The Senate Addresses Child Abuse

On February 28, 2008, in a unanimous vote of 36-0, the United States Senate passed the creation of a Child Advocacy Program and Act. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill in November of 2007.

The child advocacy bill was sparked by a case involving a fourteen-year-old adoptive child in the U.S. The child suffered extension brain damage at the hands of both her adoptive mother and her stepfather. The current bill allows a child advocacy department/program to be place in each states governor's office. The department is then accountable for reviewing and monitoring social services for children who are the custody of the state. Many politicians, across the political party lines, called this vote a small part of patching to wholes in laws protecting our nation's children.

In 2003, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act. The amendment gave a basic definition of mistreatment and abuse to states nationally. The states have since taken the definitions into common use and apply civil and criminal law to each case based on individual state criteria.

Child abuse has not seen impressive decline in the last decade. In 2001, approximately 2.9 million cases of abuse were investigated nationally. Of those cases, 899,000 were found to have proven forms of abuse in the home. In 2005 states saw similar statistics and on a state by state basis found the highest levels involving neglect. For instance, in 2005, in the state of Indiana 54 cases of child abuse were reported and confirmed. Of these cases, 64% were neglect, 16.9% was physical, 9.3% was sexual, 7%was emotional, and 2% was medical neglect. Keep in mind that a high percent of cases go unreported and investigated especially in cases of sexual abuse. In cases that involve adoption or fostering, a startling percent of abusive children find themselves ignored by the system or left in the home by Social Services. Many times, older children with a lower rate of placement find themselves affected by this trend.

In any family unit, despite the make-up, there are several signs that may point to abusive care, according to various child welfare and advocacy agencies. Though one or more symptoms alone may very well be simple conditions and circumstances, the reoccurrence of one or more signs, or the combination of several signs, constitutes the possibility of abuse. Agencies and advocates urge all Americans to report possible and absolute cases to the proper authorities, if only to protect the children who will share your own child's future world.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ABUSE:
To Look For In Child:
*The sudden and dramatic change in behaviors. These changes may include antisocial tendencies, violence, or depression.
*A parent is notified of a child's medical or emotionally problems and injuries yet you see the child has not received any care*
*Children may begin to come early to events or schooling, staying late, and refuse (or be afraid) to go home.
*Unclean appearance constantly or a lack of basic hygiene.
*Sexual fear or sexual promiscuity at early an age.
*Vulgar sexual definitions and duplicated sexually perversions.
* Unacceptable sexual remarks or behavior.
*Abusive to siblings or other children.
*You see the child continually without any adult supervision.
*Marks or bruises on a child repeatedly. Also, look for marks that do not find justification by sports or childhood fighting.
*The child may refuse to uncover arms, neck, or other parts of body in adult presence. *Child refuses to remove their clothing in places like gym class.
*Children may begin to fight with their peers or classmates for no provoked reason.
*Acts of violence.
*Attempts at self-mutilation or masochism (enjoying hurting oneself).
*Discussion or attempts of suicide (even if purposely unfulfilled).

There are many other possible signs in children that encourage review by the proper agency. A basic attempt to monitor and rationalize from a distance can be valuable in assessing the situation. Most importantly, prosecuted cases allow the child to have a better chance at a fulfilling life.

To Look For In Parents.
*Showing little interest in child.
*They may place full blame on the child for their own injuries, emotionally problems, or learning issues. The parent may refuse any medical help, stating the child did "it" to themselves, and expecting the child to fix themselves on their own.
*Antisocial behavior among other parents.
*Presence of words, referred to child, that blatantly demean. Words such as lazy, stupid, fat, worthless, or you will never amount to anything.
*Refusal to allow children to be a part of social events.
*Asking teachers or caregivers to provide harsh discipline.
*Absolute demands on a child to perform in ways that are completely unattainable.
*Parent expects children to provide their own emotional or mental support. As well, they may lean on the child and expect them to provide the emotional part of the relationship to the adult.

Other acts of abusive signs from parents may include not touching their child, constant complaints of a negative or hateful relationship, and disallowing any forms possessions for the child. Many acts from parents can lead to the determent of a child. Agencies find the most likely crime to be neglect. Parents must remember neglect can be leaving a child without medical care, without adequate food, but also leaving them home alone ('latch key') or forcing adult responsibilities on them (those that normally belong in an adult's agenda).

For more information on advice if you suspect neglect or abuse, or for more information and referrals to agencies to file reports with, you may call Child Welfare Information Gateway at 1800-394-3366. You may also email them at info@childwelfare.gov Advocacy groups urge you to remember that all calls and discussion to them or social services may be done anonymously and without question!