The Blue Ribbon Campaign goes back a ways. In the spring of 1989, a Virginia grandmother started it as a tribute to her three-year-old grandson who died at the hands of his mother’s abusive boyfriend. Since that time, parents, child advocates, politicians and others have worn the blue ribbon as a symbol of the need to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Child abuse remains one of the nation’s most serious problems. During 2008 (the last year with complete data), approximately 772,000 children were determined to be abused or neglected in the US, according to the "Child Maltreatment 2008 Report" on the Administration for Children and Families website.
The report also shows that Child Protective Service (CPS) agencies throughout the US received 3.3 million reports of alleged abuse or neglect involving 6 million children (63% were screened in for investigation or assessment; only 24% were substantiated).
Child abuse crosses all socio-economic, ethnic and racial lines (among substantiated cases of abuse and neglect, 45% of the victims were white, 20% Hispanic, 16% African-American). Most child abuse comes at the hands of a biological parent (80%).
Among substantiated cases, as in prior years, the greatest proportion of children were neglected. CPS investigations determined that:
- 71% of victims suffered neglect;
- 16% of victims suffered physical abuse;
- 9% of victims suffered sexual abuse;
- 7% of victims suffered from psychological maltreatment.
What is the Definition of Child Neglect?
Although definitions of neglect vary slightly from state to state, generally it is defined as the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision such that the child's health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm. Almost half the states (24) include failure to educate the child as required by law in their definition of neglect.
Young children are at greatest risk of severe injury or death from abuse. In fact, nearly 80% of the 1,740 children who died due to abuse in 2008 were under age four.
In-Home Visitation Programs are Effective in Reducing Child Abuse and Neglect
Focusing prevention and intervention efforts on society's youngest children makes sense. Not only are young children at greatest risk for maltreatment, but the impact of trauma and violence on a young child’s emotional, cognitive and social development can have long-lasting, devastating effects.
That’s why child advocates applauded the newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in March, includes provisions to expand high-quality, evidence-based early childhood home visitation services – one of the more effective interventions in terms of reduced child maltreatment (as well as decreased pre-term, low-weight babies; increased utilization of prenatal care; increased child immunization rates; increased school readiness; decreased dependency on public assistance and other social services; improved parent-child interaction, among other positive outcomes).
In-home visitation programs provide parents with guidance, information and support directly in their homes. Trained health workers and counselors come to the home to offer information on health and development, child safety, household risks, nutrition, breastfeeding and links to other community services – both before the child is born and during the neonatal stage. Services are typically targeted to “at-risk” groups including first-time parents, families living in poverty, and families with a history of involvement with CPS.
Even though home visitation programs have a proven track record, services across the country have struggled to survive due to unreliable and unsustainable funding. The new law provides states with $1.5 billion over the next five years to fund home visitation services that best suit the needs of their communities, while putting important parameters in place to assure quality of services.
Why Child Maltreatment Happens and How to Prevent It
Undeniably, parenting is challenging. Most parents are well-meaning and cross the line when they’re at their wit’s end. Unrealistic expectations, poor stress and anger management skills, lack of a support system, inexperience as a parent and crises (such as the stresses and strains of living in abject poverty) seem to contribute to its likelihood.
The good news is that there are a number of programs and initiatives in most communities that can help parents, including in-home visitation services. With new funding in place now, there will likely be more resources available to vulnerable families.
In order to reduce child maltreatment rates, it is important that everyone understand underlying issues that contribute to its occurrence and know where to turn for guidance and more information.
Almost everyone can contribute in some way. There are a number of opportunities to volunteer in many communities, including serving as a trained advocate for an abused or neglected child through the Court-Appointed Special Advocate program (CASA).
And everyone can wear a blue ribbon.
Resource:
Prevent Child Abuse America Website (accessed April 11, 2010).
Stephen Raburn - Stephen Raburn… is a social entrepreneur, father, community galvanizer, activist, lobbyist, writer, lecturer, and champion of ...
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