Child_Abuse

Social Issue: Child Abuse February 18, 2012 Erica Carter- Howard Composition I | ENG1001 S12 Professor Davenport Why are children being abused everyday and dying every day as a result of child abuse' Child abuse is a major issue among different families of all races here in the United States. Instead of children being loved there are many ways they are abused and there are statistics that show the probability of children being abused and dying every day. Even though children are precious, innocent and don’t deserve abuse for many children in the United States, abuse is a part of their life. However, if we work together in our community to detect child abuse and help these children because the effects of abuse will not only destroy their childhood, but will destroy them lifelong. Many different ways children are being abused are: Physical, Sexual, Emotional / Psychological, and Neglect. Children being physically abused normally get pushed around, hit, kicked, pinched, and even slapped. Could you believe babies and toddlers normally get abused by being shaken causing serious head trauma (known as shaken baby syndrome)' Sexual abuse children experience any kind of sexual activity whether it’s touching the child or having the adult touch the person genitals. Emotional abuse can be anything verbal that is negativity to the child. A child being neglected comes in three types such as physical, emotional, and educational. For example: failure to provide food, emotional support, denial of child’s education etc... Statistics does show that: “Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2009, approximately 3.3 million child abuse reports and allegations were made involving an estimated 6 million children” (Children’s Bureau. (2010). Everyday more than five children die as a result of child abuse (USGAO. (2011). A child being abused is affected in several different ways which can affect their childhood as well as their adulthood. With my experience working with children on daily basics as a Center Director in Child Care here in Florida, I’ve come to witness so many precious beautiful children being abused inside their own homes. Aren’t children supposed to feel safe at their own home' That’s a question I have to ask myself when I witness these children lives get destroyed because of abuse. A child being abused will never forget what happened to them, which can cause them to stop loving themselves and others around them. Researchers also have begun to explore why, given similar conditions, “some children experience long-term consequences of abuse and neglect while others emerge relatively unscathed. The ability to cope, and even thrive, following a negative experience is sometimes referred to as "resilience." A number of protective and promotive factors may contribute to an abused or neglected child's resilience. These include individual characteristics, such as optimism, self-esteem, intelligence, creativity, humor, and independence, as well as the acceptance of peers and positive individual influences such as teachers, mentors, and role models. Other factors can include the child's social environment and the family's access to social supports. Community well-being, including neighborhood stability and access to safe schools and adequate health care, are other protective and promotive factors” (Fraser & Terzian, 2005). There are several ways we can detect if a child around us is being abused. Some signs of physical child abuse I’ve seen myself are: burns, cuts, bruises, being afraid of adults, and resistance to going home. Common sexual signs that children are being abused are: inappropriate interest in or knowledge of sexual acts, excessive aggression, and fear of a particular person or family member. Children who are victims of neglect have signs of extreme hunger, being dirty, and normally have on clothing unsuited to the weather. Children being abused needs support from everyone, whether you see a child that has signs of any abuse in the store, walking down the street, a relative, etc... I’ve been working beside Florida Department of Children & Families for many years and through them child care workers are one of the State Mandated Reporters meaning if we have knowledge of any child being abused we have to report it with no exceptions! Seriously, every living human being should be a “state mandated reporter”, child abuse has to stop precious children are being tormented, and we all just sit around going on with our life until it’s a child that we know. At that point we want to do something about it; however that time will be too late. The damage will be done if not destroyed already. Start now, for example: if you are in Wal-Mart and you suspect that a child is being abused report it! If we help crack down on some of these people who are hurting these children, the others will think twice before harming children. In conclusion, to answer the first question asked in the beginning of this essay, there is no reason why children are being abused or even dying due to child abuse. Children are precious and innocent little human beings who don’t deserve to get treated like they’re nothing. Honestly, we can’t afford to risk these children growing up with the hatred that we see now in a lot of children this has to stop! Children are getting abused physically, sexually, emotionally, and neglected. The majority of these children are being abused inside their homes, with people who are suppose to love and protect them. There are many signs of children being physically, emotionally, sexually and neglected. We as a community can detect and help these children by becoming “State Mandated Reporters”. The statics are there millions of children are being abused and neglected; more than five are dying every day. How much, more evidence do we need to make us help' Child abuse is a sad fate for many children today, and if we don’t try to stop it where will be our future leaders, or will we just sat around and watch precious children scream out for our help and do nothing! Reference Fraser, M. W., Terzian, M. A. (2005). Risk and resilience in child development: principles and strategies of practice. In G. P. Mallon & P. M. Hess (Eds.), Child welfare for the 21st century: A handbook of practices, policies, and programs (pp. 55-71). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2010). Child Maltreatment 2009. Available from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm#can United States Government Accountability Office,(2011). Child maltreatment: strengthening national data on child fatalities could aid in prevention (GAO-11-599). Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11599.pdf