1. Introduction
In the United States child abuse has become a severe problem. Statistic have shown that there more deaths in children by abusing them than accidentally.
Thesis statement
United States should put a stop to Physical child abuse, verbal abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and being neglecting towards this situation. These children can have negative effects and repercussions for their future.
II. Body
A. First supporting argument
a. Effects and the impact on child abuse.
b. Child abuse statistics
c. Physical health
B. Second supporting argument
Types of abuse
a. Psychological abuse
b. Verbal abuse
c. Sexual abuse
C. Outcome of child abuse
a. Depression
b. Behavioral manners
c. Anxiety and psychological problems
III. Conclusion
a. Different effects of child abuse.
b. An effort from the government to put a stop and prevent child abuse.
Child Abuse
There is a detrimental need for the United States Government to put more emphasis and focus on the increasingly rising rate of child abuse. Some form of child abuse has been around since the beginning of times, although child abuse wasn’t as prominent as it has become in the nineteenth century, child abuse of some type has been known to the government. The first state in the United States that established child abuse as a crime was New York in 1875, this was called Child Protection Laws, and after this implementation of laws other states followed pursuit with related laws.
In 1974 the U.S. Congress passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which encouraged remaining states to also pass laws that would protect children, this also lead to the creation of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Each state differs in their reporting laws such as, juvenile and family court laws, and criminal laws. Being as though child abuse impacts a child dramatically; emotionally, physically, psychologically, and verbally it is essential that child abuse be a serious criminal offense, the government should continue to enforce this law to the fullest extent of the law. Child abuse has a lifelong effect on a child one incident can lead to serious psychological issues that could take years possibly a lifetime of therapy and treatment.
As of January 2013, there have been over 3.6 million child abuse reports that are reported every year and of that 3.6 million there are 6 million children that are involved in child abuse reports. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, 2013). In 2010, the United States government reported the number of children who died due to abuse or neglect was 1,537. “Of the number of children who died due to abuse or neglect 79.4% were younger than 4 years old, 47.7% were younger than 1 years old.” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, 2010).
Types of Abuse
No child abuse is less or more severe than the other all types of child abuse has long term effects on a child’s life that carries on to their adulthood, and eventually into their relationships/marriages. Reasonably so, therapist, counselors, department of human resources, law enforcement and the judicial system has to treat child abuse seriously and ensure the safety and well-being of each and every child. For example, a child abuse case that is reported to any law enforcement has to be carefully investigated in that the child is removed completely from the environment to prevent further abuse. A child cannot be then returned to the same environment without law enforcement involved in their lives until the child reaches the age of 18 years of age whether the abuse is psychological, verbal or sexual.
Psychological abuse could consist of parents/guardians using life-threatening and/or peculiar forms of reprimand, such as confinement, detaining a child in a closet, dark room, tying a child to a chair for long periods of time, intimidating or frightening a child. Some other forms of psychological abuse are demeaning or refusing treatment, using offensive terms to define the child, condemning or accusing. (Indianchild.com. 2000 – 2004).
Unwarranted and pointless criticism are forms of verbal child abuse, although these are not the only forms of verbal child abuse belittling is considered another form of child abuse. Verbal abuse could possibly lead to a child that develops into an adult having issues with authority figures which is one of the many issues verbal abuse could possibly lead to with a child. The fact that verbal abuse leaves a child feeling mediocre or useless at an early age leaves a child with hostile feelings towards other children, as well as the child feeling unwanted. (Booker, R., 2003-2013).
Sexual Abuse includes but not limited to touching a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be identified as child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person accountable for the care of a child (for example: a parent, a guardian, a caretaker, or a kinship to the child). If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts. (Indianchild.com. 2000 – 2004).
Outcome of child abuse
Researchers have found in numerous studies over many years in nearly each case of adult depression, there was some type of abuse experienced as a child whether it was verbal, sexual or psychological. To combat adult depression a therapist must research extensively into the adult’s childhood in order to be effective with the adult’s treatment, if not the adult will forever suffer endless pain of suffering with depression. It isn't prudent to uncover or recap every horrific aspect of past experience or experience’s in the adult’s childhood for the recovery process.
(McGrath, E., 2003).
There is estimated to be nearly eighty percent of children who have been abused that are at the highest risk of emerging different severe psychological problems otherwise known as mental illnesses. There are several factors that come into play regarding the extent of the psychological problems that may present in a child that has been abuse such as; how long was the child abuse, what type abuse did the child endure, how old was the child and so forth.( Jirage, R., 2011).
Ordinarily in younger children one of the more common psychological problems in a child that has suffered physical abuse is disruptive disorder. Most children are unable to express themselves positively so reversal they will exhibit behaviors of aggression, violence and delinquency. Other psychological problems that may present are academic difficulties, difficulty concentrating, depending on the age of the child reports has shown alcohol and drug abuse as well as the child will begin to wet the bed if they haven’t previously.( Jirage, R., 2011). Some of the more common mental illnesses are; depression disorder, anxiety disorder, problems sleeping also known as insomnia, changes in their eating could be more or less, their demeanor will noticeably change also isolation begins setting in at some point.
Conclusion
Various states all across the US have implemented different organizations to put a stop and prevent child abuse. One of the largest organizations that were established in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois was Prevent Child Abuse America, this organization has a network of chapters established in all fifty states and over five hundred Healthy Families America home visitation sites in forty one states that also covers Puerto Rico and Canada. This organization’s mission is ensure the safe growth of children across the US.(http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.php).
A nonprofit organization that was established in 2004 by Pamela Pine was Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse. Stop the Silence began with a vision in 2004 to “expose and stop child sexual abuse” (http://www.stopcsa.org/about/about/mission.html) and help those who have survived sexual abuse heal nationwide.
The government has gradually improved in its assistance towards the prevention and stopping child abuse over the years by disbursing more and more funds each year to non-profit national organizations, another effort advanced by the government was the availability of grants to private and public entities, which is other known as, 93.669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants. (http://www.federalgrantswire.com/child-abuse-and-neglect-state-grants.html)
References
Booker, R., 2003-2013. What is Verbal Child Abuse? Article retrieved from Wise Geek Articles. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-verbal-child-abuse.htm
https://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/developing/funding.cfm
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/child-abuse-and-neglect-state-grants.html
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.php
Indianchild.com.2000 - 2004. Parenting Articles, parenting advice, resources - Indian Parenting safe surfing guide.
Jirage, R., 2011. The Psychological Effects of Child Abuse, article retrieved from Buzzle. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-psychological-effects-of-child-abuse.html
McGrath, E., 2003. Psychology Today: Child Abuse and Depression.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/178291-how-abuse-causes-depression/#ixzz2RuGS3TD9
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. (2013). http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/statistics/can.cfm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families: 2010 Child Maltreatment Report. http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/statistics/can.cfm
"Journal of Psychiatric Research" Clinical Depression Emotional Physical Abuse; Miniati; Apr 2010
