April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Whittier Street Health Center encourages all individuals, families, and organizations to play a role in making Roxbury and the surrounding communities a better place for all children and families.
The principal types of maltreatment of children are neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
Neglect is the failure of the parent or caretaker, either deliberately or through negligence or inability, to provide a child with minimally adequate food, shelter, clothing, supervision, medical care, emotional stability and growth, and other essential care. However, inadequate economic resources or the existence of a handicapping condition need to be considered.
Physical and emotional abuse is any action that creates an injury or substantial risk to a child. Physical abuse includes beating, shaking, kicking, burning, or other types of bodily harm that can result in bruises, fractured or broken bones, internal injuries, or death.
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult has any sexual contact with a child. Sexual exploitation and molestation are also considered abuse.
The rate of reported child abuse is higher in Massachusetts, at 53.8 per 1,000 children, compared to the national average in the United States of 46.1. In Massachusetts, the rates of reported abuse were higher among African-American (23.8) and Hispanic (21.8) children than their white counterparts (7.9). Children living in homes were domestic violence was present were also at a higher risk of child abuse (6.7 versus 2.2). Children with disabilities (intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, learning disability, physical disability, or behavioral problems) are also at higher risk for child abuse.
Whittier hosts a series of programs to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month. During the week of April 7 to 11, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the Whittier Youth Services Enrichment (WYSE) program held workshops on promoting safety and engagement in healthy, peaceful activities.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. (2013). Child maltreatment 2012. Available from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/child-maltreatment.