National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is the month that we put special focus on the issue of child abuse.

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. It’s a widespread war against our children that we have the power to stop, and understanding the issue is the first step.

Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a 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 every day to child abuse and neglect. (childhelp.org)

The fact is, that more than likely, it’s happening in your neighborhood. That’s right, you don’t have to look far to find this happening to kids. Abuse doesn’t have a certain class or economics about it...as it no respecter of persons.

Long term, abuse can make a person more susceptible to health challenges and mental illness. Millions of people, who have suffered abuse, are hooked on prescription pills, alcohol, and other addictive substances to help them face another day.

It is time that we make prevention our focus. The abusive pattern in our society must be stopped. And it is our responsibility, as adults, to stop it.

The burden of prevention has been resting for years on the smallest shoulders in our society: the children who are most vulnerable, least powerful, and least likely to be able to protect themselves from a powerful adult. This is especially true when considering that the majority of sexual abuse (93%) happens at the hands of an adult well known to the child. When children are abused by adults they are also confused by the fact that this person is supposed to be a protector, a caretaker, and worthy of trust simply by being an adult (after all, we also teach children to obey adults, which can be very confusing). Child abusers are very often "experts" at emotional manipulation of children, gaining their trust well in advance of the actual abuse. In light of these facts (and many others), it is clear that the time has come for adults to assume responsibility for protecting children. Their shoulders were not built for carrying such weight. (kidsfirstinc.org)

Refuse to be silent!  Stop using the excuse that professionals should be the ones to deal with the issue.  Truth is, there are not enough professionals to handle all of the cases.  Your ignorance of the problem will not make the problem disappear.  Action should be your only answer.  If you see something suspicious, then say something.  If a child tells you something, say something.  When you are silent, then abuse wins.