In Our Corner

Hilary Fenske

            April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month.  In the last few years the number of child abuse cases has increased to around 3 million cases every year.  Though that is a staggering number, does it mean that more people are reporting child abuse or is child abuse happening more often?  According to Childhelp_â a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children of abuse or neglect, "experts estimate the actual number of incidents of child abuse and neglect is 3 times greater than reported." 

            It is important to know the warning signs of a child who is being abused.  Some of the physical and more obvious signs are unexplained bruises, burns, fractures, and lacerations.  A child who is neglected may also show signs of poor hygiene, inappropriate dress, unattended physical or medical problems, or increased delinquency.  The child may also be afraid to go home, steal food, money or other items, or be constantly fatigued, or fall asleep in class.  Sexual abuse of a child may lead to difficulty in walking or sitting for the child, pain, itching, bruises, and/ or bleeding in the genital area, venereal disease, and/ or pregnancy.  The child may be unwilling to change for or participate in gym classes, withdraw, have an unusual knowledge of sexual information, have poor peer relationships, be delinquent, and/ or run away from home.  Lastly, an emotionally abused child might have a speech disorder, lag in physical development, or lack the desire to thrive.  The behavioral signs may include habit disorders such as sucking, or biting, conduct disorders like antisocial or destructive disorder, neurotic traits in the form of sleep disorders or withdrawn play, phobias, obsessions, mental or emotional developmental lags, and/ or attempted suicide.  This is just a fraction of all the signs a child may display from being abused, but they are some of the more obvious signs.

            The signs and behaviors of each can interact and cross over from one form of abuse to another.  It is also possible for there to be co-existing forms of abuse occurring.  The devastating truth is that 1,500 children die every year from child abuse and neglect (www.childhelp.org).  It is important to know the warning signs of abuse, document it, and report it.  By doing this you may save a child's life. 

Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center

– A participating United Way Agency

Office Phone (605)224-0256

E-mail: domestic@missourishores.com

Website: www.missourishores.com

24 Hour Crisis Hotline: (605) 224-7187

Or toll free: 1-800-696-7187