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Saturday, October 12, 2013

**Child Abuse Awareness: Fighting to keep our children safe!! **



I posted yesterday on our social media pages as news broke concerning NFL player Adrian Peterson's son who was the victim of child abuse. For those of you who haven't seen the news a link can be found below concerning this story. As I watched the news yesterday this story weighed heavy on my heart and mind. This morning after a conversation with BD (T. Wade), a close friend of Peterson's, this story still weighed on me. Our conversation was directed at "what if's"....What if this was one of our nieces/nephews etc.. I don't have children so I can't pretend to know what a parent faced with this tragedy would be going through. I remember something my mom said years ago after my older brother passed away "No parent is suppose to out live and bury their child".  

In the event of helping to raise child abuse awareness, we have put together a post centered around the definition and signs of child abuse. In my research for this blog post, I came across some great quotes and heartbreaking poems that are posted below as well.  As a member of the health care community, it was disheartening to read/review US child abuse statistics. Below you will find some information/general statistics concerning US child abuse today. 

We are officially joining the fight in helping to raise awareness of child abuse. As a result of this pledge we have taken the first steps and made a donation to the childhelp organization.  The organizations link can be found below. I encourage everyone to take action against child abuse. 

Our thoughts/prayers are with Adrian Peterson and family at this time. 
Heaven has gained an angel! 

Cheers,
Dr. Books

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/11/us/adrian-peterson-son-alleged-assault/


https://donate.childhelp.org/page/contribute/default

















Child Abuse in America

Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children (a report can include multiple children). The United States has among the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect. 

General Statistics

  • A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds
  • More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse.
  • It is estimated that between 50-60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates. 
  • Approximately 80% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4. 
  • More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. 
  • Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
  • About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse. 
  • About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder. 
  • The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion. 

http://www.childhelp-usa.com









"Child abuse continues to be a significant problem in the United States. It was estimated that in 2001, 903,000 children were the victims of child abuse or neglect. Child abuse is a crime perpetrated on the innocent and the defenseless."   

Pete Domenici, former senator from New Mexico


"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime. "

Herbert Ward (1873 – 1897), English footballer who played for Southampton and Hampshire cricketer


"The only reason why child abuse is alive today, is because we as adults fail our children when we fail to listen to them. Listen to a child today! "

Heather McClane, President at Trimunity


"Child abuse is a problem no one really talks about. Abuse and neglect is the number 1 cause of injury to children in the country. More children die of abuse or neglect than of natural causes."

Donna Miller


”You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it… You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” 

~Eleanor Roosevelt


 http://www.thisnewdawn.com/quotes-on-child-abuse/




Daddy it Hurts

My name is Chris ,
I am three,
My eyes are swollen..
I cannot see.

I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made,
My daddy so mad?

I wish I were better,
I wish I werent ugly,
Then maybe my mommy,
Would still want to hug me.

I cant do a wrong,
I can speak at all,
Or else Im locked up,
All day long.

When Im awake,
Im all alone,
The house is dark,
My folks arent home.

When my mommy does come home,
Ill try and be nice,
So maybe Ill just get,
One whipping tonight.

I just heard a car,
My daddy is back,
From Charlies bar

I hear him curse,
My name is called ,
I press myself,
Against the wall.

I try to hide,
From his evil eyes,
Im so afraid now,
Im starting to cry.

He finds me weeping,
Calls me ugly words,
He says its my fault,
He suffers at work.

He slaps and hits me,
And yells at me more,
I finally get free,
And run to the door.

Hes already locked it,
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me,
Against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor,
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues,
With more bad words spoken.

Im sorry! I scream,
But its now much to late,
His face has been twisted,
Into a unimaginable shape.

The hurt and the pain,
Again and again,
O please God, have mercy!
O please let it end!

And he finally stops,
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless,
Sprawled on the floor.

My name is Chris ,
I am three,
Tonight my daddy,
Murdered me.

-Anonymous


Little children peeking out their windows
So afraid of life and what it brings.
They don't know they should be protected;
All they know is the things they've seen.
Outside their window rain drops are falling
Touching everything that God has made.
In heaven above their angels are weeping
As they come before God's throne night and day.
Little children!
Little children!
Did you know someone is praying.
Little children!
Little children!
In this great big world you're not alone.

You see in heaven above you have a family
Whose heart is being broken just like yours.
God only loaned you for a season;
You're the reason Jesus the cross endured.

Little children your tears are so precious
That every teardrop is written in God's book.
God wants to turn those tears into laughter
With a rejoicing sound like a bubbling brook.


-A. Galloway 



















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