Child molestation
is a national crisis. and 1 in every 42 children will become a missing
child. There is one child molester per square mile.
Reports of child abuse continue to climb at a steady rate. In 1995, child
abuse reports rose 1.7% exceeding 3.1 million.
There are 63,000 convicted first-time offenders of child molestation in
California alone. Statistics show that these offenders are four times more
likely than other violent criminals to recommit their crime.
Four million child
molesters reside in the US.
A typical child molester will abuse between 30 and 60 children before they
are arrested and will molester 380 during their lifetime
One1 out of every
3 girls and 1 out of every 7 boys will be molested at least once before
the age of 18.
How can I tell if
a child is being abused?
Most children are afraid to tell and will quickly justify any marks on
their bodies. Even though a child may not talk about abuse, their behavior
may indicate that something is wrong.
Some signs to look for:
Acting-out behavior--a child may be angry and become aggressive
Sleep disturbances, bedwetting, or nightmares
New fears toward a particular person or place
Unusual knowledge of sexual activities
Bruises, cuts, redness, or swelling
What should I do
if a child tells me they are being abused?
If a child does tells you about abuse, it is a large step for them to take
and handling it properly should help the child be reasurred that it was
okay to tell.
Firstly, stay calm, find a private place to talk, quietly explain to the
child that it was good for them to tell someone. Reassure them that you
believe them and use the same words as the child to show that you understand
and that you have heard them and are listening. Reassure the child that
it is not their fault, and quickly report the abuse to your local
Child Protection Agency or police. If you think that the child is hurt,
go to the nearest emergency room.
What is anyone doing
about this?
The U.S. Dept. of Justice is helping New Jersey defend a state law, called
"Megan's Law," requiring officials to notify a neighborhood when
a child molester or other sex offender is released from prison and takes
up residence in a community
How can I help?
There are many ways you can help.
Become knowledgeable about Child abuse.
Read some of the articles and know the signs of child abuse.
If you suspect a child is being abused - try and talk to the child.
Report it to the proper agency in your area.
If you have a web site...give some of your space to this issue.
Support the programs and organizations on the net that are helping abused
children.
This background set was made and copyrighted
by Lady Care.
It was made especially for After The Storm.
Please do not take any of the set or the graphics.
Thank you for respecting the copyright laws.
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