Abuse and Neglect of Children

        By: Angela Leis-Roberts

 Child abuse is harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare, or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. Every day three to four children die each day from child abuse or neglect. In 2006, three million reports were made in the United States. Approximately 896,000 children were found to have been victims to abuse or neglect. "In 2006 there were 41,294 reports of abuse and neglect were made in Wisconsin. There was 1,251 physical cases, 2,871 sexual abuse cases, 50 emotional abuse cases and also 3,313 neglect cases. Thirteen of those cases children died because of abuse or neglect," says
http://www.preventchildabusewi.org/.
 "Every year only $1.06 per family is spent for programs to prevent child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect costs tax payers $258 million each day. Child abuse and neglect costs $94 billion a year," says http://www.preventchildabusewi.org/.
 There are many physical and behavioral signs you may notice in a child who has been abused or neglected. Some of the physical signs are bruises, welts, broken bones, burns, missing hair, poor hygiene, slowed physical developments, or/and a injury or medical condition that hasn't been properly treated. Some behavioral signs you may notice are poor grades, lack of concentration, frequent tardiness or absence from school, difficulty making and keeping friends, unhappiness or depression, withdrawal from others, acts of anger, low self-esteem, fatigue, speech problems, hunger, and/or unusual fears.
 There are three different types of abuse. There is physical abuse, which is someone inflicting any bodily injury through excessive force or forcing a child to engage in physically harmful activity, such as excessive exercise. There is sexual abuse, there is two types of sexual abuse one is non-touching which is having children watch pornography or talking about it. the Second type is touching sexual abuse, which is the sexual mistreatment of another person by fondling, rape, or forced participation in unnatural sex acts or other perverted behavior. There is also emotional abuse, which is harming of the child's mind.
 Physical abuse includes physical beatings, slapping, hitting, burns, strangulation, and/or human bites. " I remember everything that I went through like it was just happened," Mary* said. "I would fear going home from school, knowing that my father would be home when I got there." Mary has been through a lot throughout her life. "My best friend would ask me how I got a bruise, and I would always reply with I don't remember" Mary, said. "My dad would hit my sister and I, if we didn't eat all of our food or if we didn't clean the house to his expectations." There are many more cases of physical abuse that are like Mary's or even worse.
 Non-touching sexual abuse includes frank discussions about sexual acts, obscene phone calls, exhibitionism, voyeurism, pornography, and/or allowing children to witness or hear sexual acts. Non-touching sexual abuse isn't always recognized, because many people don't realize that it is happening.
 Amy* from Monroe County told me about her experiences with her physical sexual abuse. When asked what type of physical sexual abuse she endured she said "I never really thought of it as rape right after it happened but when i talked to my friends about it they told me that I had been raped and should report it, because i never wanted it." Physical sexual abuse includes rape, incest, touching of the breasts, attempted intercourse, and/or fondling of the genitals. Amy was asked if she ever reported it and she said " no i never reported it, i should have but i had no proof that it actually happened so i was afraid to press charges and than have him come after me for reporting him." Sexual abuse cases are the most common cases of child abuse that is reported.
 Emotional abuse includes patters of behavior that attacks children's emotional development, their spirit and self-concept which makes them feel unloved, unlovable, and even worthless. It is also constant criticizing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is thought to be the most common form of abuse. Emotional abuse has the most longest lasting effects.
 Neglect is failing to provide for a child's well being. Neglect includes failing to provide the proper food, proper medical care, hygiene, shelter, clothing. education, love and attention, and/or supervision and setting limits.
 Adults who were abused or neglected as children are more likely to go on to commit crimes.
 There are a few ways to handle your experiences with child abuse. For many people speaking about your experience is a vital step in the healing process. You may try to forgive your abuser if you can. Grieving may also work. If none of the previous help seeking out professional help is the best way to go. When asked how she dealt with her experience with her abuse Mary said "For a couple of years I spoke to my older sister and my grandmother about it, but then i had to seek professional help. It affects your life in ways you can't imagine." Many children don't get help until it has majorly effected their life. Mary is one of those children who didn't let it affect her life in the end.
 There are many people who are mandated to report any suspicion of abuse or neglect. They are required to report any known or suspected abuse or neglect of any child under the age of 18 immediately to either child protective services or law enforcement. Reporting child abuse and neglect should not be viewed as an accusation, but as advocating for a child and his or her family. If you know of any child abuse or neglect you are asked to report it to Monroe County Department of Human Services at 608-269-8611, or you can report it to the Monroe County Police Department or any of Police Department.
 We need to try and minimize child abuse and neglect as much as possible. No child should suffer through child abuse or neglect. This information is to inform you on the different types of abuse and neglect and all of the signs to look for. Please help children out and report any suspected or known child abuse or neglect. There are way too many children who have had similar or even worse experiences like Mary's and Amy's.

*Names have been changed to protect the victim