More On What Government Can Do

           Another idea that is not quite as extreme as my last proposal as to what government can do to help stop child abuse is to get all teachers certified. By certified, I mean that they would have to take a course to inform them more on child abuse in order to be allowed to teach. It would be very in depth and explain exactly what they could do if they suspected a child was being abused. Of course, it would teach the signs of child abuse so they could recognize it. Similar to a CPR certification, the child abuse certification would have to be renewed annually. So, that's just another idea as to what government can do to take more action.

About the Abusers

All of the information for this post was found at http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs7/rs7.html, another government website.

        So, I have yet to post about who exactly abuses children. For some, the statistics may be shocking and for others, it might be nothing new. All of the evidence that supports these statistics was from a study conducted that gathered documents found in Australia. Although the documents were not from America, the statistics found can still give us a general idea of what can be found in a large population. Also keep in mind, however, that there is a lot of abuse out there that goes unreported, so it is difficult to get a fully accurate number of who exactly is abusing children. But this is what they found from the available evidence.

• With the exception of sexual abuse, children are most likely to be abused or neglected by parents or guardians. 
• Mothers/stepmothers physically abused 25.9% of the time and 55.6% of the fathers/stepfathers were physically abusive. The remaining 13.7% was physical abuse from family friends, other relatives, or strangers.
• Despite evidence found in Australia, a British study revealed that mothers are more likely to be abusive due to the fact that they typically have more time around the children. However, it also supports the idea that fathers are typically more severely abusive and that they cause more deaths than mothers.
• For neglect, there is lack of evidence to give specific numbers on who is the most abusive, but enough evidence to support the fact that mothers were more neglectful than fathers and that this, again, has to do with the fact that they are typically more responsible for the children. Parents and caregivers are more likely than any other adult who is responsible for children (i.e., teachers, relatives, babysitters, etc.) to be neglectful, just as in physical abuse. 
• Sexual abuse is typically committed by a person in a position of trust who is not a caregiver. Unlike physical abuse and neglect, males are the majority of sexual abusers. 
• Emotional abuse is typically verbal abuse or harassment towards a child that lowers the child's self esteem or social abilities. Parents/guardians are the majority of abusers in this area, and males are more likely to inflict emotional abuse.
• Parents/caregivers typically inflict fatal abuse on small children, and teens are killed by their peers or another adult. Males are three times more likely to abuse their child to the point of fatality and caregivers that are not biological are seventeen times more likely to abuse children to the point of abuse. 
• Children also abuse adolescents. Children from ages 10-16 are 8% of the sex offender population. Most sex offenders started in their childhood. Also, incest between siblings accounts for a large part of sexual abuse. 

More On What You Can Do to Raise Awareness and Protect the Children

If you would like to help further prevent child abuse, you can do a few things to raise awareness and money. One of these could be to start up a 5k run, such as the one who's logo is up above. If you would like more information on this particular run, you can visit http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.familynurture.org/sites/default/files/Blue%2520Ribbon%25205K%2520Race%2520logo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.familynurture.org/content/child-abuse-prevention-month-awareness-actitivites&usg=__efDjPfN6lbisKpLTdhQxlL2awk8=&h=1200&w=1023&sz=126&hl=en&start=18&sig2=VqLuV2b4A4b2LxRzmzMGhw&zoom=1&tbnid=f3iDoPeQprus8M:&tbnh=150&tbnw=128&ei=3YvxUKXMCseoqgH-yYDwCA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dchild%2Babuse%2Bprevention%2Bwalk%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1. This run is in Kentucky; however, it gives a clear idea on what a run would look like if you decided to do one no matter where you go. 

This article gives a few details on a walk, which may be a little less difficult than a 5k. You can visit their website at  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/mobile/article/red-lake-hosts-child-abuse-prevention-walk-32239

Getting Involved

     The community holds many opportunities for you to get involved. This includes going to the local school and informing the public on awareness, prevention, and solutions via workshops, parent meetings, or even staff meetings. You can also hold weekly or monthly meetings with anyone who would like to come from the community and inform them on child abuse. Writing your legislature  describing what you would like to do about the situation and backing it up with research and evidence would be effective, as well. You could also get involved with the media and blog about it, talk about it, submit letters to the editor in a magazine, etc. Any effort that you make, no matter how small or how large, has the potential to save a child's life.

     Please, help your community be as safe and loving as possible.  

A great resource to recieve more information on child abuse prevention and awareness is at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/guide2012/guide.pdf#page=26. It's a government website designed to inform people and help prevent child abuse.

Video I Made

To check out a video that I made about child abuse, you can click on the link below. 

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=11e55e2af13ef299170ea76&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

I made this video at onetruemedia.com. It's a video that could be used to raise awareness about child abuse, which is an increasingly horrible problem that our society keeps a secret.  

Commercials

Child Abuse Prevention Commercial by Unicef

Another Child Abuse Prevention Commercial by Unicef

For more in depth information on child abuse, you can visit http://www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/cap/cap_2003/2003_complete.pdf

The Lost Boy

     The sequel to the book "A Child Called It,"  "The Lost Boy," written by Dave Pelzer, is very inspiring. It is the story of Pelzer after he was rescued at age twelve. He survived the torture and abuse of his mother and had to go through the process of recovery. I have yet to read the next book, titled "A Man Named Dave," but I am looking forward to it. "The Lost Boy" is definitely a book I recommend for those who would like to read an inspirational story that shows the life of a child who was lucky enough to survive the difficulties of child abuse. This book shows the reader the struggles of moving from one foster home to the next and at the end of the book, Pelzer explains a little of his insight on foster care. This is a great book, and I encourage you to read it.

A Child Called It Book Review

          The book "A Child Called It," written by Dave Pelzer, was very sad, yet eye opening. It is not based on the true story of a boy who was horribly abused by his own mother, but it was a true story written by that boy. As a very young child, Dave Pelzer was accepted and loved by his mother. As he grew older, however, and stress mixed with alcohol changed his mother, he lost his "privilege" to be a part of the family. Not only did his mother make it very clear that she wanted "The Boy" gone, but she also made it obvious that she did not consider him a human. This book was really Pelzer's story of his experiences with child abuse and his struggles to survive when his own mother wanted him dead.
         The main message or moral that I got from this book was about the struggles that someone can go through and still survive. I also saw adjustment to our circumstances and hope as being two other main themes within this book. Pelzer demonstrated this, obviously, by telling his own story. In a way, I believe this book was sending a message that child abuse is not as regulated as it should be, as he went to school almost daily for a number of years, wearing the same clothes. He also went to school with bruises and wounds, and yet it took the school all of those years to report anything, even while they were keeping an eye out on him. For me, that demonstrates either the lack of public knowledge on this subject or the lack of people that know when or how to report it, including teachers.
          This book definitely was upsetting to me, as I'm sure there are many cases of child abuse such as this one going on in America right now. Even more, there are many children that suffered this and survived, but there are also too many that were killed because of it. This book really opened my eyes to just how cruel people can get under the right circumstances and really made me feel that no matter what, no one has a right to treat anyone in this manner, let alone a child. "A Child Called It" fired me up about America's growing issue of child abuse and really helped me see that there are "family secrets," as Pelzer referred to them in his book. However, it also inspired me and made me feel that there are children that survive these extreme conditions. It made me see how confusing child abuse really can be for children, and made me wonder how greatly we might be able to reduce this problem if we informed the adults that can make the most difference in children's lives, such as teachers.
          This book takes the reader on a journey through the struggles and confusion of a child who was abused in every way except for sexually. Dave Pelzer shows the reader not only how physically, but also how psychologically painful abuse really can be. While most children are making the goals of getting good grades, having good friends, and pleasing their parents, children that are in similar circumstances to that of Pelzer's was have a primary goal of surviving, which is something many of us take for granted. Pelzer also demonstrates how difficult it may be for a child in such circumstances to fit in and how difficult it was be an outcast. Really, he lived the majority of his childhood without love, which is a critical component in everyone's lives.
          I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who is interested in a story that will not only inform them on the truth and hidden secrets people hold, but that will also teach them a little about hope.  It would be of value for anyone to read that is either uninformed about child abuse or for anyone that is interested in the subject.

Dave Pelzer as a boy

Catherine Roerva Pelzer

If you would like to find out more about Dave's story or his books, you can visit http://www.davepelzer.com/

Dave Pelzer explains his story

http://www.youtube.com/user/davepelzerofficial is his official YouTube website

     
          

Government Action

       Aside from the programs that have already been set up for prevention and helping those who have suffered through abuse, there are still things that government can do to take action on child abuse. One of these could be to make a law that anyone who is expecting to have a child is required to take parenting classes. Included in these classes would be strategies to use when feelings of anger arise, how to take care of your child so they are not neglected, and other courses that could help prevent all types of child abuse. Also included in the course would be how to ensure the child's safety and how to determine whether or not a person can be fully trusted with their children. The classes could be long, as in a week or two, or they could be short, as in a day or two. But either way, the future parent(s)/ guardian(s) would be required to pass a test at the end of the course that ensures they understand how to care for a child. Also, they would have to pass a mental health examination, and if they had any prior mental issues, they would have to receive counseling until  it was further determined on whether or not they are mentally ready to have a child. If they are, they can have their child. If they fail to take this class, pass the test, or pass the mental health examination, they would not be allowed to have their child until they could do so. They could see them, but they could not care for them. Also, they would have to pay a fee for the class and the mental examination. Lastly, they would have to make a minimum amount of money a year to ensure that they could afford a child. If a test is failed, there would be a period of time before they could take it again.

      Once a parent/ guardian has passed all of these tests and has their child, there could be a social worker that regularly checks up on the family to be sure that everything is going well. Once every six months or somewhere along those lines would be reasonable. Of course, this social worker would know the signs of child abuse really well and s/he would also know domestic violence signs, which would hopefully help keep the children out of danger, as well. If, after a few years, the social worker decides that the parent(s)/guardian(s) are treating their children correctly, then the check ups would be less frequent. If they suspected anything, they would report it and investigate it further. If it was determined that the parent(s)/ guardian(s) are not fit to raise a child, then the child would be placed in foster care, go live with a relative, or be placed somewhere similar to this. Although this would be tough on the child, it would probably beat getting abused. Lastly, the parent(s)/ guardian(s) would be prosecuted immediately for child abuse, domestic violence, or whatever else the child may have been taken away for.
        Similar to random drug tests, the government could (along with the classes and regular check ups) perform random check ups. The public would know that random check ups happen, but they wouldn't know who would get them or when, so it may encourage them to take better care of their kids.The biggest issue with my suggestion would probably be money. How can we pay for all of this? I guess the answer is via taxes. Although many would rather not pay more taxes, statistics show that it would actually cost the community 19 times less to prevent child abuse rather than have to pay to help them recover (found at http://sfcapc.org/press_room/information_about_child_abuse_and_prevention?gclid=CMH41Jrs27QCFQpgMgodigYAnA).

   

More on Preventing Child Abuse

If you would like to help further prevent child abuse, you can donate to an organization dedicated to prevention. http://childabuseprevention.org/ will take you to an example of one of these organizations. Or, you can volunteer for a child abuse prevention organization or raise money. For further information on this, you can visit http://www.brightfutures4kids.org/. If you do not have the money or the time to give, you can help by:

1) Understanding that abuse is very common and that it can include emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse.
2) Knowing the signs of child abuse, which, according to http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm,  include:

       Emotional Abuse
       Withdrawn, anxious, or fearful
       Extreme in their behavior
       Acts really adult or really immature

       Physical Abuse
        Has frequent unexplained injuries
        Is always alert
        Flinches at sudden movements, doesn't want to go home
        Wears clothing that covers injuries
       Neglect
        Constantly bad hygiene, dirty clothing
        Untreated illness and injuries
        Often unsupervised or left alone
        Often missing or late from school
       Sexual Abuse
        Has trouble walking or sitting
        Is using seductive behavior, or has knowledge or curiosity towards sexual acts inappropriate for age
        Makes an effort to avoid a specific person for no obvious reason
        Has an STD or is pregnant at a young age, or doesn't want to change in front of others
        Runs away from home

*Again, all of the above information relating to the signs of abuse was found at http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm, which I encourage you to take a look at.
3) If you see any warning signs in a child, report it. Calling is anonymous, so you can call The Childhelp Nation Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
4) Know that people may become abusive for a variety of reasons. According to http://sfcapc.org/press_room/information_about_child_abuse_and_prevention?gclid=CMH41Jrs27QCFQpgMgodigYAnA, these reasons may include:
     When At Home
  Social isolation
  Poverty, unemployment, lack of education
  Family violence or disorganization
  Poor parent-child relationships and negative interactions
     The Parent or Caregiver
  Stress
  Mental health conditions
  Lack of parenting skills
  History of abuse in the family
  Substance abuse
  Being a young, single, or non-biological parent
  Thoughts and emotions supporting maltreatment behaviors

*Again, all of the above information pertaining to what may push someone to be abusive towards children was found at http://sfcapc.org/press_room/information_about_child_abuse_and_prevention?gclid=CMH41Jrs27QCFQpgMgodigYAnA, which I encourage you to take a look at.
-Controlling as many of the above factors that contribute to child abuse as possible will help you prevent child abuse in your home.
5) Also according to the above website, raising public awareness about this issue may help prevention. Child abuse prevention programs, such as parent education classes, home visitation, etc., will, in the long run, cost less than what it would cause to fix child abuse.