According to the U.
S.
Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 896,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2002.
That translates to about 12 of every 1000 children.
Child Protective Service agencies received about 2,600,000 reports of possible maltreatment in that year.
896,000 cases were substantiated and most involved neglect.
About 1,400 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in that year.
Child abuse often seems to be a problem that occurs somewhere else, not in our backyards.
That is not a true statement, but it certainly is what we would prefer to think.
You might not even be aware of the ways in which child abuse impacts you every day.
Every child that was abused is a potential abuser.
While each of us has a choice whether to continue our family's pattern of abuse or not, the statistics strongly suggest that children who grow up with abuse tend to abuse others later on in life.
This is one of the compelling reasons to prevent child abuse whenever possible, even if it means getting involved in somebody else's business.
I know this isn't easy or comfortable to do.
Many things worth doing aren't all that comfortable.
Fortunately, the system is making it easier for everyone to get involved in protecting our children.
Most local child protection service agencies do not require that you identify yourself when making a report of suspected abuse or neglect unless you are a mandated reporter such as a teacher, physician, nurse, or mental health professional.
The drawback to making an anonymous report is that the agency cannot contact you for more information.
I know that some people do not make reports of abuse or neglect because they are not absolutely certain whether some actions would really be considered abuse.
The good news is that you don't have to be certain.
That is the job of child protective services.
They investigate your suspicions or concerns and then determine what actions are appropriate.
Sometimes people are also afraid to make the report because they fear the consequences of being wrong.
They imagine they will somehow ruin someone's life by getting an agency involved.
That is simply not the case.
Everyone has heard horror stories about reports to child protective services.
These are generally cases in which there is more going on than meets the eye.
What you can be relatively certain about is that unreported cases of child abuse and neglect will certainly ruin someone's life as well as negatively impact our world's economy and way of life.
I have recently had the unfortunate experience of watching our system fail.
Sometimes judges don't want to hear the truth and sometimes attorneys focus on winning instead of justice.
Sometimes particularly powerful individuals allow self-serving agendas to stand in the way of their duties and responsibilities.
Embarrassingly, sometimes the mental health system fails abused children too.
The results have been tragic.
For the most part, our systems work.
I will not let this experience stop me from protecting children and I hope you don't use it as an excuse for inaction or apathy either.
To beat this epidemic everyone must get involved and protect the young.
If you see overly harsh discipline or frank physical abuse, please report it.
If you see children who do not have the basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, and safety - please report it.
If you suspect sexual exploitation - please report it.
Our kids are counting on us.
We teach them that they should tell a grown up when they are being hurt.
In fact, we tell them that if the first grown up they tell doesn't listen that they should continue telling grownups until someone does.
As grownups, we then have a responsibility to listen and respond.
S.
Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 896,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2002.
That translates to about 12 of every 1000 children.
Child Protective Service agencies received about 2,600,000 reports of possible maltreatment in that year.
896,000 cases were substantiated and most involved neglect.
About 1,400 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in that year.
Child abuse often seems to be a problem that occurs somewhere else, not in our backyards.
That is not a true statement, but it certainly is what we would prefer to think.
You might not even be aware of the ways in which child abuse impacts you every day.
Every child that was abused is a potential abuser.
While each of us has a choice whether to continue our family's pattern of abuse or not, the statistics strongly suggest that children who grow up with abuse tend to abuse others later on in life.
This is one of the compelling reasons to prevent child abuse whenever possible, even if it means getting involved in somebody else's business.
I know this isn't easy or comfortable to do.
Many things worth doing aren't all that comfortable.
Fortunately, the system is making it easier for everyone to get involved in protecting our children.
Most local child protection service agencies do not require that you identify yourself when making a report of suspected abuse or neglect unless you are a mandated reporter such as a teacher, physician, nurse, or mental health professional.
The drawback to making an anonymous report is that the agency cannot contact you for more information.
I know that some people do not make reports of abuse or neglect because they are not absolutely certain whether some actions would really be considered abuse.
The good news is that you don't have to be certain.
That is the job of child protective services.
They investigate your suspicions or concerns and then determine what actions are appropriate.
Sometimes people are also afraid to make the report because they fear the consequences of being wrong.
They imagine they will somehow ruin someone's life by getting an agency involved.
That is simply not the case.
Everyone has heard horror stories about reports to child protective services.
These are generally cases in which there is more going on than meets the eye.
What you can be relatively certain about is that unreported cases of child abuse and neglect will certainly ruin someone's life as well as negatively impact our world's economy and way of life.
I have recently had the unfortunate experience of watching our system fail.
Sometimes judges don't want to hear the truth and sometimes attorneys focus on winning instead of justice.
Sometimes particularly powerful individuals allow self-serving agendas to stand in the way of their duties and responsibilities.
Embarrassingly, sometimes the mental health system fails abused children too.
The results have been tragic.
For the most part, our systems work.
I will not let this experience stop me from protecting children and I hope you don't use it as an excuse for inaction or apathy either.
To beat this epidemic everyone must get involved and protect the young.
If you see overly harsh discipline or frank physical abuse, please report it.
If you see children who do not have the basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, and safety - please report it.
If you suspect sexual exploitation - please report it.
Our kids are counting on us.
We teach them that they should tell a grown up when they are being hurt.
In fact, we tell them that if the first grown up they tell doesn't listen that they should continue telling grownups until someone does.
As grownups, we then have a responsibility to listen and respond.