ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
In 1983, then-President Ronald Reagan and his administration officially recognized April as the month to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect.
It is extremely crucial that we educate ourselves this month and emphasize the importance of prevention efforts to protect our precious children and help support their families. All children deserve safe and happy childhoods free from violence, abuse and neglect. However, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, more than 550,000 children are known by U.S. authorities to be abused, according to the National Children’s Alliance.
Abuse and neglect can come in many forms and is difficult to recognize in some cases. Some examples of abuse can include sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, drug exposure, physical neglect, educational neglect and environmental neglect. Some children who experience child abuse and neglect do not make it out of their childhood alive. For others, the trauma of child abuse causes children to lose their sense of safety and trust in the adults around them. These children develop what are called “ACEs,” or adverse childhood experiences. These experiences can lead to:
- Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and anger disorders.
- Educational struggles.
- Trouble building relationships throughout life.
- Behavioral changes such as substance use disorders, risky sexual behavior or increased risk of violence against themselves and others.
- Physical health problems such as infections, injuries, or even heart disease or diabetes later in life.
In 2022, a reported 434,000 perpetrators abused or neglected a child. In substantiated child abuse cases, 76% of children were victimized by a parent or legal guardian. In most cases, children are abused by the adults they trust most in their lives.
Nationally, neglect is the most common form of abuse. Three-fourths (74%) of victims are neglected, 17% are physically abused, 11% are sexually abused and 0.2% are sex trafficked.
If child abuse is caught, children can receive proper counseling to assist them in their healing. Local child advocacy centers provide forensic interviewing to aid criminal cases as well as therapy and counseling for children affected by abuse.
Child abuse and neglect happens right here in our local counties more than you realize. We are all mandated reporters; it is up to us to pay attention and report anything that looks suspicious. When it comes to a child’s safety, it is our duty.
If you see something, say something. You can report child abuse at 877-237-0004. You can choose to remain anonymous or provide your name and track the status. Reports can also be made online at https://carat.app.tn.gov/carat/.
If there is immediate danger to the child, call local law enforcement and provide them with the child’s location.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month; make it a goal to pay attention to the children around you. By paying attention and reporting potential abuse or neglect, we can save lives.
Source:
https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/media-room/national-statistics-on-child-abuse/