April Is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
Every 10 seconds in the United States there is a report of child abuse is made. By the time you finished that sentence another one, on average, was made again. This upsets us greatly. Its the cases that aren’t reported that bother us, too. An estimated 3 million cases of child abuse are reported every year. How many are not?

Sobering. While so many of us parents are striving to give our little ones love and affection and working to meet all their needs and more, countless children are left to wonder what they did to deserve their bruises and emotional scars. Its true, the children believe it is their fault they are abused.

Instead of looking the other way, we need to face the issue head on. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.Become aware. Become educated. and the www.cdc.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the federal www.acf.dhhs.gov. Administration for Children and Families intend to increase awareness of the issue while encouraging the support of children and families in need.

What is the root cause of child abuse?

I’m not sure we really know. I’m not sure I know.

It’s very challenging if not impossible for me to think about harming a child or what those brain waves and thoughts might be like. My brain shuts down and I get a sick feeling and have to think about other things.

Its probably a big reason why I’m in the prevention area of child safety, too. Its just too horrible to contemplate so I choose to stop it and prevent it as early as possible.  And, from the child empowerment area of focus.

How to really stop it? I was reading this morning where Australia is reeling from a 45% increase in reported child abuse cases. While statistics showed that notifications of suspected child abuse and neglect had more than doubled in the past eight years, no fully reliable information exists about the real incidences.” I’m not sure I really understand this newspaper statement but this is a huge jump in stats.

Even as a child safety expert I’m confused by statistics. I’m confused by the use of statistics or what they mean, as well. I just what child abuse to stop. Perhaps my post from a couple of days ago is correct: the authorities actually can muck up the solution to child abuse with their statistics and reporting mechanisms. Perhaps the reporting of the statistics can actually get in the way of solutions by people.

I am harsh with things like this because I am out of patience when it comes to doing harmful things to kids. The authorities do what they can in their limited capacity. The figures that were available showed that the number of confirmed cases of children at risk had risen by 45 per cent since 2002-03, with the rates for indigenous children five times higher than others. Australia is dealing with issues of indigenous abuse that apparently add to the dire nature of the problem.

Describing indigenous abuse as an issue of national significance,” the article continues and as I sip my coffee, I cry for the kids and wonder just how long this is going to take to be solved.

How many more kids?

The paper said rates of care and protection orders for Aborigines were seven times higher than national norms, and rates of out-of-home care were more than eight times higher.

Prevent child abuse every day. Just a note today that we all can prevent child abuse.

Child abuse is more than the sensational stories of sexual predators stalking and luring kids in their lair unaware. It is also the low grade, “Your stupid!” or sarcastic, “You think you’re so smart,” that comes from parents and relatives in mean spirited ways.

Start at home. Move into your neighborhood. Watch how you talk to kids, no matter what their age. It’s that simple.

Second, teach your child to listen to their instincts. If they do then any inappropriate behavior they encounter will trigger a funny feeling in their stomach. Teach them to listen to it. Teach them to go find help from a trusted adult immediately when they get this feeling.

It’s a start but the ability to prevent child abuse is within all our control.