APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH: HELP BRING AWARENESS

Posted on by Tonya R
Prevent Child Abuse America
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Below are some alarming statistics regarding reported victims of maltreatment in America, that includes physical abuse, neglect, and sexual assault against our nation’s children. There are many environments conducive for child abuse to occur, in addition to a child’s home. Unfortunately, the Foster Care System designed to protect our most vulnerable, has come under scrutiny as a source of affliction for at risk children. One of the more recent cases that gained national attention, a young boy in North Carolina found chained to his front porch with a dead chicken around his neck, as reported by The Sun.

According to Child Welfare Information Gateway, statistical publications are often released 2 or more years after the time of being analyzed. The most recent report from Administration for Children and Families-Health and Human Services relies on data states provide through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), and represents Federal Fiscal year 2014:

  • The national estimates of children who received an investigation or alternative response increased 7.4 percent from 2010 (3,023,000) to 2014 (3,248,000).
  • The number and rate of victims of maltreatment have fluctuated during the past 5 years. Comparing the national estimate of victims from 2010 (698,000) to 2014 (702,000) show an increase of less than 1 percent.
  • Three-quarters (75.0%) of victims were neglected, 17.0 percent were physically abused, and 8.3 percent were sexually abused.
  • For 2014, a nationally estimated 1,580 children died of abuse and neglect at a rate of 2.13 per 100,000 children in the national population

The good news, in addition to organizations dedicated to preventing, and bringing awareness to all forms of child abuse, the laws are changing to ensure more protections and compliance in the Foster Care System and beyond. A recent proposed rule, Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) published February 9, 2017 and final ruling, January 20, 2017 states in part:

  • Enhance the type and quality of information reported to include historical data and new data elements on children in out-of-home care
  • Incorporate information related to –Indian Child Welfare Act-ICWA to include more comprehensive national data on the status of American Indian-AI/Alaskan Native-AN children to whom ICWA applies
  • Hold agencies accountable for quality data through implementation of the statutory mandate to assess penalties for noncompliance.
  • Gain an understanding of children’s experiences in foster care and inform national policies and guide practice
  • Provide Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Report, and samples for Children’s Bureau monitoring and reviews
  • Whether a child is a victim of sex trafficking prior to entering foster care or while in foster care and if yes, whether the agency reported it to law enforcement and date.

GET INVOLVED

There are many ways you can ‘GetInvolved‘ and bring awareness to this social condition impacting so many families, with options on a local, state, or national level. Show your support, obtain and display your Pinwheel, a national symbol for child abuse prevention. Visit Prevent Child Abuse America to learn more about this, and other ways you can help in preventing child abuse. North Carolina citizens, visit Prevent Child Abuse NC. Share information on social media, use #GreatChildhoods, #PassThePinwheel, or #ChildAbusePreventionMonth to spread the word, and get people excited about saving children’s childhood.  You’ll be glad you did.

For Information and Referral call 1-800-Children.

~ExpressYourselfBlog