April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

I have heard many people say that “we need to go back to the days where parents were able to spank their children” or “well at least I never hit you“ and maybe the worst of all, “no one escapes childhood unscathed.” Unfortunately, for those that have experienced any form of abuse as a child, these simple statements may hurt deeply and hold a much more significant meaning. The effects of childhood abuse don’t end as children grow up…rather it remains long into adulthood and most likely for life. Join us April 10, wear blue and be a voice for the victims of childhood abuse! Get your shirt here.

We must educate our community and end the cycle of childhood abuse. Child abuse comes in many forms including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physiological or emotional abuse.

Here are just a few recent statistics on child abuse found on the American Society for the Positive Care of Children:

4.1 million child maltreatment referral reports received.1

Child abuse reports involved 7.5 million children.1

3.2 million children received prevention & post-response services.1

142,301 children received foster care services.1

74.9% of victims are neglected.1

18.3% of victims are physically abused.1

8.6% of victims are sexually abused.1

7.1% of victims are psychologically maltreated.1

Highest rate of child abuse in children under age one (25.3% per 1,000).1

Annual estimate: 1,720 children died from abuse and neglect in 2017.1,

Almost five children die every day from child abuse.1,2

Seventy-two (71.8%) percent of all child fatalities were younger than 3 years old.1

80.1% of child fatalities involve at least one parent.1

75.4% of the child abuse victims die from neglect.1

41.6% of the child abuse victims die from physical abuse.1

49.6% of children who die from child abuse are under one year.1

Boys had a higher child fatality rate than girls(2.68 boys & 2.02 girls per 100,000)1

Almost 65,000 children are sexually abused.1

More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator.6

14% of all men in prison and 36% of women in prison in the USA were abused as children, about twice the frequency seen in the general population. 8

Children who experience child abuse & neglect are approximately 9 times more likely to become involved in criminal activity. 6

Remember to spread the word and share these statistics with the people you know. We would love to see how everyone comes together on April 10. Share your pictures on our Facebook page for a chance to win a free decal (up to 6”) from our shop.

Remember to be the voice for those that don’t have a voice.

If you suspect a child is being abused, neglected or exposed to an unsafe situation, trust your instincts and report it. You may save a child’s life. If you are looking for help with child abuse, sexual abuse, missing children, child exploitation, parenting, being a first-time parent, teen pregnancy, fostering, adoption, crying baby, Shaken Baby Syndrome, human trafficking, or bullying, please use the hotline phone numbers or the resources listed below.