More than 800,000 U.S. children abused each year

By Sandra Cason, News Messenger

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Statistics indicate that 12 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are victims of neglect and abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month — a time to reflect on the fact that the data translates into 899,000 maltreated individuals under of the age of 17.

Estimates are that the majority, 62.8 percent, suffer from neglect. Another 16.6 percent are physically abused, 9.3 percent are sexually abused, 7.1 percent are emotionally mistreated and 2 percent are medically neglected.

National statistics also show that of those abused, 49.7 percent are white, 23.1 percent are African American and 17.4 percent are Hispanic.

The figures are taken from the National Child Abuse Awareness Web site's document, "Child Maltreatment 2005," which was published in 2007.

Data obtained from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Web site indicates state trends are similar to national ones.

As of Aug. 30, the end of fiscal year 2007, there were 6.3 million children in Texas, 71,344 confirmed victims of abuse and 227 deaths as a result of abuse and neglect.

And for 2006, data indicates Child Protective Services had legal custody of 46,246 children statewide.

CPS divides Texas into 11 regions, with Harrison one of 22 counties in Region 4.

The child population is 261,741, with 4,845 confirmed allegations of abuse in 2007. That translates to a child abuse rate of 5.7 percent for the Northeast Texas area, meaning the regional rate is considerably higher than the statewide abuse average of 1.1 percent.

In Region 4, a total of 3,543 reports involved neglect. That category is further divided into 2,789 cases of neglectful supervision, 599 instances of physical neglect and 155 cases of medical neglect. There were 805 confirmed allegations of physical abuse, 403 of sexual abuse, 46 of emotional abuse and nine of abandonment.

Abuse was most often confirmed in Anglo children, with Hispanics coming in second and African Americans placing third.

More females, 51.9 percent, are abused than males and, at 23.6 percent, those most likely to be abused are between the ages of 1 and 3.

In 78.4 percent of the state's cases, the perpetrator is a parent, and in 58.1 percent, the abuser is female. Abusers are most often married, 30.7 percent, and 37 percent of them are between the ages of 26 and 35.

CPS completed 163,471 investigations statewide in 2007, with 8,818 of them in Region 4. Harrison County data for 2006 indicates there were 909 allegations of abuse, 189 of which were confirmed. A total of 112 children were placed in CPS legal custody. A child died that year because of abuse.

MARY ELLEN'S STORY

While there is little doubt child abuse is a problem that is far from being solved, the U.S. has made strides in addressing there issue.

A chapter in the training manual for volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the 1874 case of Mary Ellen appears. The child's father was dead and her mother could not care for her because she was destitute and had to work full-time.

"The New York Commission of Charities and Correction placed Mary Ellen with Mary McCormack Connolly, who "beat Mary Ellen, locked her in a room, rarely allowed her outside, and did not provide adequate food or clothing. Upset by the child's screaming, a neighbor told a mission worker about Mary Ellen," the document says.

The worker could find no one else to intervene, so an appeal was made to Henry Bergh, founder and president of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He finally persuaded a judge to hear the case.

As a result of publicity regarding Mary Ellen, a community meeting was held and an association formed "for the defense of outraged childhood." The association gave rise in 1875 to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

CASA'S ROLE

"Child-focused policies are relatively new," the training manual states. The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938. It was not until 1965 that mandatory reporting laws for child abuse were put in place in all states.

Congress became aware that the child welfare system was not adequately protecting children and their families, and in 1974, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was passed. It mandated the appointment of a guardian ad litem in child abuse and neglect cases.

Three years later, in Seattle, Wash., the Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program was begun by Juvenile Court Judge David Soukup. He concluded children in the court system did not necessarily have to be represented by an attorney and that their interests would be better served by community volunteers who could individualize their child advocacy efforts. The National CASA Association was formed in 1982.

After years as a part of Gregg County CASA, Harrison County organized an independent agency in July of 2007. Local cases were transitioned to the group on Sept. 1, said Executive Director Marcy Roth.

At that time, there were seven certified CASA workers. The organization has conducted one training session, adding two more to the total.

More are needed, Ms. Roth said and another training session is set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 21, 22, 24, 28 and 29 in the 71st District Courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse.

"When we made the transition," Ms. Roth said, "we had a total of 30 children in temporary managing conservatorship" or foster care. "They represented 13 families and we like to have at least one CASA worker per family."

Those who wish to sign up for the next round of training must apply with CASA and pass a background check, Ms. Roth said. For more information, call 903-923-9224.

For those who do not wish to get involved with CASA, there is another way to help abused and neglected children, said Denice Grugle of Longview, founder and executive director of East Texas Heart Gallery.

"They need to insist that our state representatives allot more money to the Department of Health and Human Services for the care of children and the elderly," Ms. Grugle said.

"Texas contains 10 of the richest cities in the world, yet we are 49th in the nation when it comes to spending for children and the elderly."

Ms. Grugle's group maintains an online photo gallery of children in state conservatorship who are available for adoption.

Contact Sandra Cason: scason@coxmnm.com or 903-927-5969.

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Emphasis added by H4K Editor