could have been abused themselves and -- they're continuing the cycle.

What Makes People Hurt Children?
It is impossible to imagine anyone intentionally inflicting harm on a child. Often, physical abuse is a result of inappropriate and excessive discipline or physical punishment. Parents may be totally unaware of the magnitude of force they use while striking a child.

Most parents have good intentions, but sometimes lose control and can't cope. Contributing factors of child abuse include a parent's immaturity, the parent was abused as a child and is continuing the cycle, lack of parenting skills, unrealistic expectations about children's behavior and capabilities, frequent family crises, drug or alcohol problems, and social isolation.

Child Victims Are More Likely to Engage in Criminality Later in Life
According to a 1992 study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, child abuse and neglect increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent, as an adult by 38 percent, and for a violent crime by 38 percent. Being abused or neglected in childhood increases the likelihood of arrest for females by 77 percent. A related 1995 National Institute of Justice report indicated that children who were sexually abused, were 28 times more likely than a control group of non-abused children to be arrested for prostitution as an adult.

The Evidence of Alcohol and Other Drug Use is Linked to Violence Against Children
A 1999 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that children of parents who use substances, were almost three times likelier to be abused. More than four times were likelier to be neglected, than children of parents who are not substance abusers. Other studies showed that an estimated 50 to 80 percent of all child abuse cases that were substantiated by Children's Protective Services involve some degree of substance abuse by the child's parents.

Do you know:
In the year 2000, an average of 2,400 children each day were victims of child abuse.

NUMBERS: Each week, child protective services (CPS) agencies throughout the United States receive more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect.

CHILDREN: No group of children is immune. Boys and girls are almost equally likely to experience neglect and physical abuse. However, girls are four times more likely to experience sexual abuse.

Children of all races and ethnicities experience child abuse. In 2000, more than one-half of all reported victims were White (51 percent); one-quarter (25 percent) were African American; and 14 percent were Hispanic. American Indian/Alaska Natives accounted for two percent of victims, and Asian/Pacific Islanders accounted for one percent of victims.

Children of all ages experience abuse, but the youngest children are most vulnerable. Children younger than one year old accounted for nearly one-half (44 percent) of child abuse and neglect deaths reported in 2000; 85 percent of the children who died were younger than six years of age.

PERPETRATORS: At least 4 out of 5 victims are abused by at least one parent.

By definition, perpetrators of child abuse and neglect are the very people responsible for the child's safety and well-being (including parents, other relatives, and babysitters).

The most common group of people found to be responsible for neglect and physical abuse were mothers acting alone (47 percent and 32 percent of victims, respectively). In cases of sexual abuse, non-relatives and fathers acting alone are more likely to be responsible (29 percent and 22 percent of victims, respectively.)

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2002).

What You Can Do To Help
If you even suspect a child is being abused, it is your duty to report it. Every child who is being abused must be protected.  

Fifty % of Americans have failed to report abuse!

Could you have helped a child by reporting abuse?

You may be saving a life and, at the very least -- saving a child from the pain and terror of being abused! You'll never know what it feels like unless you've been there yourself and hopefully —  you were never abused!

Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453  
TDD: 1-800-222-4453, 24 hours a day

Click on Resources or Reporting Child Abuse for local state reporting numbers

•	Don't be afraid. Take action. Even of you just suspect abuse - it is necessary to file a report. It must be investigated.
•	You can make a report anonymously
•	Giving the child's name, age, address, parent's names and any other pertinent information will greatly help the child in the investigation.
•	For more information on reporting and how you can get involved, see our Public Awareness and Advocacy and Resource sections of this Web site.

How You Can Help Prevent Violence Against Children

•	Nurture all children
•	Report child abuse — even if you only suspect it
•	Become a child advocate
•	Help a parent in trouble
•	Volunteer at a child abuse center
•	Help create public awareness
•	Develop parenting resources in your schools, day care and after school centers, libraries, churches, synagogues, and club affiliations

It's Time To Stop Violence Against Children ... Before It Starts!

________________

1   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year 2000 (Washington, D.C.: April 2002).
2    U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
3     U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year 2000 (Washington, D.C.: April 2002).
4    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year 2000 (Washington, D.C.: April 2002).
5    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year 2000 (Washington, D.C.: April 2002).
6    National poll conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland for Los Angeles-based Children's Institute International (CII). Results released June 3, 1999.