Trauma Does Not Discriminate

A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds in the United States (Childhelp.org).

Every year, more than 4 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 4.3 million children (a referral can include multiple children).

The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average 5 children every day to child abuse and neglect.

In 2019 alone, state agencies found over 656,000 victims of child maltreatment, but that only tells part of the story.¹

This would pack 10 modern football stadiums.

There are approximately 3.6 million children per year in need of healing treatment to recover from abuse, with major repercussions that reach into adulthood.

Statistical Reporting:

Sadly, this is a market that is self-perpetuating. statistically, 30% of the cases, victims of abuse grow up to be abusers themselves. Abuse is not defined by economic status. It crosses all areas of society and countries. Worldwide, there are over 2 billion children who experience emotional trauma and abuse. 

Poor economic conditions may increase abuse due to low self-esteem from job loss, inability to provide for themselves let alone their family. Other factors such as drug and alcohol abuse can result in spousal and child abuse. It is generally accepted by industry experts that though over 4 million incidents are reported in the US annually, the actual number of incidents is probably 3 times that number and is growing. “Experts cannot agree on a single reason for this increase, but most attribute it to both a population increase and an increase in reporting.â€

• Children ages 0-3 are the most likely to experience abuse. About 1 in 50 U.S. infants are victims of nonfatal child abuse or neglect in a year, according to the first national study of the problem in that age group done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention along with The Federal Administration for Children and Families.¹
• 1,800 children die every year from child abuse and neglect. That is approximately 5 fatalities every day. It is believed this number is under reported by at least 50%.
• 79% of the children killed are younger than 4. Seventy-five percent of children who are sexually abused are less than the age of 5.
• 1/3 of abused and neglected children may eventually victimize their own children
• One child is abused every thirty seconds.

[1] Statistics from National Child Abuse Statistics, Child Help Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics

As you can see, it is critical that multiple solutions/tools be provided so that physicians, psychologists, therapists and counselors, shelters, caseworkers, child facilitators, teachers, etc. can provide therapeutic interventions for these children.

Stay tuned for my next article.