Dealing With The Problem Of Child Abuse
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Children count on their parents to protect them.
When they can no longer count on their parents for that protection, something is wrong.
Marie Noe pleaded guilty to killing her eight children between 1949 and 1968. The 70-year-old Pennsylvania woman will not go to jail.
Researchers want to study her instead to learn more about why mothers kill their newborns.
In Brooklyn, Ind., Elizabeth Sanders was investigated for the death of her 16-month-old child. She claims her son, Dylan, fell out of his crib, possibly landing on a toy. Doctors say he died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
For two years, Ronald Shanabarger plotted to father a baby with his wife, let her bond with the baby and then kill the seven-month-old Tyler. Had he not confessed to the suffocation of the child, doctors would have ruled the death Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
He wanted to get revenge on his wife for not returning from a trip when his father died.
And the list of "parents" who abuse or kill their children goes on and on.
In 1997, more than 3 million children were reported for child abuse and neglect to child protective service agencies in the United States, according to Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago. More than a million children were confirmed by CPS agencies as victims of child maltreatment. That's 15 out of every 1,000 U.S. children.
As far as child fatalities, the most accurate data on child maltreatment fatalities available estimates that in 1996, 1,185 child abuse- and neglect-related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Based on those numbers, at least three children die each day as a result of abuse or neglect.
Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 34 percent, according to information provided by Prevent Child Abuse America.
If a child doesn't die from the abuse, they still face severe emotional damage into their adolescence and adult life.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says an adult who was abused as a child often has trouble establishing intimate personal relationships. They may have trouble with physical closeness, touching, intimacy and trust. They are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, medical illness and problems at work or school.
Basically, they can be damaged for life if they do not receive proper treatment. Early identification and treatment may help minimize the long-term consequences of abuse.
AACAP says children who have been abused may display several signs. They may have a poor self image; sexual acting out; inability to trust or love others; aggressive, disruptive and sometimes illegal behavior; anger and rage; self-destructive or self-abusive behavior, suicidal thoughts; passive or withdrawn behavior; fear of entering into new relationships or activities; anxiety and fears; school problems or failure; feelings of sadness or symptoms of depression; flashbacks; nightmares; drug and alcohol abuse.
Kosciusko County is not exempt from its share of child abuse cases, though there are some people in this county who continue to say, "Not in this area ... I never thought it could happen here."
According to Kosciusko County Child Protection Services, there were 40 substantiated physical abuse cases in 1998, 33 substantiated sexual abuse cases and 45 substantiated neglect cases.
In addition, there were 65 unsubstantiated cases of abuse and 67 unsubstantiated cases of neglect.
Prevent Child Abuse America does say child abuse reporting levels nationwide have increased 41 percent between 1988 to 1997. Experts attribute the increase to greater public awareness of and willingness to report child abuse. Changes in how states collect reports of abuse and neglect are also contributing factors, they say.
It's great that more people are willing to report abuse. It's unfortunate that child abuse exists in the first place. Children need as much protection as communities can offer. As the old cliche goes, they are the future. The leaders of tomorrow. The parents of tomorrow's children.
But communities need to go further than just reporting child abuse and arresting the abusers. Communities need to support those who are abused. Discussions, support groups and community members acting as role models are just a few ways to end the cycle of violence.
Helping those who have been abused is not easy. They've lost trust in authority figures, they know only sorrow and anger. Happiness is a stranger to them. Drugs and alcohol may make the pain go away for them for a short period of time and when it comes back, they may seek more booze and stronger drugs.
Even if an abused child doesn't go down that road, there's still the question of who will raise them? Love them? Guide them along? Where can they get support?
If we can answer those questions, maybe the cycle of violence can be stopped or at least slowed. But it's going to take the effort of the entire community, not just one or two service organizations with a few dollars thrown here and there. [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
Children count on their parents to protect them.
When they can no longer count on their parents for that protection, something is wrong.
Marie Noe pleaded guilty to killing her eight children between 1949 and 1968. The 70-year-old Pennsylvania woman will not go to jail.
Researchers want to study her instead to learn more about why mothers kill their newborns.
In Brooklyn, Ind., Elizabeth Sanders was investigated for the death of her 16-month-old child. She claims her son, Dylan, fell out of his crib, possibly landing on a toy. Doctors say he died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
For two years, Ronald Shanabarger plotted to father a baby with his wife, let her bond with the baby and then kill the seven-month-old Tyler. Had he not confessed to the suffocation of the child, doctors would have ruled the death Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
He wanted to get revenge on his wife for not returning from a trip when his father died.
And the list of "parents" who abuse or kill their children goes on and on.
In 1997, more than 3 million children were reported for child abuse and neglect to child protective service agencies in the United States, according to Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago. More than a million children were confirmed by CPS agencies as victims of child maltreatment. That's 15 out of every 1,000 U.S. children.
As far as child fatalities, the most accurate data on child maltreatment fatalities available estimates that in 1996, 1,185 child abuse- and neglect-related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Based on those numbers, at least three children die each day as a result of abuse or neglect.
Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 34 percent, according to information provided by Prevent Child Abuse America.
If a child doesn't die from the abuse, they still face severe emotional damage into their adolescence and adult life.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says an adult who was abused as a child often has trouble establishing intimate personal relationships. They may have trouble with physical closeness, touching, intimacy and trust. They are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, medical illness and problems at work or school.
Basically, they can be damaged for life if they do not receive proper treatment. Early identification and treatment may help minimize the long-term consequences of abuse.
AACAP says children who have been abused may display several signs. They may have a poor self image; sexual acting out; inability to trust or love others; aggressive, disruptive and sometimes illegal behavior; anger and rage; self-destructive or self-abusive behavior, suicidal thoughts; passive or withdrawn behavior; fear of entering into new relationships or activities; anxiety and fears; school problems or failure; feelings of sadness or symptoms of depression; flashbacks; nightmares; drug and alcohol abuse.
Kosciusko County is not exempt from its share of child abuse cases, though there are some people in this county who continue to say, "Not in this area ... I never thought it could happen here."
According to Kosciusko County Child Protection Services, there were 40 substantiated physical abuse cases in 1998, 33 substantiated sexual abuse cases and 45 substantiated neglect cases.
In addition, there were 65 unsubstantiated cases of abuse and 67 unsubstantiated cases of neglect.
Prevent Child Abuse America does say child abuse reporting levels nationwide have increased 41 percent between 1988 to 1997. Experts attribute the increase to greater public awareness of and willingness to report child abuse. Changes in how states collect reports of abuse and neglect are also contributing factors, they say.
It's great that more people are willing to report abuse. It's unfortunate that child abuse exists in the first place. Children need as much protection as communities can offer. As the old cliche goes, they are the future. The leaders of tomorrow. The parents of tomorrow's children.
But communities need to go further than just reporting child abuse and arresting the abusers. Communities need to support those who are abused. Discussions, support groups and community members acting as role models are just a few ways to end the cycle of violence.
Helping those who have been abused is not easy. They've lost trust in authority figures, they know only sorrow and anger. Happiness is a stranger to them. Drugs and alcohol may make the pain go away for them for a short period of time and when it comes back, they may seek more booze and stronger drugs.
Even if an abused child doesn't go down that road, there's still the question of who will raise them? Love them? Guide them along? Where can they get support?
If we can answer those questions, maybe the cycle of violence can be stopped or at least slowed. But it's going to take the effort of the entire community, not just one or two service organizations with a few dollars thrown here and there. [[In-content Ad]]