| According to recent statistics from the Child Welfare | | | | abuse as "inadequate nurturing, affection or attention, |
| Protection Services, 80% of child abuse and neglect | | | | chronic or extreme spouse abuse, permitted drug or |
| victims developed at least one psychiatric disorder by | | | | alcohol abuse, permitted delinquency or assault and |
| the age of 21, including depression, anxiety, eating | | | | refusal or delay in psychological care." |
| disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. | | | | Children will carry these scars into adulthood and |
| Moreover, children who experience abuse and neglect | | | | have problems with their self esteem, relationships, |
| are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, | | | | perceptions, motivations and learning abilities. Often, |
| 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult and 30% | | | | emotional violence leads to physical abuse as well and |
| more likely to commit violent crimes. | | | | many abused children are doomed to repeat the |
| Abused children are also 25% more likely to | | | | cycle of violence passed down by their parents if |
| experience teen pregnancy, 2.5 times more likely to | | | | abuse treatment is not sought. |
| develop alcoholism and 3.8 times more likely to | | | | There are many other devastating effects of child |
| develop drug addictions. One third of these abused | | | | abuse and neglect in both the short and long term. |
| children will go on to abuse their own children one | | | | Following a severe beating, kids exhibit bruises, burns, |
| day. There are several types of abuse and neglect | | | | lacerations, broken bones and permanent disabilities. |
| perpetrated against children. Physical neglect involves | | | | Often, parents avoid seeking medical care for fear of |
| the refusal of health care to treat a physical injury, | | | | being "found out," which may lead to the child's |
| medical condition or impairment, or a delay in health | | | | death. Psychologists speculate that children who are |
| care. | | | | exposed to consistent patterns of household violence |
| It also involves abandonment, which is the desertion | | | | develop neurological problems, either strengthened |
| of a child without supervision. Kicking a child out of | | | | fear response connections along nerve pathways |
| the house, allowing the child to leave overnight | | | | that lead the child to experience the world as hostile |
| without knowing his or her whereabouts and showing | | | | and threatening, or inactive regions of the brain that |
| reckless disregard for the child's safety, such as | | | | prompt the child to be overly aggressive and |
| driving while drunk, are all causes of physical neglect. | | | | insensitive, or withdrawn and antisocial. |
| Providing inadequate clothing, food and shelter are | | | | Maltreatment, STDs, cancers, diseases, depression, |
| common causes as well. With physical abuse, the child | | | | eating disorders, substance abuse and impaired |
| is intentionally slapped, kicked, punched, burned or | | | | immune systems are more common among abused |
| injured in an attempt to control them. | | | | children. Children from abusive households are also |
| Emotional child abuse and neglect can be one of the | | | | 25% more likely to engage in risky behavior, like |
| most damaging forms because it lurks subtly in the | | | | smoking, teenage pregnancy, delinquency, drug use |
| back of the child's mind always and undermines his or | | | | and skipping school. The dangers are all evident. If |
| her very confidence and lust for life. The Department | | | | you suspect a child has been victimized, then call one |
| of Health and Human Services defines emotional | | | | of the abuse hotlines today. |