One 4-month-old baby was shaken so violently she needed surgery. Another 3-week-old suffered fractured ribs from abuse at home.
Those cases reported by Boston hospitals are part of a spike in child abuse in United States during a recession that has driven some families to the brink and overwhelmed cash-strapped child-protection agencies. “In the last three months we have twice as many severe inflicted injury cases as we did in the three months the previous year,” said Allison Scobie, program director of the Child Protection Team at Boston’s Children’s Hospital.
The Kelsey Smith-Briggs Story
PLEASE take time to click and watch 
This beautiful happy little girl was stolen from her family, by the hands of her stepfather. Allegations of abuse while her father was away serving our county in Iraq went unheard. After being removed from the home she shared with her mother and step father- amid the numerous allegations, she was returned to the very people responsible now for her death. It wasn't just a tragic death, it was a preventable horrifying act. A brave soldier fighting for his country returned home to this. That is no welcome for any of our heros.
Child Abuse in America.....
Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations.
Statistics
-Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
-Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
-Thirty-one percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
-Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
-About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
-About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
-The estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion.
Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect in USA
-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
-Children who experience child abuse & 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.
-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addiction
-Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children
Consequences of Child Abuse in the USA
-Eighty percent of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder)
-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
-Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs
The Link Between Abuse As a Child & Future Criminal Behavior
-Fourteen percent of all men in prison in the USA were abused as children
-Thirty-six percent of all women in prison were abused as children
-Children who experience child abuse & 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.
The Link Between Child Abuse & Substance Abuse
-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
-Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children
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Sources:
-Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and The Federal Administration for Children and Families. The CDC oublication: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr
-Prevent Child Abuse America: Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting & Fatalities: The 2000 Fifty State Survery
-National Center on Child Abuse Prevention Research: Prevent Child Abuse America; Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1997 Annual Fifty State Survey
-Lung, C. & Daro D. (1996) Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1995 Annual Fifty State Survey. Chicago: National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. http://www.childabuse.com/fs9.htm
-US Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families. Child Maltreatment 2003: Summary of Key Findings
-National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse & Neglect Information. Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse & Neglect 2005
-US Department of Justice
-Child Abuse & Neglect Study by Arthur Becker-Weidman PhD
-National Institute on Drug Abuse 2000 Report
-DePanfilis, D. (2006). Child neglect: A guide for prevention, assessment and intervention. Dept.HHS, et al
-Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Welfare Information Gateway.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2007 from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/
long_term_consequences.cfm
-Wang, Chung-Tung Ph.D. & Holton, John Ph.D. (2007). Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect In the United States. Prevent Child Abuse America funded byThe Pew Charitable Trusts
-U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children Youth & Families. Child Maltreatment 2007 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2009). Retrieved April 3 2009 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb