Every 47 seconds in the United States, a child is confirmed to have been abused or neglected; 80% of those children are victims of neglect. Infants and toddlers are most likely to be victims of abuse or neglect. Nearly 40% of those victims will receive no post-investigative services or support. (Children’s Legal Defense Fund’s 2014 The State of America’s Children). Keep in mind these are conservative estimates; there is no uniform definition for abuse or neglect among the states in the US, so many who study this field believe the statistics are actually much higher.
Child abuse and neglect in the US costs us 80 BILLION dollars EACH YEAR. Those costs range from physical and mental health care to salaries for child welfare worker and law enforcement officer involvement. It also includes the cost of preventative services and lost work productivity.
Every 5.5 hours, a child in the US dies from abuse or neglect. Over 80% of those children will be under 4 years of age, and half of them will be infants. Children with special needs also are at a higher risk of death due to abuse or neglect. Sadly, nearly half of the children who died of abuse or neglect had no prior involvement with Child Protective Services.
What puts children at risk of abuse or neglect? Here are some indicators to watch out for in their caregivers:
- Younger children, especially under the age of four
- Special needs that may increase caregiver burden
- Parent’s young age, low education and income, single parenting
- Low income, single-parent families experiencing major stresses
- Non-biologic caregivers in the home
- Children with emotional and health problems
- Intimate partner violence
- Lack of suitable childcare
- Substance abuse and/or or mental health issues among caregivers
- Parent history as child maltreatment victim
- Parents and caregivers who do not understand children’s needs and development or how to parent
If YOU believe a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, you may be hesitant to report it. You may not want to rat out a friend or a relative, or you may fear retaliation. In some states you may be required to report by law. In other states, you may be a mandated reporter if you hold certain jobs, such as law enforcement officer or teacher. Whatever your status, just report it. Better to know your worries were for naught than to find out too late you could have helped a child.
There are also other things you can do.
- Advocate for free or reduced cost daycare where you live. In addition to helping struggling parents, it puts younger children who are at greater risk in the care of mandated reporters, who can alert child welfare authorities if they suspect abuse or neglect.
- Support funding for community services that help those who are poor, are victims or perpetrators of domestic violence, and struggle with substance abuse. We know these are three of the greatest indicators of child maltreatment, and when you put them together, it’s dangerous.
- Support and volunteer at a domestic violence shelter or assistance program, and advocate for male victims of domestic violence as well as the female. There are over 3800 animal shelters in the United States, but only 1200 shelters for battered women and children. And there are pitifully few shelters that will accept men.
- Volunteer in your community with programs that help children and teens. Big Brothers/ Big Sisters is always in need of volunteers, especially men, to partner with children who need a positive role model to spend time with and look up to.
1825 is the number of confirmed cases of child abuse in the US EVERY DAY. It’s time we did something to lower that statistic.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
When a country doesn’t protect their children or elderly, it’s in trouble.
Appreciate this post offering suggestions of action.
Domestic violence shelters can use cell phones, and money raised from garage sales to buy basic needs for clients. Those old hotels soaps and shampoos? Don’t toss them, please.
And research the working conditions for social workers in your area – there’s too much burn out. The trained social workers need to be protected and given time to recharge. (a R&R rotation possible – ask the county or city. Could some perks like massages or mani-pedis be offered to reduce stress? Is there some group or company that will step up and support that effort? Pay is low and the job is critical)
Wishes were horses, but wish there was some way shelters could make provisions for pets – temporary foster homes. For domestic violence victims, not giving up that pet could be very important.
Fortunately there are some shelters that are taking steps to either take in a victim’s pets or partnering with rescues to provide temporary care for the animal. I hope more do the same.
Great news. As you know, it’s not just for the animal.
This happens a lot in countries in Asia, they are neglected, abused… Some groups of people take advantage of this situation by employing those who leave houses: on the road becoming beggars, street vendors even prostitutes – human trafficking.
There are some orphanages but not a few of them actually do the abuse themselves, covert.
Not many people like you, Jen. Thank you for posting this. Please allow me to reblog this post so that more people would get this exposure.
I hope more people aware of what they should do to mitigate this…. Let’s save children, eledrely and animals.
As always, send my best regards to Rumpy, Jen and the gang….
Yes, as sad as things are here in the US, there are some places where children are at even greater risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
My idea might be wrong but sometimes I’m lucky to be single without children so I can think twice before getting excited to have offsprings but not reasponsible for bringing them to this world.
Parents, please be responsible for what you have promised before those new generations are born.
Pet owners, please be responsible for what you have chosen to be your pet.
Reblogged this on rike jokanan and commented:
This is a very interesting and important information to reach you. Please take a minute to read and ponder…. Thank you….
Terrible statistics for any where in the world.. Here too far far to many cases…
It isn’t just something that happens “over there.” It’s all around us.
Thats what I said Jen.. “Terrible statistics for ANY where in the world”,, and “Here too”, refers to in the UK too.. Remember I worked in Social Care.. I know… And thank you for your response. Sue
Oh yeah. Us social worker types spot each other don’t we?
🙂 xxx
Oh, my heavens! Thank you. This is so horrible and sad!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
And also so real. Thanks for reading.
They are harrowing statistics. I don’t know what the Australian ones are, but if they are anything like the statistics around domestic violence against women then I can only shudder at the thought. Thank you for talking about this. Abuse can be happening right under your nose and sadly you may not even know it.
OMD Rumpy. This is such a sad state of affairs.
Thanks for a good topic, Jen. What makes it hard is when people don’t think stuff like this happens where they live. It does, even in “good” families.
I watch my daughter and son-in-law getting adjusted to their new baby and I’m not surprised that someone who is poor or unwed or struggling with an addiction would find it overwhelming. Children take a lot of attention and money. My two find it overwhelming and they’re working together to do it and can afford good daycare.
Nancy
The numbers are staggering and probably on the low side of true.
This so awful and sadly it is a huge problem over here in the UK and Like the comment above I agree the numbers are on the low side. Every time a baby or a toddler’s death or torture hits the news there is a huge outcry and the public bays for the social workers to be hauled over the coals, then promises of reforms are made and it all goes quiet until the next tragedy.
Yep, that’s usually the way it goes.