Press Releases

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

April 1, 2007 – Morristown, NJ – April is Child Abuse Awareness Month - a good time to review the basics of the violence that affects so many children, who often cannot give voice to their situation.  Child abuse is defined as any act to harm or to threaten harm to a child's health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.

The lines between spousal abuse and child abuse are blurred.  Studies show that child abuse occurs in 30 to 60 percent of family violence cases among families with children.  A 1989 survey of 6,000 families found that 50 percent of men who assault their wives also abuse their children.  Another frightening statistic, the Children's Defense Fund estimates that 30 percent of abused children will abuse their own children, perpetuating the cycle of violence into the next generation.

Child abuse, like any type of family violence, does not discriminate. It occurs within every ethnic, religious and socio-economic background.  It is most likely to happen when parents lack parenting knowledge and skills, are cut off from friends and family, have unmet emotional needs, abuse drugs or alcohol, were abused themselves or are going through a crisis.

Abused children tend to lack development in social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills. Many become dependent on drugs, get into legal trouble or become runaways. Girls tend to get into serious relationships at very early ages to escape their family life and often find themselves in abusive relationships all over again.

There are characteristics that are common to many abused children. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in a child, it is possible that the child has been abused in some way. They include mood swings, withdrawal or depression, bed wetting, eating problems, fear of adults, sleeping problems or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, frequent school absences or tardiness, bullying or aggressive behavior, and strange bruises, burns or bites.

What to Do
Have you ever thought that a child you know is being abused? Did you report it? Many people do not for a various reasons. Here are a few misconceptions about reporting child abuse from Childhelp USA^®. When a child abuse tragedy is reported in the media, neighbors often say that they thought something was wrong, yet too often no reports of known or suspected abuse were made to the police or local child protective services agency.

According to Childhelp USA^®, surveys have shown that, although the majority of Americans polled believe that everyone should play a role in stopping child abuse, many people also admit to witnessing child abuse and doing nothing about it.

The reasons for not reporting abuse include not knowing where to call and misconceptions regarding what will happen once a report of known or suspected abuse is made to the police or a child protective services agency. Many people incorrectly believe that:

• by law, abused children must be removed from their homes immediately, which is the least likely outcome.
• child abuse cannot be reported anonymously. In most states, you don't need to provide your name.
• the person reported for abuse is entitled to know who made the report. They are not.

About United Way of Morris County
United Way of Morris County is dedicated to helping people and improving the quality of life for all residents. We address issues most critical to the future of Morris County by bringing attention, expertise, and resources to them. For more information, visit us on the web at www.uwmorris.org, or call 973.993.1160.

Contact
Jean Funk
Marketing Communications
United Way of Morris County
973.993.1160, x114
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