Do You Know What Happens To Me?
Sharon Garrett
Ashford University:EDU-644
Prof. Karen Conzett
July 13, 2015
“This is for kids who know that the
worst kind of fear isn’t the thing that
makes you scream. But the one that
steals your voice and keeps you
silent”. Author~Abby Norman
What is Child Maltreatment?
Child maltreatment constitutes
all forms of child abuse
including physical abuse,
emotional ill-treatment,
sexual abuse, neglect,
negligent treatment and
exploitation of children,
resulting in actual or
potential harm to the child’s
health, survival,
development or dignity in
the context of a relationship
of responsibility or power.
“People ask, how can a person abuse a
child? I ask, how can so many good
people not do anything about it”?
Author~Adrianne Simeone
Nationally
1. 79.5% victims were
neglected
2. 18.0% physically
abused
3. 9.0% sexually
abused
4. 8.7% psychologically
maltreated
“The most precious thing we as
humanity hold, is the innocence in
that of a child’s smile, and we have a
moral obligation to preserve it”.
Author~Victor Guerrero
Abuse & Neglect Statistics in Mississippi
October 2013 through September 2014
Victims-8, 378
There are 745,333 children under 18 in Mississippi
Child Abuse & Neglect Victim-7,599
Child Abuse & Neglect Deaths-7
Mississippi’s vision is
that every child matters
and the focus should be
on the needs of
children and families
that are struggling.
Link:www.mdhs.state.ms.us
“Childhood should be carefree,
playing in the sun; not living a
nightmare in the darkness of
the soul”. Author~Unknown
Types of Abuse and Neglect
1.
Emotional Child Abuse-Emotional child abuse is
maltreatment which results in impaired
psychological growth and development. It can be
harder to identify, because the marks are left on
the inside instead of the outside.
2. Neglect-It occurs when children’s basic needs are
not adequately met, resulting in actual or
potential harm. It is often difficult to identify.
3. Sexual Abuse-Sexual abuse of a child is
inappropriately exposing or subjecting the child
to sexual contact, activity, or behavior.
4. Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities-It is
generally believed that children with disabilities
are abused more frequently than children in the
general population. Children who are unable to
communicate their needs may experience greater
instances of neglect.
For more information, see Prevent Child Abuse
America’s Position Statement, Preventing Child
Neglect, available online at
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/advocacy/position
_statements.shtml.
“ A child deserves to be
loved, but never to be
maltreated”. Author~Lailah
Gifty Akita
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse
Be a nurturing parent-Children need to know
that they are special, loved, and capable of
following their dreams.
Help a friend, neighbor, or relative-Being a
parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand taking
care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or
spend time together.
Help Yourself-When the big and little problems
of your everyday life pile up to the point you
feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time
out. Don’t take it out on your kid.
If your baby cries….-It can be frustrating to
hear your baby cry. Learn what to do if your
baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby.
This may result in severe injury or death.
Get Involved-Ask your community leaders,
clergy, library, and school’s to develop services
to meet the needs of healthy children and
families.
“If you can get to be you, why
can’t I get to be me”?
Author~Noorilhuda, Catharsis
Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse
6. Help to develop parenting resources at your local
library-Find out whether your local library has
parenting resources, and if it does not, offer to
help obtain some.
7. Promote Programs in school-Teaching children,
parents, and teachers prevention strategies can
help keep children safe.
8. Monitor your child’s television, video, and
internet viewing usage-Watching violent films,
TV programs, and videos can harm young
children.
9. Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention
program- For information about volunteer
opportunities, call 1-800-CHILDREN.
10. Report suspected abuse or neglect-If you have
reason to believe a child has been or may be
harmed, call your local department of children
and family services or your local police
department.
“If the sound of happy children is
grating on your ears, I don’t think
it’s the children who need to be
adjusted”. Author~Stefan
Molyneux
Child Maltreatment Resources
1. Child Welfare Information Gateway
2. Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood
3. FRIENDS National Resource Center
4. Administration for Children and families
5. American Academy of Pediatrics
6. American professional Society on the Abuse of
children
7. Center for the study of Social Policy
8. Childhelp USA
9. Circle of Parents
10. Child Welfare League of America
Additional Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/childmaltr
eatment/resources.htm
“Actions have
Consequences.” Author
Sharon Garrett
Statewide
Who Can Report Child Abuse?
Anyone having reasonable cause to
suspect that a child is a neglected or
abused can report it to the Child Abuse
Hotline: 1-800-222-8000.
This statewide toll free is answered 24
hours a day and seven days of the
week.
“Overcoming abuse doesn’t
just happen, it takes positive
steps everyday. Let today be
the day you start to move
forward”. Author~Assunta
Harris
Abusing your child is
illegal across the United
States, including the
state of Mississippi.
Failure to report child
abuse or false
reporting, if done
willfully, can result in
up to a $5,000 fine and
one year in jail.
“Child abuse does not go
away, but 90% of child abuse
is preventable”.
Author~Karen Adams
Our Mission and Vision
To prevent the abuse
and neglect of our
nation’s children,
whether physical,
sexual, educational,
or emotional, and
peer pressure
abuse as well.
Contact Information
Sharon Sims, Director of Do You
Know What Happens to Me,
Prevent Child Abuse America,
123-456-7890, ext. 291, 891
Taylor Street, Batesville,
Mississippi, 38914.
ss@preventchildabuse.org.
References
1.Child Abuse Prevention and Protection (2015). Mississippi
Department of Human Services. Retrieved from
www.mdhs.ms.gov.
2. Injury Prevention & Control: Division of Violence Prevention
(2015). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov.
3. Prevent Child Abuse America (2015). Retrieved from
www.preventchildabuse.org.
4. Rubin, A. (2012). Clinician’s guide to evidence-based practice:
Programs and interventions for maltreated children and families
at risk. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons.
5. What is Child Maltreatment (2015)? Sickkids-hospital. Retrieved
from www.sickkids.ca.