It shouldn’t hurt to be a kid, part II
Bev Cress
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Prevent Child Abuse Month is observed in April of each year. This article is the second of a two-part series on the topic of child abuse, the effects of child abuse, and means by which it can be prevented.
Dr. Karl Menninger once said, “If we don’t find a way to prevent the painful abandonment, abuse and exploitation of children, we will spend the rest of our lives building mental hospitals and prisons.”
Child abuse comes in many forms. The one thing that never seems to change is the fact that every day of every year children die as a result of abuse. If they do not die, they are injured physically and emotionally. The results of those injuries are devastating in social, interpersonal, and financial respects to the injured individuals and to society.
“In 2004, an estimated 872,000 children were substantiated as victims of child abuse and neglect, a rate of 11.9 per 1,000 children in the U.S. population.” This means that a city the size of Emporia (pop. 26,760) would have approximately 318.44 children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
It is a well-known and documented fact that victims of abuse suffer from a variety of harmful effects of the abuse. “Abuse can produce low self-esteem, aggressive behavior, acting out, suicidal tendencies, running away, wariness of adults, withdrawal, inhibition, and school and social adjustment problems.” Without treatment, abused children are at greater risk of growing up to be abused adults.
The social consequences of child abuse are numerous. Children of abuse tend to repeat the parenting behaviors that were modeled for them. They raise and discipline their children in the same ways that they were raised and disciplined. And so, the cycle continues.
The direct costs of child abuse are enormous. According to the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect, “Child abuse and neglect have known detrimental effects on the physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral development of children (National Research Council, 1993). These consequences range from minor to severe and include physical injuries, brain damage, chronic low self-esteem, problems with bonding and forming relationships, developmental delays, learning disorders, and aggressive behavior.” Beyond the trauma inflicted on individual children, child maltreatment also has been linked with long-term negative societal consequences. For example, studies associate child maltreatment with increased risk of low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, and adult criminality (Widom, 1992; Kelly, Thornberry, and Smith, 1997). Further these consequences cost society by expanding the need for mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, police and court interventions, correctional facilities, and public assistance programs, and causing losses in productivity. Calculation of the total financial cost of child maltreatment must account for both the direct costs as well as the indirect costs of its long-term consequences.”
The article goes on to state that in 1998, the Federal government expenditures to States for major child welfare programs were more than $4.5 billion. This figure did not include the cost of Medicaid which is a major provider for the care of children. Also, Federal assistance provides less than half of the money required with states contributing approximately 49 percent and local funding being 9 percent.
The indirect costs are not so easy to calculate, but they are felt by everyone in society. The article continues by stating, “Indirect costs reflect the long-term economic consequences of child maltreatment in such areas as special education, mental health, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, welfare dependency, domestic violence, homelessness, juvenile delinquency, and adult criminality.” While we cannot assess an exact dollar figure, the cost in economic impact to our society is huge.
Change is imperative. To ensure change, we must educate ourselves. Encourage your family members to become involved in parenting classes. There are many available, and the cost is minimal, especially when one reflects upon the costs- both direct and indirect to our society and to our children.
Child abuse damages the most important part of the fabric of our society. It must be prevented. The first step in prevention is to become aware. The next step is to take action. Join with me in celebrating April as “Prevent Child Abuse” month.