It’s well past wake-up time; Statistics though a dull read, are worth taking the time to educate yourself.
The attention tends to be on the adults- (“let’s all take selfies”, because the majority in our society are more concerned about “self” than anyone else.”) Shame on us.
The cry of my heart for years has been….”what about the children?” Who is going to stand up for them? On top of the hideous estimated 900,000 abortions to our precious unborn babies, our living children are treated in many cases as though they have no human rights- and most especially no more than their caregivers will allow them to have. The laws of our land have much to be desired in the case of protecting our children.
According to Childhelp.org the 2014 studies show that every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to Child Protection Agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (each referral can include multiple children).
The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations, losing on average between four and seven children everyday to child abuse and neglect. Yes, they die.
Yearly referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million children and around 3.2 million of those children are subject to an investigated report.
Mental health disorders go hand and hand in the lives of abused children. Alcoholism, alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, smoking & drinking at an early age, depression, suicide attempts, and psychological personality disorders to name a few.
In 2014 there were 1580 child abuse/neglect fatalities in the US. (4 to 5 children daily die. )
In 2017 according to the CDC.gov; 1720 children in the USA died from abuse.
80% of child maltreatment fatalities involve at least one parent as the predator.
¼, yes one-forth, of a child’s elementary class is being abused.
In one study, 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
Statistics by invisiblechildren.org
Nationally over 7 million U.S. children come to the attention of Child Protective Services each year according to a Children’s Bureau 2015 report.
- 37% of American children are reported to Child Protective Sevrvices by their 18th birthday (African American children are reported at 54%)
- 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old.13
- 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members.
- 3% of girls were age 10 or younger at the time of their first rape/victimization, and 30% of girls were between the ages of 11 and 17.
- 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults.
- 325,000 children are at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation each year.
- The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12 to 14 years old, and the average age for boys is 11 to 13 years old.
- 4 million children received prevention & post-response services.
- Highest rate of child abuse in children under one (24.2% per 1,000).
- 80% of child fatalities involve at least one parent.
- Estimated that between 50-60% of maltreatment fatalities are not recorded on death certificates.
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE STATISTICS
- 4 million child maltreatment referral reports received.
- 207,000 children received foster care
- 3% of victims are neglected.
- 2% of victims are physically abused.
- 4% of victims are sexually abused.
- 9% of victims are psychologically maltreated.
- Over one-quarter (27.%) of victims are younger than 3 years.
- 9% of the child abuse victims die from neglect.
- 9% of the child abuse victims die from physical abuse.
- 4% of children who die from child abuse are under one year.
- More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator.
- Child abuse crosses all socioeconomic and educational levels, religions, ethnic and cultural groups.
What can we do?
First we must be the voice of those who aren’t allowed a voice. Children should ALWAYS come before adults.
We can keep our eyes and ears open; be observant. Abuse is not that difficult to see. Abuse is usually a lifestyle. What’s going on next door? Abusers will go out of their way to make their children look bad- in their mind, it takes eyes off them.
There are absolute sign of abuse/neglect
- Purposeful Isolation. Abusers will cut people out of their lives and their children’s lives.
- Abusers threaten their kids; “don’t tell anyone.”
- Most likely you will hear screaming, yelling, and see kids trying to get away to get safe.
- Police reports state calls are by neighbors and teachers that see signs; bloody noses, bruises, lack of proper rest, not being able to concentrate, and fear-based behaviors.
- Abusers might up and move- just to get away from what people know.
- Abusers use fear tactics; threats, rationalization, and lying.
- Abusers will often make fun of their kids and degrade them publicly.
- Abusers are usually victims. They will befriend people who will listen to their sad stories and those people become their enablers. Healthy is heathy and unhealthy is not that hard to see. Realize that you might have a part in keeping a pattern going. Abusers don’t need sympathy; they need genuine help that only God and professionals can give them. Care enough about them to guide them to proper help- if they receive that advice GREAT, if they don’t, call the police every time you know they are abusing their children again. Yes, it’s hard; Yes, it’s immensely sad, but we have to help the children.
References:
Childhelp.org the 2014 studies
CDC./gov
Uniquely You 