We Have No Higher Priority than Protecting the Dreams of our Children
August 3, 2010
All children should have dreams that are not fantasies but real world expectations. These dreams should represent their hope and aspirations of who and what they can become. They are dreams that a child should passionately save, study, work, and fight for if given help and encouragement by adults close to them. Unfortunately, there are “dream crushers” in our midst. Every time a child becomes a victim of violence or abuse their dreams are chipped away. They begin feeling a sense of helplessness and hopelessness and wonder if their dreams can ever come true. They may blame grown-ups close to them for failing to watch over them. Their ability to trust and rely on adults may soon diminish. If you can’t trust your family and friends to protect you, who can you trust? The following clearly illustrates that “dream crushers” are at work.
Statistics published by ChildHelp indicate that:
• Three children die of child abuse in the home in the United States each day.
• Child abuse and neglect is the single leading cause of death for children ages four and younger.
• On average, child abuse is reported somewhere in the United States every 10 seconds.
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
• Children who experience child abuse and 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 a violent crime.
Chris Newlin, the Executive Director of the National Children’s Advocacy Center, shared the following data during our recent CAC Legislative Day.
• There are approximately 75 million children in the United States. Research indicates that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be the victims of some type of sexual abuse/assault before the age of 18. This equates to almost 1.5 million children being sexually abused or assaulted over the next 18 years.
• 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the Internet.
Additionally, he stated that child sexual abuse is:
• 1.4 times more common that children with disabilities
• 1.9 times more common than children with intellectual disabilities
• 3.0 times more common that children with autism
• 7.5 times more common that childhood cancer
We have no higher priority in this world than protecting children and their dreams; therefore, our communities must become “safe spaces” for our children. How do we create community-wide safe spaces for our children?
1. Vow to protect our children’s dreams. As a community we must be deliberate and intentional in safeguarding our children. In order for them to be victorious in realizing their goals, our children cannot be victims nor can they be the victimizer.
2. Manage and control their sphere of influence. Understand everything you can about your child. We must know where our children are, what they are doing, whom they are with, and how we can reach them at all times. Children should only visit friends whose homes have been cleared as “safe spaces”. Although we may not have control over every aspect of our children’s lives, we do have the obligation of understanding and managing the things we can control.
3. Put on your armor. Experts state that much of what will keep our children safe must be learned in the home. Become familiar with signs of abuse. Learn and understand the skills and tools necessary to minimize risk of harm to children in the community. Contact your local children’s advocacy center for information on adult-focused prevention programs.
4. Prepare for the battle by becoming Internet and cyber savvy. Using Internet communication tools such as email, instant messaging and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace can put children at risk of encountering online predators. Ensure that you keep your family computer in a common area of the house, never in a child’s bedroom. Many teens are now creating and using blogs to pen their thoughts and recent activities. Read your child’s blog. Some parents may feel that it is an invasion of their privacy. It is not! Blogs are more like billboards and journals. They are posted for the entire world, including the parents, to see.
5. Listen and watch. Communicate with children. We must be attuned as to what is normal behavior for our children so that we can immediately recognize when something is “not quite right.”
6. Arm our children with information. Talk to children about sexual predators as well as online dangers. Stress to them the importance of protecting their cyber reputation. We must create an environment that promotes open and frank communications so that children may avoid, stop, or report an abusive experience. Emphasize to children that there is always someone available if he or she needs to talk. Research shows that children whose parents talk to them about preventing sexual abuse are more effective at averting assaults.
7. Report suspected cases of child abuse. The job of protecting children begins in our communities. Although there are certain people required by Georgia law to report child maltreatment, anyone can make a report of suspected abuse by contacting your local law enforcement or Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.
8. Most importantly, know who to call when you need assistance. Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia is committed to building and maintaining healthy, ongoing, collaborative relationships with Georgia communities. Our website provides links to various organizations that can provide vital information on how to access services and support for victims of child abuse and nonoffending family members.
As a community, it must be our resolve to create safe spaces and raise victorious children. Victorious children are those that live happy, healthy, peaceful and cooperative lives. They love themselves and others (in that order). Above all they have dreams and embrace the future.
Posted By Cynthia D. Howell
CEO
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia