According to the latest U. S Department of Health and Human Service data (Child Maltreatment 2009), approximately 702,000 children were found to be victims of substantiated abuse and neglect. An average of more than four children die every day as a result of child abuse or neglect. In 2009, 35.8% of child maltreatment fatalities were associated with neglect also. Another 36.7% of fatalities were the result of multiple maltreatment type.

No group of childen is immune. Girls were slightly more likely to be victims than boys. Children of all ages experience abuse and neglect. Young children are more vulnerable and are most likely to die from maltreatment. Children younger than 4 accounted for over 80% of those killed. These children are the most vulnerable for many reasons, including their dependency, small size, and inablity to defend themselves.

No matter how the fatal abuse occurs, one fact of great concern is that the perpatrators are by definition, individuals responsible for the care and supervision of their victims. We all share a responsibility to help keep children safe. We need to take steps to prevent abuse from occuring in the first place.

You can find this information and more at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children’s Bureau (2010), Child Maltreatment (2009). Available from the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/fatality.pdf

This is not a time to remain discouraged by the abuse and neglect of children that is taking place in our homes around us, but instead a time for reflection and a preventative course of action.  The devastation to Haiti was once again another major reminder of how small we are and the reality of the world we live in.  Families have been torn apart and left without food and shelter, and some children are now orphans.  Closer to home we will find stories like Amanda Runyon from Illinois who was nearly beater to death by her mother’s boyfriend.  Amanda has since then bee released from the hospital and is doing well, but like most child abuse cases this could have possibly been prevented. 

An abuser does not wake up one morning and decide to be abusive.  It is a progression of stress and anger accompanied by a series of learned abusive behaviors, possibly from experiencing abuse, and poor coping skills.  That does not include any other external forces like alcohol or drug abuse, which further the problem.  In that same way a mother or father does not decide one day to neglect their child, but similarly it is a result from a series of learned behaviors and physical hardships that leaves one without a livelihood, food, shelter, and even hope.

It is all too easy for us to remove ourselves from the major problems in our personal life, let alone those across the world.  We find ourselves in disarray when we hear that our dearest sister has passed on, or in dealing with the economic problems, or to wake up Saturday morning to find the lawn mower is broken.  So what can you do about it today?  Whatever the solution is it will not be easy.  Holy living is not acquired overnight.  It requires everyday conscious efforts and actions, it requires purposeful living.  In the same way being holy toward your children must be done on purpose (Deut. 6:4-10)

Let us make it a lifestyle to prevent child abuse and neglect.  Remember those who have suffered at the hands of abuse and neglect and pray for those who abuse and neglect their children.

10.8% were physically abused
7.6% were sexually abused
4.2% were emotionally maltreated
An estimated 1,760 children died due to abuse or neglect. More than 30 percent (34.1%) of these deaths were attributed to neglect alone. 
The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children’s Homes encourages each of our supporting congregations, families and individuals to dig deeper into the facts about child abuse and neglect, and to see how they might play a role in erasing these plagues from their communities.

According to the latest U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services data (Child Maltreatment 2007), approximately 794,000 children were found to be victims of substantiated abuse and neglect.  An average of more than four children die every day as a result of child abuse or neglect (an estimated 1,760 children in 2007).  In 2007, 34.1 percent of child maltreatment fatalities were associated with neglect alone.  Physical abuse alone was cited in over one-quarter (26.4 percent) of reported fatalities.  Another 35.2 percent of fatalities were the result of multiple maltreatment types. 

No group of children is immune.   Girls were slightly more likely to be victims than boys.  Children of all ages experience abuse and neglect.  Young children are more vulnerable and are most likely to die from maltreatment.   Children younger than 4 accounted for more than 75.77 of those killed. 

You can find more information and more on the Administration of Children & Families at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/inidex.htm#can