Already on edge, the parent loses it when the baby cries too
loud, or has a tantrum at the store because the parent can’t
afford to buy the toy their child wants.
Child Protective Services’ 2009 statistics for El Paso reveal that
of the 2246 children who were confirmed victims of abuse, 434
were physically abused, 184 were sexually abused, 336 were
physically or medically neglected, and 1610 were victims of
neglectful supervision. The remaining confirmed abuse cases
were due to other factors.* In El Paso, 98.2% of the abusers
were the child’s parent(s) as compared to 74% across the State.
We at the El Paso Child Crisis Center believe that spanking and
hitting a child is never the right response. It only serves to
teach children that violence is an acceptable form of behavior,
and perpetuates abuse from one generation to the next. If a
parent who spanks or slaps his or her child were to be honest
and ask, “Do I hit my child because my child ‘deserved it’ or do I
do it because I am angry and frustrated?” I’m betting the
honest answer is it is done out of anger and frustration. I would
add that no child ever “deserves it.”
Patience and knowledge are the keys to responsible parenting.
While these skills are not easy to develop, parents can learn
them with the resources available at the El Paso Child Crisis
Center. One coping skill we teach is stepping back. If life
circumstances are causing undue stress and your child is on
your nerves, take a break. Recognize that it’s OK to call
grandma, aunt “Carmen” or a trusted friend to take care of your
child for a few hours or a couple of days. If you don’t have a
family member or trusted friend, the Child Crisis Center of El
Paso can help.
One of the many services the center provides is parent
education. Parents can develop skills that can help better
understand a child’s behavior and how to manage them. If
coping with your children is difficult, enroll in a parenting class
offered by the Child Crisis Center. After all, babies don’t come
with instructions. All services provided at the Child Crisis
Center are free and are available to everyone.
Child abuse can happen in any family, to any child. While it is
the parents’ responsibility to protect their children, there are
many who will step in to help if asked. The children of these
recent cases did not deserve to die or suffer at the hands of
their parents or guardians and no child deserves to get hurt.
April is Child Abuse Prevention month. Be aware that if you, or
someone you know needs support, the Child Crisis Center is
here to help.
If you suspect that someone is abusing their child, report it
immediately. The Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-252-5400. Child
Protective Services is an ally for the family. Their goal is to
preserve the family. A report to CPS can open the door to
resources that stressed parents may badly need, yet are not
aware exist.
The community needs to get involved too. There are over 40
agencies in El Paso County with missions that help prevent child
abuse and neglect or serve children. Most of the agencies are
non-profits that have faced serious funding reductions due to
the current economy. Agencies like the Child Crisis Center of El
Paso, C.A.S.A., The Child Advocacy Center of El Paso, the El
Paso Center for Children, the Lee Moore Children’s Home and
others exist specifically to protect children. At a time when they
are needed the most, they are challenged to bring in the funds
they need to maintain services. You can call the United Way of
El Paso County for information on any of these agencies or call
211.
*Department of Family and Protective Services Annual Report, www.dfps.state.tx.
us/documents/about/Data_Books_and_Annual_Reports/2009/5CPS.pdf
loud, or has a tantrum at the store because the parent can’t
afford to buy the toy their child wants.
Child Protective Services’ 2009 statistics for El Paso reveal that
of the 2246 children who were confirmed victims of abuse, 434
were physically abused, 184 were sexually abused, 336 were
physically or medically neglected, and 1610 were victims of
neglectful supervision. The remaining confirmed abuse cases
were due to other factors.* In El Paso, 98.2% of the abusers
were the child’s parent(s) as compared to 74% across the State.
We at the El Paso Child Crisis Center believe that spanking and
hitting a child is never the right response. It only serves to
teach children that violence is an acceptable form of behavior,
and perpetuates abuse from one generation to the next. If a
parent who spanks or slaps his or her child were to be honest
and ask, “Do I hit my child because my child ‘deserved it’ or do I
do it because I am angry and frustrated?” I’m betting the
honest answer is it is done out of anger and frustration. I would
add that no child ever “deserves it.”
Patience and knowledge are the keys to responsible parenting.
While these skills are not easy to develop, parents can learn
them with the resources available at the El Paso Child Crisis
Center. One coping skill we teach is stepping back. If life
circumstances are causing undue stress and your child is on
your nerves, take a break. Recognize that it’s OK to call
grandma, aunt “Carmen” or a trusted friend to take care of your
child for a few hours or a couple of days. If you don’t have a
family member or trusted friend, the Child Crisis Center of El
Paso can help.
One of the many services the center provides is parent
education. Parents can develop skills that can help better
understand a child’s behavior and how to manage them. If
coping with your children is difficult, enroll in a parenting class
offered by the Child Crisis Center. After all, babies don’t come
with instructions. All services provided at the Child Crisis
Center are free and are available to everyone.
Child abuse can happen in any family, to any child. While it is
the parents’ responsibility to protect their children, there are
many who will step in to help if asked. The children of these
recent cases did not deserve to die or suffer at the hands of
their parents or guardians and no child deserves to get hurt.
April is Child Abuse Prevention month. Be aware that if you, or
someone you know needs support, the Child Crisis Center is
here to help.
If you suspect that someone is abusing their child, report it
immediately. The Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-252-5400. Child
Protective Services is an ally for the family. Their goal is to
preserve the family. A report to CPS can open the door to
resources that stressed parents may badly need, yet are not
aware exist.
The community needs to get involved too. There are over 40
agencies in El Paso County with missions that help prevent child
abuse and neglect or serve children. Most of the agencies are
non-profits that have faced serious funding reductions due to
the current economy. Agencies like the Child Crisis Center of El
Paso, C.A.S.A., The Child Advocacy Center of El Paso, the El
Paso Center for Children, the Lee Moore Children’s Home and
others exist specifically to protect children. At a time when they
are needed the most, they are challenged to bring in the funds
they need to maintain services. You can call the United Way of
El Paso County for information on any of these agencies or call
211.
*Department of Family and Protective Services Annual Report, www.dfps.state.tx.
us/documents/about/Data_Books_and_Annual_Reports/2009/5CPS.pdf
1. In 2005, 12.1 of every 1,000 American children, almost 900,000 in all,
suffered abuse by adults, with parents of victims accounting for almost 80%
of abusers.
2. 715,760 children were confirmed abused and neglected in 2008,
thousands more went unreported.
3. Every day, about four children die in the U.S. because of abuse or
neglect,most of them babies or toddlers.
4. For every incident of child abuse or neglect that gets reported, it’s
estimated that two others go unreported.
5. Neglect is by far the most common form of child abuse, accounting for
more than 60% of all cases.
6. Physical abuse accounts for between 15% and 20% of documented
child abuse cases each year.
7. A third of all girls and a fifth of boys are sexually abused by an adult
during childhood.
8. 9 out of 10 sexual abusers are someone in the family or someone the
child knows.
9. About 10% of babies are born to drug-using mothers.
10. Of kids who have a parent who uses drugs, one in 13 is physically
abused regularly.
11. Abused children are more likely to abuse alcohol and become addicted
to drugs, and one third will later abuse their own children.
12. Of all prison inmates, 84% were abused as children.
Sources:
Baltimore County
Way 2 Hope Home
Child Abuse.com
Child Welfare League of America
Child Help
Sexual abuse of children leaves devastating consequences…
Children who have been sexually abused:
suffered abuse by adults, with parents of victims accounting for almost 80%
of abusers.
2. 715,760 children were confirmed abused and neglected in 2008,
thousands more went unreported.
3. Every day, about four children die in the U.S. because of abuse or
neglect,most of them babies or toddlers.
4. For every incident of child abuse or neglect that gets reported, it’s
estimated that two others go unreported.
5. Neglect is by far the most common form of child abuse, accounting for
more than 60% of all cases.
6. Physical abuse accounts for between 15% and 20% of documented
child abuse cases each year.
7. A third of all girls and a fifth of boys are sexually abused by an adult
during childhood.
8. 9 out of 10 sexual abusers are someone in the family or someone the
child knows.
9. About 10% of babies are born to drug-using mothers.
10. Of kids who have a parent who uses drugs, one in 13 is physically
abused regularly.
11. Abused children are more likely to abuse alcohol and become addicted
to drugs, and one third will later abuse their own children.
12. Of all prison inmates, 84% were abused as children.
Sources:
Baltimore County
Way 2 Hope Home
Child Abuse.com
Child Welfare League of America
Child Help
Sexual abuse of children leaves devastating consequences…
Children who have been sexually abused:
- are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
- are 2.5 times more likely to abuse alcohol
- have eating disorders and suicide rates abound
| 12 Facts About Child Abuse |
In the United States,
the Most Common…
• Person reporting abuse/neglect:
School Professional (18.9%)
• Allegation confirmed:
Neglectful Supervision (63.2%)
• Confirmed perpetrator of abuse/neglect:
Relationship: Parent (77.9%)
Gender: Female (55.9%)
Age: Age 26-35 (38.5%)
Marital Status: Married (28.8%)
the Most Common…
• Person reporting abuse/neglect:
School Professional (18.9%)
• Allegation confirmed:
Neglectful Supervision (63.2%)
• Confirmed perpetrator of abuse/neglect:
Relationship: Parent (77.9%)
Gender: Female (55.9%)
Age: Age 26-35 (38.5%)
Marital Status: Married (28.8%)
| • Confirmed perpetrator of abuse/neglect: Relationship: Parent (77.9%) Gender: Female (55.9%) Age: Age 26-35 (38.5%) Marital Status: Married (28.8%) • Characteristic of confirmed victim Age: Age 1 to 3 (24.9%) Gender: Female (51.9%) In El Paso, 2,337 children were confirmed of being abused/neglected last year. Some were abused/neglected repeatedly. TX Dept of Family and Protective Services 2010 Annual Data Report |
| If you are stressed to the point that you think you may harm your child, please call us. We can help! |
| By: Al Velarde Executive Director, Child Crisis Center of El Paso |
The experts say that child
abuse is most often caused by
factors not related to the child’
s behavior. Financial
problems, single parenting,
substance abuse, marital or
relationship problems, and
even just having a bad day
can result in a parent lashing
out at their children.
abuse is most often caused by
factors not related to the child’
s behavior. Financial
problems, single parenting,
substance abuse, marital or
relationship problems, and
even just having a bad day
can result in a parent lashing
out at their children.
"America has the worst child abuse record in the industrialised world- the
U.S. child abuse death rate is 3 times higher than Canada’s, and 11 times
higher than Italy’s...There were 12,180 reported child abuse deaths and
24,259,000 reports of child abuse and neglect from 2001-2008... In 2009
alone, 1,770 children were killed as a result of maltreatment. A recent
congressional report concludes the real number could be nearer 2,500."
Click the link below to read an eye-opening report on child abuse today in our
country.
We Can Do Better Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America
U.S. child abuse death rate is 3 times higher than Canada’s, and 11 times
higher than Italy’s...There were 12,180 reported child abuse deaths and
24,259,000 reports of child abuse and neglect from 2001-2008... In 2009
alone, 1,770 children were killed as a result of maltreatment. A recent
congressional report concludes the real number could be nearer 2,500."
Click the link below to read an eye-opening report on child abuse today in our
country.
We Can Do Better Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America
Child Abuse –
Children Don’t Deserve It
Children Don’t Deserve It
| Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities vs. Other Causes of Death Total child abuse and neglect deaths were greater than all five other more publicized causes of death in a single year, as can be seen in this chart. |
More Resources and Information:
- ChildHelp.org
- Prevent Child Abuse Texas
- Child Abuse Questions and Answers
- We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America by Every
Child Matters Education Fund - Child Abuse and Neglect: A Preventable "Disease"
- Healinginthehurtingplaces.org
- Texas Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-5400
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
| "Protecting Our Children, Preserving Our Future" |
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Contact Us
| Having trouble finding our location? |
2100 N Stevens St
El Paso, TX 79930
P: 915-562-7955
F: 915-562-2524
anevarez@childcrisiselp.org
El Paso, TX 79930
P: 915-562-7955
F: 915-562-2524
anevarez@childcrisiselp.org
Educate and Advocate