Rocco Basile and Children of the City Provide Family Services to Prevent Child Abuse

Every year there are more than 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States and those reports often include multiple children. 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations in the year 2007. Fortunately the incidence of child abuse and neglect has been decreasing in recent years. But statistics reveal that children in low socioeconomic families have more than three times the rate of child abuse and seven times the rate of neglect than other children.

Basically, child abuse can involve children who were victims of neglect, or when a parent or guardian failed to provide for the child's basic needs. Forms of neglect include also educational, physical and emotional neglect. There are also children who are victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

In 2007, an average of four children died every day as a result of child abuse or neglect.

There is no single group of children immune from being a victim of child abuse. However girls are more often the victims of sexual abuse than boys. Statistics are about equal for boys and girls for all other types neglect or abuse. Children of all races and ethnicities can be victims. Nearly one-half of all victims of child abuse and neglect in 2007 were white, one-fifth were African-American, and one-fifth were Hispanic.

Typically it's the youngest children that are the most vulnerable, although children of all ages experience abuse and neglect. Almost 32 percent of the victims of child abuse and neglect are under the age of four years. Plus children whose parents are unemployed have about two times the rate of child abuse and two to three times the rate of neglect than children with employed parents.

Children living with their married biological parents are at the lowest risk for child abuse and neglect, while living with a single parent and a live-in partner increased the risk of abuse and neglect to more than eight times that of other children. City organizations nationwide, like Children of the City, have increased the number of programs and mentors willing to educate and support families going through difficult times, in order to strive to change the culture of poverty.

In 2007, 57 percent, or more than half of all reports involving child abuse made to CPS agencies came from professionals who had come in contact with an abused child -- such as teachers, lawyers, marriage counselors, police officers, or social workers. Furthermore, professionals from these fields are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect.

However, many reports, about 26 percent, came from nonprofessional sources, such as relatives, friends, and neighbors and parents, with seven percent of all reports in 2007 being anonymous.

For more information including the latest trends on educating children, and organizations in communities that assist in preventing child abuse and neglect, go to www.roccobasile.org.

--Rocco Basile

Source: "The Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect report.