A couple of calls came in from people concerned about the reported instances of possible child abuse in Cook County that were published in last week’s edition of the News- Herald. With 25 percent of the county’s under age 18 population cited as possible victims, it was alarming to hear.
The news nationally isn’t any better. Here are 11 facts about child abuse published by DoSomething.org. Their sources include the U.S. Department of Justice, The Advocacy Center, ChildHelp, Safe Horizon: Child Abuse Facts, and the Sauer Children’s Renew Foundation. 1) Approximately five children die every day because of child abuse. 2) 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18. 3) 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way. 68 percent are abused by a family member. 4) In 2012, 82.2 percent of child abuse perpetrators were found to be between the ages of 18-44, of which 39.6 percent were recorded to be between the ages of 25-34. 5) In the United States, more than four children die from child abuse and neglect on a daily basis. Over 70 percent of these children are below the age of 3. 6) Boys (48.5 percent) and girls (51.2 percent) become victims at nearly the same rate. 7) 2.9 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the United States. 8) Children who experience child abuse and neglect are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30 percent more likely to commit violent crime. 9) About 80 percent of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder. 10) 14 percent of all men and 36 percent of all women in prison were abused as children. 11) Abused children are less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for
STDs. They’re also 25 percent more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
The National Children’s Alliance estimated that in 2014 702,000 children were the victims of abuse and neglect. Neglect was the most common form of maltreatment, with nearly 80 percent of victims suffering from neglect, 18 percent suffered physical abuse, and 9 percent suffered sexual abuse. Some children are polyvictimized—they have suffered from more than one form of mistreatment.
In a dizzying array of statistics, two stood out and repeated in study after study. Fully 90 percent of abusers were related in some way to the child victim, and one out of four abusers were abused themselves as children.
Abuse feeds on abuse, left unchecked; it’s a fire out of control.
What can be done to stem the tide? Get involved by asking your local officials what legislation they support that protects children. Support laws that protect children, contact members of Congress with your concerns, join prevention programs, educate yourself about this problem and share what you have learned. Remember, kids that have been abused rarely talk about their suffering. Children feel powerless. Often, the only power in the world they have is a caring adult, someone who can give them a voice. So learn about the signs of child abuse and become an advocate to end it. It’s time to put the fire out once and for all.
Editor’s note: The young folks from Dosomething.org have a crisis hotline. If you are feeling down and want to talk to a trained crisis counselor, Text “DS” TO 741-741. It’ s free, 24/7, and confidential.
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