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RESEARCH FINAL:
CHILD ABUSE
Dawn Ledford
Child 106
12 May 2013

According to the Childhelp Foundation, approximately eighty percent of

children that die from abuse in the United States are under the age of four and
more than five children die every day. Over three million reports of child abuse
and neglect are reported every year. Preschool age children are at a high risk for
abuse because they are less likely to let adults know what is going on because
they themselves rarely know what is going on. This can be physical abuse,
sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. Children who experience child
abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more
likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime
(OMeara and Fedderson 2010). When a child is abused and suffers from
maltreatment, the child is affected along with the family and often it leads to
problems within the community.
In the case of child maltreatment, the child experiences a direct impact.
Long term and short term effects take place. In cases of physical abuse, there
can be short term effects like welts, burns, bruises, broken bones, etc. that are
purposeful injuries by another person. Other physical effects that can be long
term include brain damage and results of shaken baby syndrome like blindness,
learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, etc. Other short term effects from abuse and
maltreatment include isolation, fear, and an inability to trust others. Long term
and lifelong effects include low self-esteem, depression, and relationship
struggles. Abused children are twenty-five percent more likely to go through
problems in their adolescence like delinquency, teen pregnancy, low academic
achievement, drug use, and mental health issues (Child Welfare Information

Gateway, 2008). All types of child abuse and neglect leave lasting scars. Some
of these scars might be physical, but emotional scarring has long lasting effects
throughout life, damaging a childs sense of self, ability to have healthy
relationships, and ability to function at home, at work and at school (Saisan,
Smith, and Segal 2011). Relationships between children and adults are also
damaged. Children put their trust in adults because they have been raised
dependent on adults, and when the adult abuses that child, the child looses trust
and will later have trouble trusting other people in their life because they are
afraid of being controlled or abused. Many stories of sexual abuse include
people who feel like they have been damaged because their innocence was
stolen. They can feel worthless and have trouble maintaining a job or stable life
because they think they are not capable or good enough to accomplish anything.
Some will turn to drugs and alcohol to numb underlining feelings, or they will
struggle with lashing out unexpectedly.
Families that are directly or indirectly involved in a child abuse or
maltreatment case experience damaging effects. In over eighty percent of abuse
and neglect cases, the parents are the abusers. It is so common that children
are abused by a member of their own family, and when they get older, they may
start to talk about it. The families can offer support, or they can deny that the
abuse occurred. Families will frequently disown one of their own when this
occurs, which results in separation of the family. When it is a person outside of
the family that has inflicted the abuse, the parents are shocked, devastated, and
sometimes blame themselves. Because of these reasons, parents of abused

children will also need treatment or therapy. They will because it will give them a
place to safely express their thoughts and feelings. They will learn how to
support and help their child in the ways that they can. The parents response to
the child is important for the childs recovery, and the families who acknowledge
what happened and get treatment improve faster than those who do not. The
effects do not stop with just the child or their direct family. About 30% of abused
and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible
cycle of abuse (OMeara and Fedderson 2010). Families play a huge part in the
childs outcome after an abuse case. The child needs as much support as they
can get so they can hopefully develop resilience. Resilience is the ability to
cope and thrive following a negative experience (Child Welfare Information
Gateway, 2008). A childs ability to be resilient depends on characteristics like
optimism, self-esteem, intelligence, humor, and acceptance of positive influences
like teachers, role models, and family. For a child to experience positivity from
their family after such an event, the negative risks associated with abuse can
decrease.
On a much larger scale, child abuse and neglect can lead to issues within
the community. For instance, childcare providers like preschool teachers are
often vulnerable to charges of abuse. This is so because many cases of abuse
have involved childcare providers, so it is very important that childcare programs
have policies and procedures that follow the Developmentally Appropriate
Practice (DAP) framework to prevent abuse and keep children safe. Children
who are abused are more likely to get arrested and commit crimes which affect

the community. Communities may also experience a lack of involvement from a

family that is abusive; they will often isolate themselves from the community
(Berns, 2013, page 149). An example of a situation that rocked a community
was the Penn State Abuse Scandal. In June 2012 a trial began involving the
former Penn State defensive coordinator Gerald Sandusky. He was convicted of
forty-five out of forty-eight counts, and he was accused of sexually abusing ten
boys over a fifteen year period. The whole community knew about this, and then
the whole country. It just shows how drastically abuse can damage lives and
negatively impact the community. Another major crime that was just made to
light was in Cleveland, Ohio. A man named Ariel Castro kidnapped three girls
and had them locked in a house for a decade. One girl managed to escape on
May sixth of 2013. The community was shocked; people are still on the news
being interviewed about this man that they thought they knew. The community
often has to deal with financial costs in abuse cases as well. Education services
to inform people about abuse cost; treatment or therapy services for the abused
and their families cost. The community definitely feels the impact of abuse along
with the family and the child.
There is still a lot people need to learn concerning child maltreatment and
abuse. Between kindergarten through twelfth grade, most children are only
being taught about abuse two to three times. Since it is so common for young
children to be abused, there needs to be more awareness of how to protect
oneself and how to recognize abuse. The impact of child abuse and neglect
over the life cycle points to the importance of primary prevention, and the critical

role that schools can play as a vehicle for child abuse prevention education
directed to children and families (Child Help, 2011, page 2). The school system,
including preschools, plays such a big part in childrens lives and is a major
socializing agent, but is lacking consistency in teaching about the prevention of
abuse. Children should also be aware about dialing 911 or 0 for help. There are
many cases of pre-school age children who have dialed 911, but if they do not
know about it, they cannot do anything. Preschool programs can give children
tips like dialing those numbers in an emergency and letting them know that if
anyone touches them where their bathing suit covers, they should tell their
parents or teacher. Making children aware and involving the parents in the
programs can literally save lives. On the teachers part, they should learn the
signs and be able to detect abuse to the best of their ability. The earlier child
abuse is caught, the better the chance of recovery and appropriate treatment for
the child. Child abuse is not always obvious. By learning some of the common
warning signs of child abuse and neglect, you can catch the problem as early as
possible and get both the child and the abuser the help that they need (Saisan,
Smith, and Segal 2011). The community should have more awareness walks,
and hand out flyers with simple safety tips on them like not walking alone and
always telling someone where you are. When children, families, and
communities work together as a whole, more knowledge can be gained along
with prevention and protection from child abuse.
There are resources and agencies dedicated to helping child abuse
victims and their families. One agency is called Happy Trails Childrens

Foundation. This agency was started by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1982,
and it is dedicated to helping boys who have been abused. They live in this
group home twelve to eighteen months and receive therapy to overcome and
deal with what has happened in their past. Another agency, Childrens Network,
improves communication between other youth service agencies. They help find
the right place for victims to go, and they raise public awareness for child abuse
prevention. Helping Hands Kindship Support Services is a child protective and
support service ran by Mental Health Systems Inc. They help families cope with
the tragedy of abuse and provide support groups, basic needs assistance, family
activities and recreation, youth life skills education, and parenting workshops. All
three of these agencies have no fees but allow donations. An agency that does
cost but can offer many great services is Hope, Inc. Rancho Cucamonga. It is a
therapy and counseling facility that deals with many different mental disorders.
Often when children are abused, they and their family have to get therapy to help
deal with what has happened. This agency makes that possible. One last
agency is Prevent Child Abuse: Riverside County. This agency raises child
abuse and neglect awareness in the community and promotes strong families.
They have training to recognize the signs and be able to prevent abuse; they
have awareness meetings and child events throughout the year. Community
programs and agencies can be so helpful because they can offer informal and
formal social support systems for children (Berns, 2013, page 51).
When children grow up under negative conditions, are scapegoat, are
belittled, and are under constant criticism, they cannot develop their full potential

or grow to be competent adults (Berns, 2013, page 147). Children, their

families, and the community are all affected by abuse. According to Childhelp,
more than five children die every day in the United States due to abuse and
neglect. Children are dying every day because of abuse, and many times, the
parents of those kids were abused. Psychologist Erik Erikson has explained the
personality development of individuals as the outcome of their interaction in their
social environment (Berns, 2013, page 37). Lee Harvey Oswald was abused
and neglected by his mother and forced out on the streets. He was mentally
unstable do to his circumstances, and then he chose to kill an American
President. Abuse trickles down, and can lead to events that change the course
of human history. Prevention and therapy can give hope. There are many
agencies out there aimed at helping abused and neglected children, but still
people are not being made aware of how common it is for a child to experience
maltreatment. The school system is not being consistent with the teaching and
children are not cognizant of the reality and commonality of child abuse. They do
not know about it, and therefore they have no way to protect themselves.
Advocacy is the first step, and community programs can work with the schools to
have seminars about this issue to help children and their families become more
aware. If community members want to improve opportunities for their children,
they must get involved in politics (Berns, 2013, page 51). In Bronfenbrenners
bioecological theory, the microsystem includes the family and community (Berns,
2013, page 17). These systems are the closest to the child and have the most
significant impact on the outcome of the child. It is important that they are

positive because they are creating the relationships and interactions that take
place to form patterns that affect human development (Berns, 2013, page 17).
Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs reflects the basic needs of mankind.
When peoples needs are not met, like in cases of abuse, it leads to many
problems. People need safety, love, and self-actualization because Child abuse
casts a shadow the length of a lifetime Herbert Ward.

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REFERENCES
Berns, R.M. (2013). Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and
Support (9th Ed.). Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth.
Chappell, B. (2012). Penn State Abuse Scandal: A Guide and Timeline. 11, 8.
Retrieved
April 6, 2013 from www.npr.org.
Childhelp: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse, Speak Up and Be Safe.
Retrieved
April 5 2013 from Childhelp National Headquarters. Web
site: www.childhelp.org.
Child Welfare International Gateway (2008). Long-Term Consequences of Child
Abuse and Neglect. Abstract retrieved from www.childwelfare.gov.
Omeara, S. and Y. Fedderson. (2011). Child Abuse in America. National Child
Abuse Statistics (5) 1-5. Abstract retrieved from
http://www.childhelp.org/pages
Saisan, J., M. Smith and J Segal (June 2011). Child Abuse and Neglect:
Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse. Abstract retrieved from
http://helpguide.org.

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FIVE AGENCIES
Happy Trails Childrens Foundation
Philosophy:
Aims at helping children-in-crisis and working with abused children who were so
important to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Address:
10755 Apple Valley Rd.
Apple Valley Ca. 92308
Phone:
(760) 240-3330
Fax:
(760) 240-1458
Contact Person: Debbie Percival
Hours of operation:
24/7 for the boys that live there and people can donate at any time.
Fees:
Charitable Donations
Type of Facility:
Treatment center for severely abused boys between ages ten and sixteen
Agency run by:
Agency started by Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans and now Joel Dortch
Services Available:
Services include providing a group home for abused boys for 12 to 18 months
going through group and individual therapy and to help them overcome and deal
with abuse.
Staffing:
Licensed Therapists
Staff Qualifications:
Staff with backgrounds of working with abused children
Do they use volunteers:
No volunteers but people can donate funds and antiques for auctions.

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Thoughts:
This agency does not see the boys coming back so they know that they are really
helping them. It is good for kids to be around other kids with similar backgrounds
and give them assurance that they are not alone.
Childrens Network
Philosophy:
Aims at helping children at risk by improving communications planning,
coordinations and cooperations among youth service agencies.
Address:
825 E. Hospitality Ln. 2nd Floor
San Bernardino ca. 92415
(909) 383-9677
Fax:
(909) 383-9688
Contact Person: Denise McKinney
Hours of operation:
Have different monthly meeting times for the community to get assistance and
discuss policies
Fees:
No fees
Type of Facility:
Abuse Prevention Network
Agency run by:
Ran by a Policy council which consists of department head of county agencies
that provide services to children, member of the Board of Supervisors, County
Administrative Officer, and the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court.
Services Available:
Services include raising public awareness for child abuse prevention, identifying
gap and overlaps in child abuse services, and providing forums for clarifying
perceptions and expatiations among agencies and between agencies in the
community.
Staffing:
Staff includes people from abuse prevention centers and programs.

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Do they use volunteers:

The community can attend meetings.
Thoughts:
This agency is good because it help other agencies to be effective among the
community.
Helping Hands Kindship Support Services
Philosophy:
Providing family centered programs and services designed to ensure safe,
permanent, nurturing families.
Address:
16519 Victor St. Suit 203
Victorville Ca. 92395
Phone:
(760) 843-1177
Fax: (760) 843-1191
E-mail:
mcassell@mhsinc.org
Contact Person:
Pamela Ross
Fees:
No fees but people can donate
Type of Facility:
Child Protective Service and Support Service
Agency run by:
Agency is ran by Mental Health Systems Inc.
Services Available:
Services include support groups, basic needs assistance, family activities and
recreation, youth life skills education, and parenting workshops.
Staffing:
Has a board of directors where members serve on to three year terms; they are
elected bi-annually.
Staff Qualifications:

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Staff includes social workers with a degree

Do they use volunteers:
Agency does have volunteers for youth groups, tutoring, respite care, and
mentoring.
Thoughts:
Great service because it involves the family and the children together. Also,
involving the community through volunteer is very positive because it gives
children help and someone to communicate with.
Hope, Inc. Rancho Cucamonga
Philosophy:
To improve relationships affected by: Anxiety, ADHD, Autism, OCD, PTSD,
Bipolar, Migraines, Depressive Disorders, in both children and adults.
Address:
10777 Civic Center Drive
Rancho Cucamonga Ca. 91730
Phone:
(909) 948-3536
Fax:
(909) 989-0456
Contact Person:
Matt Janse or Kessie
Fees:
Fees range from $50.00 to $125.00 per psychotherapy session; Full
psychosocial with report would be $950.00; Diagnostic Assessment would be
$225.00
Type of Facility:
Therapy and counseling facility
Agency run by:
Ran by Jamie Lynn Juarez, a licensed marriage and family therapist, psychophysiologist and credentialed school counselor.
Services Available:
Services include neuropsychological assessments, psychosocial assessments,
cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral therapy, brain mapping, biofeedback,
neurofeedback, EMDR, rapid prompting method, educational therapy, support

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groups, brain gym, speech therapy, occupational therapy, non-public school, and
cogmed: working memory training
Staffing:
Staff includes licensed clinicians, in house licensed clinicians, and billing services
Do they use volunteers:
People can donate to this agency to help with supplies for the children and
families
Thoughts:
This agency does cost, but it would be helpful for children who have been
abused because they will often have psychological problems and if they have
been physically abused they could have developed physical problems like brain
damage, and they can get the therapy they need from an agency like this.
Prevent Child Abuse: Riverside County
Philosophy:
To prevent child abuse and neglect and promote strong families in Riverside
County
Address:
1945 Chicago Ave. Suite B South
Riverside Ca. 92507
Phone:
(951) 686-5581
Fax:
(951) 686-5654
E-mail:
info@pcariverside.org
Contact Person:
Sandra Davalos or Erin Lang
Fees:
No fees but accepts donations
Type of Facility:
Organization aimed at providing tools and information to help prevent child abuse
Agency run by:
Ran by Eldon Baber

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Services Available:
Services available include mandated reporter training, meeting about child abuse
and prevention, child events, advocacy meetings, and fundraising events.
Staffing:
Staff includes community outreach people and volunteer coordinators
Do they use volunteers:
Anyone can volunteer and the volunteers work at child health fairs and become
part of the local collaborative meetings and awareness events.
Thoughts:
This agency is simple and a lot of people like simple. The website is very easy to
go through and there are great simple tips on preventing child abuse and
maltreatment. It is a great place for families to become aware and attent
meetings and fundraisers and become involved with other people who care about
this major issue.