Questions and Answers on Facts on Child
Abuse
1) What exactly is child
welfare?
Child welfare is a program of financial,
health, mental, and social services provided to parents, guardians, and kids.
Child welfare agencies provide adoption services, medical care, and expert
homemakers who go to homes to help during periods of anxiety. Day care for
families whose parents both are employed has also become a significant service.
2) What and when was the first
case of child abuse?
By the late 1800’s American slaves were at
liberty and animals were protected against abuse, but adolescents were
considered their parents’ “property”, to do with as they wished. The first case
of child maltreatment in the courts was in 1874. The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals supported a young girl named Mary Ellen. The
Society presented the argument that Mary Ellen and all other human beings were
mammals, and a mammal is an animal.
3) How
many cases of child abuse are there per year?
Two million cases of child
abuse and neglect are reported each year, but that is REPORTED cases. Three million
cases of child abuse take place each year, but one million of those cases are
not reported.
4) Does
the kind of mistreatment differ with age?
Yes,
maltreatment definitely varies with age. Battered-child syndrome happens with
infants and preschool aged children. There are MANY different kinds of abuse
that varies with age.
5) Am I likely to know somebody who is abused
or neglected?
It
depends. You might or might not; it just depends on your community. The rates
of about every category of maltreatment are related to income level. Children
in families whose parents earn below $15,000 are 44 times more likely to be
neglected by the Harm Standard or the Endangerment Standard.
·
Harm Standard- Children experience demonstrable harm.
·
Endangerment Standard- Children experience maltreatment that puts them at
risk for harm.
Links: http://www.yesican.org/statisticsCA.html
