Current Events and News Articles

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/12/child-abuse-neglect/2803099/

https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse 

 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article118442973.html

 http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/16/opinion/soronen-foster-children/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-sweeping-reform-of-the-foster-care-system-is-hanging-by-a-thread_us_5840f925e4b0c68e04802b7c

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/opinion/child-welfare.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FFoster%20Care&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection&_r=0

What can be done?

Individually, if you are interested in becoming a foster parent, there are many resources that give important information about what it means to be a foster parent, the steps you should take, the requirements, and the costs. By being a foster parent, you can change the whole world for that child.

In the community, we should inform others about the positive effects that being a foster parent can be. The more informed the community is, the more we can do to help those children needing a safe, loving home.

Each state has their own requirements for becoming a foster parent. By having these requirements, it helps place the child in the correct home and avoids placing them in a home that will not provide the best experience for the child.

Here is a website listing the state requirements: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/homestudyreqs/

Laws, Policies, and Programs

“NFPA (National Foster Parent Association) believes in the importance of family-based care for foster children and that every child deserves a permanent family.” This program ( http://www.nfpaonline.org/ ) gives great information about what it means to become a foster parent and gives guidance on the steps to becoming a foster parent. This organization hosts conferences for future parents to attend to fully understand what becoming a foster parents entails.

AdoptUsKids is an organization that makes it easy to learn about your states laws and policies regarding adoption. You can choose the state you are living in and it will provide contact information that is helpful to you. It explains the costs of adopting and the licensing requirements.

The specific state laws vary for every state, but mostly focus on two categories. They focus on logistical concerns such as age requirements, secure income, clean criminal record and physical space for a child. They also focus on the potential parent’s ability to parent, dependability, and past experience with children. Some states require a home assessment of the family members and some require counseling before the adoption.

Child Abuse Statistics and Data

“Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children). https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/

The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect.” https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/ (this site has great visuals)

WHAT IS CHILD MALTREATMENT?

The U.S. federal government defines child maltreatment as:

Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT?

There are four types of child maltreatment legally recognized by all states:

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Emotional Abuse

Neglect

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF MALTREATMENT?

Of all the children who were reported to have been abused or neglected in 2013, nearly 80% were neglected, 18% were physically abused, and 9% were sexually abused.

HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED?

In 2013, an estimated 679,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in the United States (9.1 victims per 1,000 children in the population).  1250 children were reported to have died from abuse or neglect. More than 27% of victims were younger than 3 years. Nearly 20% were aged 3 to 5 years. The victimization rate was highest for children under the age of 1 year. 

HOW MANY CHILDREN DIE FROM ABUSE OR NEGLECT?

In 2013, an estimated 1,520 children died due to abuse or neglect. That means that more than an average of 4 children died from maltreatment each day. Of the children who died, more than 71% suffered neglect and 46.8% suffered physical abuse.

To find statute information for a particular State, go to https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/state/. (this is a searchable document with information about the laws in all the states.)

From http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/childmaltreatment/datasources.html

The total lifetime economic burden resulting from new cases of fatal and nonfatal child maltreatment in the United States is approximately $124 billion.

"Awareness of child abuse and neglect — and efforts to address them — have expanded dramatically in the past 20 years, and with that has come a substantial decline in rates of reported physical and sexual abuse, a new report says.

At the same time, however, reports of psychological and emotional abuse have risen and rates of child neglect show no decline, accounting for 75% of all reported cases, says the report by the prestigious National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine, a non-profit adviser to the federal government.”

(http://childfriendlyfaith.org/child-abuse-and-neglect-statistics/)

Our Personal Connection

According to the National Children’s Alliance, 679,000 children in 2013 suffered from maltreatment, 80% of these children suffered from neglect http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org. This statistic has continued to rise with every passing year. In 2014, it was reported that victims totaled 116,940 children and ranged from ages 0 to 6 years. This statistic has hit a chord within my soul. In February of 2015 in Sacramento, California two siblings, ages 2 years old and 3 years old were removed from the care of their mother due to severe neglect. Their mother was at the time pregnant and had a due date sometime in early November 2015. The siblings stayed in transitional housing for one month, as do many others who await a foster family. The children had extensive tooth and mouth decay and severe diaper rash that included open sores. The younger sibling, who was a 2-year-old male, had no language and crawled. His 3-year-old sister was obese and had limited verbal skills. Both children had zero to no social skills, including not knowing how to interact with each other. When presented to a room with several stimulating toys, the little girl sat in a corner, while her brother rocked back and forth and moaned. He had a habit of shoveling food in his mouth and swallowing without chewing. An finished plate of food and removal from the kitchen table would ensure crying because of his extreme food insecurities. His sister had been emotionally traumatized and therefore took affection from anybody, including strangers. It was later discovered that the worrisome expression she wore on her face was actually the effects of being almost blind.

It is reported by www.stepupforkin.org that 62,413 children entered  the California Foster Care System. For many of these children, it is the first step of many to safety and security. The 2 and 3-year-old siblings previously described, unfortunately, are not unique in their experience. However, they will have a bright future because they are my children. In December of 2015, my husband and I became their legal foster parents with no intention or plan for reuniting with their biological mother. One month later, their 2-month-old sister was united with them and brought home to live with us.  On September 7, 2016 our family was united under California State Law as a legal family unit. My children now share our family name. Almost one year has passed since they have been my babies. The leaps and bounds that they have made are astounding. There are little traces left from their previous life of neglect but with each passing day fade and replaced with experiences and love that will surely culminate into a beautiful life.