AM I NOT HUMAN?

On the 27th of each month a group of independent bloggers post on the subject of Human Rights Campaign sponsored by the Roots of Humanity.

This month the subject of Child Abuse is the Human Rights topic that I am posting about.

As families in the United States continue to deal with the stress of the economic crisis, the number of child abuse cases are on the rise nationwide.

Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund shares her concern about the rising numbers of children being abused due to economic stress on their families.

Marian Wright Edelman

Child Watch Column

In the middle of all the headlines and 24-hour news reports about the economic crisis, one critical story is just beginning to be told. Four days after Christmas, the Washington Post ran this article: "Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread." In the article, area child welfare workers talked about the noticeable rise in the number of child abuse and neglect investigations. Many of the new neglect cases were connected to families trying to make do without heat, electricity or necessary medical care, like asthma medications and other basic needs. An emergency room doctor at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, worried about a recent jump in the number of children coming in with bruises, broken bones and burns, and colleagues in other cities told her they'd noticed the same thing. 

Operators at child abuse prevention hotlines were also hearing from growing numbers of parents whose financial problems were pushing them over the edge and making them lose control around their children. The child welfare experts interviewed in the article agreed that economic stress puts already fragile families, like those facing domestic violence or substance abuse, at even greater risk. Families who may have seemed fine only a few months ago are also in danger. Linda Spears, vice president of the Child Welfare League of America, told the Post she is seeing cases of "middle-class families living in their cars, so afraid of losing their children that they tell the children not to tell anyone they're homeless…. In late winter or early spring, I suspect we'll just begin to see the impact on kids." (source)

The foster care system in the United States is also feeling the strain of economic hard times.  The United States foster care system was in a bad financial condition even before the current economic crisis. Last fall the Washington Post reported that “in nearly every state… the cost of providing basic care for a foster child exceeds the government's foster-care reimbursement rate.” Researchers at the University of Maryland, who conducted the study, factored in basic needs such as food and clothing. The ensuing economic crisis has likely halted plans for any future government increase in funding for children currently in foster care.

Poverty, homelessness and unemployment are some of the main contributing factors to children being placed in foster care. Considering the current economic condition across the country, many experts believe it is possible that the number of children entering foster care will rise in the coming months. The American foster care system is already facing challenges due to a lack of funding and workers. It is difficult to recruit and hold on to trained social workers who might improve the experiences of children in foster homes, which have gained a reputation as being unsafe in recent years. Further, the economic downturn takes a toll on struggling families; the number of children and youth entering and remaining in foster care is expected to increase as the economy worsens. Child welfare workers are already seeing a rise in reported child abuse and neglect cases, with increases of more than 20 percent in some areas. (source)

The Child Welfare League's National Fact Sheet  2009 provides this information regarding the well being of America's child/youth population.  In 2006, approximately 3.3 million allegations of child abuse and neglect including 6 million children were made to CPS agencies. Of those, 2,271,160 reports were referred for investigation, as reported by 42 states. 18 


During federal fiscal year 2006, an estimated 905,000 children in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect. Of these children, 64.1% were neglected, 16% were physically abused, and 8.8% were sexually abused. The victimization rate was 12.1 per 1,000 children, a 3.2% decrease from 2001. 19 


Of the children substantiated as abused and neglected, only 58.9% received follow-up services. Of those reported as abused and neglected but not substantiated, 30.3% received follow-up services. One-fifth (21.5%) of children substantiated as abused or neglected were placed in foster care as a result of an investigation. 20 


In 2006, 1,530 children died as a result of abuse or neglect. 21 


In 2006, 510,885 children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico lived apart from their families in out-of-home care, compared with 506,483 children in 2005. Of these children, 33% were age 5 or younger, and 20.4% were 16 or older. 22 


Of the children living in out-of-home care in 2006, 40% were white, 34% black, 18% Hispanic, 2% American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 7% children of other races and ethnicities. 23  (source)

While communities continue to struggle with budget cuts to fund programs that provide cruicial services to children and families, what can we do to protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society?  

Marian Wright Edelman has these suggestions on how we can help prevent the rise of child abuse within our communities.Here are solutions that work. Studies have shown home visiting and other family support programs can help prevent child maltreatment. One recent study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that communities where the Positive Parenting Program was available to all parents had significantly lower rates of confirmed child abuse, fewer placements into foster care, and fewer hospitalizations from child abuse injuries when compared to communities without access to the program. A study of the Nurse Family Partnership Program showed that unmarried and low-income women and their very young children who received regular home visits from nurses had 48 percent fewer verified reports of child abuse or neglect. Another study demonstrated that Healthy Families, another home visiting program, reduced abuse and neglect of young children. 

Programs that identify families who may need support early and provide help as soon as problems begin also are effective. A number of states are implementing new response systems as alternatives to the routine child abuse or neglect investigation process to help families receive support sooner. Some states are finding new ways to evaluate families’ strengths and needs and bring together extended family and others to assist overwhelmed parents. Children in foster care who have been abused or neglected often need special support. A new law enacted in the 110th Congress, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, will help these children get the education, health care and permanence they need in their lives. This new act now needs to be implemented across the country to truly benefit children.

We need to increase states' and communities' ability to address substance abuse, mental health problems and domestic violence—problems that bring children to the attention of the child welfare system. Evidence shows that comprehensive family-based treatment works; family drug courts can be effective; treatment for mothers who are depressed or have other mental health problems helps them meet the needs of their children. We must support agencies offering critical family assistance or treatment services to children and families in crisis. (source)

The government cannot shoulder the total burden for this effort. We must all be working towards improving the lives of children.  It is easy to sit back and criticize the conditions.  It is more important that we speak out and become advocates to help improve the lives of children.

The Am I Not Human Campaign is sponsored by The Roots Of Humanity.

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