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Abuse

CHILD ABUSE: THE PROBLEM

SEXUAL ABUSE

PHYSICAL ABUSE

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

NEGLECT

WHO ARE ABUSERS?

WHAT ABUSE DOES TO CHILDREN

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ABUSE

THE PROBLEM

"Child abuse and neglect in the United States now represents a national emergency... Protection of children from harm is not just an ethical duty; it is a matter of national survival." U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1990

For too many children, child abuse is what they know every day of their lives.

• Over 2.9 million cases of child abuse were reported last year in this country (NCPCA) (see research section for all citations).
• Approximately 1/3 of sexual abuse cases involve children 6 years of age or younger (National Incidence Study, 1988).
• One in every four girls and one in every six boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18 (Kinsey, Finkelhor).
• Eighty-five to 90% of sexual abuse happens with a person known to the child (Russell).

But these figures do not tell the whole story. Evidence is mounting that child mistreatment is the precursor to many of the major social problems in this culture. Consider these figures:

• 95% of child abusers were themselves abused as children (Groth);
• 80% of substance abusers were abused as children (Daytop);
• 80% of runaways cite child abuse as a factor (Denver Police Dept.);
• 78% of our prison population were abused as children (Groth);
• 95% of prostitutes were sexually abused as children (Conte).

Not every child who is abused is has problems of this magnitude, but we know child abuse robs far too many children of their ability to freely reach their full potential. Their loss is society's loss and "band-aid" measures are inadequate to address this epidemic.

Community resistance to prevention programs has fallen away as awareness has increased and as programs have become more appropriate to the developmental needs and abilities of children.

• 90% of the public believe that all elementary schools should offer prevention of child abuse programming (NCPCA).
• 92% of all teachers believe such instruction is effective. (Duffell).
• 60% of all elementary school districts mandate prevention instruction. (NCPCA)

The need is obvious. Yet most communities have no broad-based and consistent program to teach young children the skills they need to reduce their vulnerability to abuse. The Safe Child Program is a prevention approach which provides communities, schools, families and children with a unique and powerful tool for addressing this need.

Copyright © 1996 -2008 Coalition for Children, Inc., Sherryll Kraizer, Ph.D.