Child+Abuse+8-505

===There's No Excuse For Child Abuse! ===

Child abuse is harm to, or neglect of, a child by another person, whether adult or another child. Child abuse includes physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Even though child abuse has been decreasing in recent years, more than 1.25 million kids (1 in every 58 kids) in the United States are abused.

 By Nicole G., Nicole V., Dezirae, Simran, and Tonima

Task 1

Home is supposed to be your escape from the world around you, a place to run and be shielded from all of the dangers of the outside world. This isn’t always the case. Research by the CARCC show that as of 2009, an estimated 78% of children suffer from neglect, 18% were physically abused, and another 10% were sexually abused. Around 1,500 children die from abuse each year-140,000 injuries to children happen to be from abuse and 1.7 million reports of child abuse are made each year. From the looks of it, home is definitely no sanctuary for these kids. Child abuse is a big problem in New York State and should be taken care of.  Child abuse is when a child is harmed or neglected by an adult or another child. There are different types of child abuse, such as physical, emotional, and sexual. "Physical abuse is a non-accidental physical injury of a child done by a parent or caretaker, which ranges from bruises and welts to broken bones, burns, serious internal injuries and in some cases, death. The definition of physical abuse includes actions that create a substantial risk of physical injury to the child." Emotional abuse includes parents’ or caretakers’ acts that cause or could cause serious conduct, cognitive, affective, or other mental disorders, such as, torture, close confinement or the constant use of foul language to hurt a child. It also includes emotional neglect. Physical contact and/or harsh emotional language can affect a child's normal emotional development, and in extreme cases, physical development. Sexual abuse is when a parent or caretaker commits a sexual offense against a child or allows a sexual offense to be committed, such as rape, sodomy, engaging a child in sexual activity or engaging a child in sexual performance. The actions of abusing a child are inconsiderate and ruthless. Something should definitely be done to stop child abuse.  Child abuse is a huge problem our country is facing, but it doesn't get enough attention. Child abuse is illegal but that doesn't seem to stop people from doing it. It needs to be taken into more serious matters and needs to be spoken about more. Thousands of children are being abused every day whether it is neglect, sexual, physical, or emotional. Not only is it a state or local problem, but we also believe it to be a federal issue. The federal government has the resources to manage this across the entire country and could keep track of the harm and abuse this person has done to a child. If someone tries to leave the state because of this issue, it will stop him or her if it is taken care of by the federal government. They will keep track of all of it throughout the country. There will be no possible way to get away from it and the problem can get taken care of much more than it is being taken care of right now.  People should take responsibility for child abuse, but one of the main groups of people who should take responsibility are parents. This is because parents are usually the culprits who abuse their children. Also, the majority of people who abuse children happen to be parents themselves, and it is their duty as parents to watch and care for their kids. They can also get other support. Parents know other parents, they can make a group and join forces in order to raise child abuse awareness, and this is the responsible thing to do. Parents are the people who would know most about children, which is why they are the people in our community who should definitely take responsibility for the issue of child abuse.  Child abuse is prevented from happening due to the aid of many groups and campaigns that are working towards changing what parents or guardians, or anyone is doing to cause harm to a child. There is also government childcare assistance and it helps kids if they are being hurt at home or anywhere else. The government or any type of association cannot do much when their children are being abused behind closed doors and at home where no one can really help. Child abuse is reported to organizations by other people that have observed or know anything about anyone harming a child.  Groups, associations, and organizations that are involved with issues concerning child abuse and neglect include Child Help USA. Child Help USA provides counseling to adult survivors and current victims of all forms of child abuse. Prevent Child Abuse America is also an organization that sends out awareness about preventing child abuse, providing information and statistics on child abuse, and holds public awareness campaigns. Advantages to these groups and organizations are that they are reaching out to help victims of child abuse and helping to spread awareness, in order to get other people involved in the fight against the abuse. The disadvantages are that although the word is being spread about child abuse and it's effects, the government still seems to not pay enough attention to the crime. Around 1,500 children die from abuse each year-140,000 injuries to children happen to be from abuse and 1.7 million reports of child abuse are made each year.  More attention needs to be shown to the victims of child abuse. The government does have laws set up for those who are found guilty of abusing their child and are reported, such as being convicted and even put into jail, yet the government isn't doing the best of their ability to end the problem of child abuse. Child abuse is a nationwide issue that needs to be stopped immediately—the children don’t have their own voice to speak out, so use yours instead.

Works Cited:

 Abuse Statistics." Topics On Morals Of Current Interest In Society." Web. 28 Jan. 2011.  <[]>.

"Child Abuse in Children." Keep Kids Healthy - Free Pediatric Parenting Advice. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">Child Abuse and Neglect in Federal Law." Child Welfare Information Gateway. Child Welfare Information Gateway. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Child Abuse Statistics." CARCC. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Immediate Effects of Child Abuse | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse | Childhelp. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">Statistics - Child Abuse: An Overview ~ FindCounseling.com." Find a Therapist at FindCounseling.com, The Original Therapist Finder Search Engine, Formerly TherapistFinder.net. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Types of Child Abuse: Physical, Sexual, Emotional Abuse - HealthyPlace." HealthyPlace.com - Trusted Mental Health Information and Support - HealthyPlace. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"What You Can Do about Child Abuse." Http:dhsforms.hr.state.or.us/Forms/Served/DE9061.pdf. Oregon Department of Human Services, Jan. 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Young Adult Health - Health Topics - Child Abuse." CYH Home - Home. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 26px; vertical-align: sub;">Task 2 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 200%; vertical-align: sub;"> There is a policy in Ireland that states if one is suspected of abusing a child or is seen committing the crime, the witnesses must report it to the police or to authorities. Irish bishops gathered together in 1996 in order to propose this policy. The advantages to this law are that it requires all cases to be reported and it will decrease the amount of child abuse cases in the area, yet increase the amount of cases that are being reported to help put an end to the issue of child abuse. Disadvantages are that some people do not care about the issue of child abuse, and despite the consequences put into effect to ensure that the cases will be reported, some ignore the case and move on, having the child continue to endure abuse from their offender. As said for the Child Protection Services Law (CPSL) those who will be in support of this law are those who do not believe in child abuse, such as prevention centers, rehabilitation centers set up for the child who has been abused, Child Protective Services, child abuse hot lines, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 200%; vertical-align: sub;"> Pennsylvania passed a law against child abuse, as well. Signed into law in 1975 and amended in 1994, the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) was put into effect to protect children from abuse and re-abuse, provide rehab services to the victims and maintain that all was well and in order in the homes and in family life. Also, the law was passed to encourage reporting and citing of child abuse. One who does not report a case will be charged with a misdemeanor. The advantages to the policy are that all sites and cases of child abuse have to be reported, or else it could be hazardous or even life threatening to the child. It encourages those to report cases and enhances protection of children by putting away their abusers. It also decreases the chances that a person will abuse again or that child be re-abused. Disadvantages to this are that although there will be consequences to those who do not report the case, it does not ensure that all people who witness or suspect abuse will report the case. People who would be in support of this policy would be those who are anti-child abuse, such as prevention centers, rehabilitation centers, and Child Protective Services. The only people who would oppose such a policy would be the abusers themselves, those who simply do not care about child abuse and its effects, and those who did not report the incident. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 200%; vertical-align: sub;"> Child Protective Services Law of 1973 was passed in New York to encourage complete reports of child abuse cases and malnutrition in order to protect children under the age of 18 from being abused or being further abused. The advantages to this policy are that all cases of those who are being abused are reporting and it helps to put an end to the continuation of abusers. The disadvantages to this policy are that some people still may not report cases of child abuse.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">Works Cited:

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Child Abuse Prevention." New York State Office of Children & Family Services. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"><[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">"Child Protective Services Law." York County Office of Children, Youth and Families Home. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"><[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">Goodstein, Laurie. "Vatican Letter Warned Bishops on Abuse Policy." NY Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr, 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">// "Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect." American Humane Association | Home. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">// <[]>. //

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 26px; vertical-align: sub;">Task 3

While in the midst of working on Project Citizen, our group has constructed a public policy to deal with the issue of child abuse. When a child abuse case is reported, the child who is suffering abuse will be mandated to undergo the process of restoring their well-being with the aid of rehabilitation services that will be provided by the state government. The centers can be at a home like environment where the children will feel safe and as if they were at home. The centers will be made new and be put in areas with low rates of child abuse and crimes, so the child will be far from an environment that is harmful to them. The advantages of this policy are that the children will not only be in a safe environment, but their well-being and mental health will be restored. The child that was once traumatized will slowly make their way to recovery. The child will be kept away from their abuser but depending on how severe the case is, the abuser will face consequences as stated under current laws. An advantage is that this rehabilitation will be provided by the sate government. Also, it lets kids just relax and do “kid things.” It informs children on when to know they are being abused. It lets children talk to a therapist about how they were being abused and just clear their minds. It also teaches them that not all adults are bad people and that children shouldn’t be scared of them. The amount of time spent in the rehabilitation center will depend on the type of abuse, the age of the child, and how badly a child has been abused. For example, if a young child of six years old is sexually abused for five years, he or she will spend more time in the center than a child who is three years old and has been physically abused for one year. The state government will decide the time in the center. The disadvantages of this policy are that it doesn’t always guarantee that all cases of child abuse will be reported. Another disadvantage is that the child may have suffered such trauma that they won’t be able to get over what has happened and the rehabilitation service won’t be effective. The level of government that should be carrying out this policy is the state government. We plan to start out policy first in New York before expanding to any other state in the country. What the state government is responsible for is the distribution of funds from the federal government. The federal government is to provide funds in order to carry out our policy. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: sub;">Works Cited: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 19px; vertical-align: sub;"> "How Can the Law or Police Protect Me from Violence?" Bursting the Bubble - Info for Teenagers about Abuse, Domestic Violence, And Family Violence//. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> < [] >

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;">County, Butte. "Child Protective Services." Butte County. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: sub;"> < [] >.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 200%; vertical-align: sub;">Task 4 In order for our policy of providing abused children with rehabilitation services to succeed, we must construct ways to get our policy adopted, find and persuade people to support our decisions, and have to overcome the possible opposition to our policy. Citizens, organizations, and influential persons and groups would most likely be familiar with the issue of child abuse and want to stop it completely. By spreading the word to as many groups of people as we can, more people would be familiar with the issue of child abuse and want to help us. We would explain the issue of child abuse to everyone previously mentioned, and also how we're looking to stop it with our policy by contacting them by email, letters, and phone calls. Explaining and informing individuals would help them get a better understanding of what child abuse is and why it is such a large issue we're facing today. The influential individuals and groups that will get to support our policy, through email and possibly PTA meetings or conferences in our school, would first be local influential people in our community and city. This would include people such as State Senator Michael Gianaris and City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. Getting local influential individuals to support our policy would be a helpful start to getting our policy approved; they are local people in the community, but also have a large influence in the government, therefore able to spread the word of our policy to people in higher government positions. Eventually someone in a higher position of government will try and help get our policy approved. In addition, we will get child abuse prevention organizations such as the Child Abuse Prevention Association and the Child Abuse Prevention Services, to support our policy by writing them letters and sending them emails. Organizations are fighting to help decrease the numbers in the amount of children getting abused, just like our group is, and would probably provide us with assistance to help enforce our policy. Although we have several groups that will be for our policy, there are always people who will try to shoot the policy down and oppose the law. An example of these people would be, obviously, those who abuse their children or people who believe that hitting their child is a form of discipline and should be allowed. These people would oppose our policy so that they can continue on the act of abusing their child. In order to overcome these peoples' oppositions, our only option is to find comfort in the support from influential organizations and individuals who are for our policy, and continue on fighting to help prevent further abuse among children. With help from influential individuals and several organization groups, we will not allow those who oppose our policy to put us down and we shall fight in order to get our policy adopted in order to decrease the numbers in the amount of children getting abused and an increase in the amount seeking help and standing up against their offenders.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin: 0px; vertical-align: sub;">Roleke, John. "Elected Officials for Queens, NY: National, State, and Local Representatives." Queens, New York - Guide to the Borough of Queens, NY. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://queens.about.com/cs/government/a/gov_reps.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 32px; vertical-align: sub;">// Child Abuse Prevention Association - CAPA //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 32px; vertical-align: sub;"><http://www.childabuseprevention.org/>.