Nurturing Times FREE
Spring 2009
Information on Services, Support, and Activities for Parents and Children in the Spokane area
Child Abuse Statistics As reported by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 2006
Our Kids: This issue of the Nurturing Times is dedicated to “Our Kids: Our Business” the protection, safety and nurturing of children. Inland Northwest social service providers and the media who created the concept in 2007 are focusing on mentoring this year. There are many programs that provide wonderful services to children of all ages from kindergarten to college; you can find a comprehensive listing at www. inlandnwmentoring.org. The Nurturing Times is challenging its readers to take mentoring one step further, and engage parents who are involved with social services. Dozens of tragic stories of child abuse, neglect, and even fatalities have made the headlines in Spokane over the past few years. To truly create a stronger community the focus should be on families; the children AND the caregivers caught up in these heartbreaking events.
There is HOPE!
Starting last December, there has been an increasing effort to establish two new parent programs, Helping Other Parents Engage – Continued on page 2 –
In this issue:
Child Abuse Statistics............................. 1 There is HOPE................................. 1,15 Warning Signs............................. 1,2,5,6 Your History Is Not Destiny.................... 2 A Knock On The Door............................ 5 No One Knew My Mothers Story........... 6 Reporting Abuse Misconceptions.......... 6 Communicating About Sex..................10 A Responsibility to Report....................10 FREE Fun Family Events Calendar....12 Grassophobia: n, Fear of grass...........13 Helpful Numbers...................................15 Our Kids Pinwheel Collage..................16
“Child abuse is harm to, or neglect of, a The remaining percentage range from child by another person, whether adult or child. foster parents to childcare providers to other Child abuse happens in all cultural, ethnic, and professionals to unknown. income groups. Child abuse can be physical, “It is a sad irony that many abusers genuinely emotional, verbal, sexual or through neglect. love their children, but they find themselves Abuse may cause serious injury to the child caught in life situations beyond their control and may even result in death.” – CDC Guide to and they do not know how to cope. They are Intentional Injuries. often isolated from friends and family and Most Common may have no one to give Types of them emotional support. Maltreatment They may not like • 64.1% of children themselves and may not suffered neglect. know how to get their • 16.0% of the children emotional needs met” – suffered physical National Committee for abuse. the Prevention of Child • 8.8% of the children Abuse. suffered sexual abuse. $104 billion! • 6.6% of the children The estimated 2007 suffered from cost of abuse and emotional abuse. neglect in the United • 2.2% of the children States according to were medically Prevent Child Abuse neglected. America was almost • 15.1% of the children $104 billion. $33 billion More than 78% of children who were abandoned, was spent on direct costs died as a result of abuse were threatened with harm, such as hospitalization, and/or were drug younger than 4 years old! mental health, child addicted before they welfare services, and were born. law enforcement. A child may have been the victim of more Indirect costs amounted to almost $71 billion than one type of maltreatment, and therefore, for special education, juvenile delinquency, adult the total percent is equal to more than 100%. criminal justice, and loss of productivity. Child Fatalities • 44.2% were under a year old. • 15% were 1 year old. • 12.4% were under 2 years old • Unexplained or repeated injuries such as • 6.4% were under 3 years old welts, bruises, or burns. • 11.9% were 4 to 7 years old. • Injuries that are in the shape of an object • 4.8% were 8 to 11 years old. (belt buckle, electric cord, etc.) • 5.3% were 12 to 17 years old. • Injuries unlikely to happen given the age An estimated 1,530 children died due to or ability of the child. For example, child abuse or neglect. Every 6 hours a child broken bones in a child too young to dies from maltreatment. walk or climb. Who Abused and Neglected Children? • Disagreement between the child’s and • 57.9% of the perpetrators were women the parent’s explanation of the injury. • 42.1% of the perpetrators were men • Unreasonable explanation of the injury. What was the Perpetrator’s • Obvious neglect of the child (dirty, Relationship with the Child? undernourished, inappropriate clothes • 79.9% were parents for the weather, lack of medical or • 6.7% were other relatives. dental care). • 3.8% were unmarried partners of parents. • Fearful behavior.
WARNING SIGNS: Physical Abuse