“Child abuse does not go away, but 90% of child abuse is preventable”
- Karen Adams
Well, you may consider yourself an Average Joe. But to someone who you can save, you are not. You are their hero. You are the Superman of their world. So how can you make this happen? There are many ways you can save an abused child’s life.
Websites out there, like Washington Council for Children and Families, as I mentioned in my last post, are great places to find suggestions on how to help out the children that are being abused. The suggestions may be little, but they are very helpful in the long run. Someone average, someone who has 8 mouths to feed and a sick dog’s medical bills to pay can even contribute to helping the hurting children of the world.
If you are someone who has witnessed abuse, click here. Witnessing abuse is a horrible thing, so don’t forget to do something about it. If you witness child abuse, call the police! Don’t try to confront the abuser. Its not a good idea to confront someone who obviously has anger issues and has a violent nature. However, if the abuse doesn’t look horribly abusive, go ahead and ask the abuser if he/she needs help. Maybe the abuser is just lashing out at the child because he/she had a bad day. It’s things like these that can save a child’s life, even if it doesn’t seem like much.
You just want to help
Children are very likely to clam up when they are suspected of being abused. They can lie and even cover up the fact that they are being abused. But on rare occasions, children do speak out. If this happens, listen to them. There’s nothing more important to child than an adult listening to them. Another great way to help with child abuse is to subscribe. Certain websites are formed to get people to subscribe to them to help save children. One website, Adopt an Angel, was formed so that the people of this world can be informed about the violence being inflicted upon these children. When you adopt an angel, you receive a certificate to place on your own space on the Internet. This organization hopes that if a lot of people adopt an angel, everyone will soon become informed and start doing something about it. An Average Joe like yourself can even go online and sign petitions to stop the abuse. Check out this story of a little boy who went through child abuse. You can even sign the petition and maybe save this child’s life.
Some other ways to help is to just be aware! Call your local newspaper and tell them about it. Getting the word out to everyone around you is a great way to contribute! Check out this website which includes many things you as a parent can do to prevent child abuse. It’s amazing how examining yourself and your own behaviors can help. It will teach you to calm yourself down in stressful situations which can lead to abuse. This is a great way to learn how to control the abuse. There are many Average Joe things that you, the Average Joe, can do to help this issue. What will you do?
We now know that child abuse IS an issue. But what can WE do about it?
Below is a list of three organizations that are trying their hardest to eliminate child abuse as much as they possibly can. Take the time to read about each one. You can even get involved in one of them and maybe even save a child’s life!
This organization’s mission is to “promote the optimal development of children and families by leading Washington State in its efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.” Looking through this website, you will see that on the sidebar there is a link for Reporting Abuse. Underneath it is a link to how to strengthen families and prevent abuse. This site actually has a campaign called Child Abuse Prevention Pinwheel Campaign. This whole campaign is designed to encourage individuals to help raise the awareness of child abuse. This campaign was designed by Prevent Child Abuse America and they even came up with a worldwide symbol; the pinwheel. This organization is asking any of the online users that are part of another child abuse organization to join in this campaign. You can contact them at their website. This is a great way to get involved in helping to prevent the violence that children are enduring. Washington Council for Children and Families is all about getting the word out to everyone around the world. They even have a video that you can preview called “Have a Plan”. This video is meant to inspire you Internet readers out there to get out there and help with this problem. Check it out (Have a Plan). This website is compiled of many different organizations supporting the idea of preventing child abuse and neglect. If you are not satisfied with this website, there is a list of other organization websites that may spark more of your interest. To conclude, this website is helpful when wanting to learn more about certain places and events that are dedicated to informing the human race of the issues with child abuse in America.
You may have heard about this organization. It is very popular and very well known around the world. This organization is very dedicated to giving specific suggestions on how to get involved in prevention. The blue wristband is a symbolic way of showing your support in this issue. These bands are for sale. Wear one and let people know you are supportive of this issue. Another way to help prevent this issue, according to Prevent Child Abuse America, is to contact your local newspaper and share your ideas on this issue. These suggestions may be little, but taking those baby steps and informing others of child abuse can help stop it more than you think. This website is not in it for a profit or for your money. All they want to do is to inform you on the problems of child abuse. However, they do accept donations. This is a great way to feel like you made a tangible impact of preventing the neglect and violence of children. If you would like to donate to this organization, which I highly recommend, click here. From what I have heard about this organization, I know that they are making a big impact around the world. I have actually seen some of the blue wristbands being worn. I have even seen blue ribbons pinned to purses, shirts, and other accessories. I now know that I’m not the only one who is behind this issue 100%. Why not make a difference in this problem?
At Tennyson Center for Children, our commitment is steadfast to the well-being of children and families. Our dedication is strong to the healing of psychological wounds inflicted upon innocent children, to breaking the cycle of abuse and to ensuring that abused children everywhere are given back the childhood which was so wrongfully stripped from their lives.”
This organization is right here in Colorado, so it’s very close to you and to me. Tennyson Center for Children is a place where kids are the number one priority. They have helped many of them already. This organization has turned these kids’ lives around for the better. From children that came from abusive homes to those who are neglected, they have helped them. Read these amazing stories on kids that Tennyson has helped (stories). This is another organization that accepts donations. Tennyson is always looking for volunteers. I believe that volunteers are the best way to help heal the children of abuse. They are average, normal people just like us volunteering their time to help save these kids. I believe that the best way to help save abused kids is to use adults that have can somewhat relate to them. It might make the children feel more comfortable and accepted. That’s why volunteers, who have been through obstacles of life, are a great way to help nurture these children.
One of the upcoming events Tennyson is holding is called Operation Santa 2008. This is an event that helps the families and children all over get a proper holiday. Most of these children and families have never gotten to experience a real christmas before and Tennyson wants to help. Tennyson, if you are a member of this online organization, will hand out wishlists that include toys and objects these hurt children want. It’s a great way to boost the confidence of kids and hopefully put some hope into their hearts. It’s a way to show them that people do care about them and that they are not alone. This is a fabulous way to get involved with the children of abuse. It will warm your heart this holiday knowing that you gave to one person more than they have ever recieved! Tennyson is an all around great organization and I give it a double thumbs-up!
When you think of kids, do you think of the stained faces and less then perfect, baby teeth smiles? Does the sound of young squeaky laughs come into your mind? I’m just stereotyping the average child, but really, there are some kids out there who don’t get to carry that title. There are children out there that are affected by the violence of child abuse. Being abused by your parents hardly puts a squeaky laugh in your throat. The only way that these children have less then perfect smiles is if their teeth were lost in a fight with their mom or dad’s hand. The only stains on their faces are those that came from the blood. These poor children are going through this and it’s effecting they way they function as a child.
The bruises, the welts, the scars. These are just some of the side effects of being abused. They can show up anywhere: arms, legs, faces, torsos. Maltreatment can also cause children to look physically smaller due to neglect with food and nutrition. They are one of the biggest signs that a child is being abused. But besides physical side effects, there can also be psychological, emotional and social effects. (check out this in depth description of each side effect: Side effects). All these side effects can effect the way a child learns, understands, and communicates. The trauma that the child endures can change the the way the child behaves. Read this horrific, saddening story about a young girl who couldn’t even walk due to the lack of neglect she received from her mother. It may bring tears to your eyes (The Girl in the Window). This young girl, Danielle, was only about 5-6 years old. If the police hadn’t have found her right when they did, she could have died. In fact, 4 children die each day from child abuse and 3 out of 4 of those victims are 3 years old or younger. (check out these statistics).This is one of the most gruesome child abuse and neglect stories I have read in my whole life. The pictures it puts in your mind are so vivid. It really makes your heart sink and cause you to wonder why anyone could ever possibly do this to a young child. This is just one story. Below are stories from others around the world on their thoughts and experiences on this tragic act.
I’m sure this stings your heart as much as it does mine. Why am I bringing this problem up? Why should we even care about this issue? For starters, children are the diamonds in the world’s ruff. They are so innocent and naive to the world around them and they bring a sort of relief to the adults of the world. They are pure and they are young. They have so much to learn. Why would anybody want to jeopardize that? Children are our future. They are the ones who will continue the journey of the human race. These children, so young and innocent, may someday be the doctors to find a cure for cancer. They might grow up to be the firefighters killing fires and saving people all around the world. Most of them will become mommies and daddies. If the children of today are being hurt in such ways, who will they become in the future? We should care about this because if we don’t, who will? They have no one to care for them now, so we should take that responsibility. They need the care and a lot of TLC because they may be the ones saving your life in a couple of years.
Take the time to think about every child that is being hurt everyday. They may even be right around the corner from you. This only takes a second. Let it motivate you to do something about it.
Child Abuse: When a child is hurt and/or put down to by others around them; any harm done to a child that can put their health at risk. Even the simple definition of this problem sends chills down my spine. A child can be physically, mentally, verbally, or sexually abused. Children all over the world are going through this and sometimes, we don’t even know it’s happening. Their lives are not like ours. They don’t have a warm dinner to come home to. They don’t have a mother present or willing to talk to them about what’s going on in their life. Can you even fathom putting yourself in their shoes for a day; feeling unwanted and unloved? I can almost see the pain in their eyes. The look that shouts, “Help me! Save me!”. It’s so sad imagining the sorrow in an abused child’s life. How is it that children can hurt in such ways, being neglected and treated like they are nothing? Why is this happening?
….parents. Parents and their choices. Never thought you would hear that, right? It’s crazy how the people who you would expect kids to trust the most are putting down their own offspring. What if your parents weren’t there to protect you? It’s hard to imagine parents hurting you in ways you never thought parents could hurt. Parents who drink, engage in activities involving drugs, and struggle with anger management and/or are struggling with a mental illness are more likely to hurt their children in some way, shape, or form (check out this site. It informs you on the ways children are being hurt due to parenting choices: Parenting Choices).
It is also proven that if the parents were abused, neglected, or had a bad home life as children, they are more likely to abuse their children. They had no other way of living their lives as children, so how are they supposed to know how to live their lives as adults and parents? I’m not saying it’s right, but I can see where they are struggling. It’s a shame that most abused children are hurt by the ones they are supposed to love and trust the most. It’s even more sad knowing that the parents didn’t have a healthy environment growing up in, resulting in them being abused as well.
Another factor that contributes to the reason behind abuse is the fact that some parents just aren’t ready for kids. Some people have children accidentally and usually when this happens, the parents aren’t mature and patient enough to care for a child. They can easily get frustrated and upset with the child which can turn into rage and occasional outbursts. The constant occurrence of this can lead to the parent eventually physically abusing the child. In fact, over 6 million children were reported to be maltreated (abused) in the year 2008. It’s really a sad statistic but it’s very true. This is happening and it’s happening because of the people children are supposed to love the most.
This chart from 2005 shows the types of people who abused children. These children died.
(Note that most of them are family related)
CONFIRMED DEATHS AS A RESULT OF CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
State Fiscal Year 2005
Perpetrator
Count
Percent
Perpetrator
Count
Percent
Mother
34
56.67%
Foster Mother
1
1.67%
Father
18
30.00%
Grandmother
1
1.67%
Male Live-In Friend
4
6.67%
Child Care Provider
1
1.67%
Stepfather
1
1.67%
TOTAL
60
100.00%
When I first saw this chart I was amazed at how many relatives hurt their kids. My heart dropped knowing that these kids dies due to the violence these people inflicted upon them. This chart proves to me that the people who abuse children really are the people most close to them (this chart was found at: Statistics and Graphs on Child Abuse).
What’s really the biggest downer of this whole situation is that the kids that are going through this horrific lifestyle are not saying anything about it. The children don’t talk, but the bruises say a thousand words. They tell the life story of the child wearing them without having to say anything. The children are scared and they don’t want anyone knowing that their daddy and mommy are hurting them. They just want to be normal.
Child abuse is a thing that most people aren't really aware of most the time. Here are the facts behind it and what we can do to help save the kids around us.
This organization’s mission is to “promote the optimal development of children and families by leading Washington State in its efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.” Looking through this website, you will see that on the sidebar there is a link for Reporting Abuse. Underneath it is a link to how to strengthen families and prevent abuse. This site actually has a campaign called 
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