Child Abuse Prevention Month: 10 Facts About Child Abuse, Plus Children’s Justice Center Event
In 2023, the Clark County Council proclaimed April as Child Abuse Awareness Month, coinciding with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, also in April. “Child abuse is 100% preventable,” said Amy Russell, executive director at the Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center (CJC) at the time of the proclamation. “National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect is to ensure parents and caregivers have the knowledge, skills, support and resources they need to care for children.”
As part of their mission to protect children, CJC is inviting the Clark County community to join in a Child Abuse Awareness “Walk + Learn,” designed to engage caregivers and families in conversations about keeping kids safe. The free, family friendly event will happen Sunday, June 23 (not in April, due to weather), 9-11 am at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. No registration is required, and the walk will include activities and interactive exhibits.
Also in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month, FVRLibraries will host “Keeping It Safe Online: A Law Enforcement Guide for Parents About Online Safety” with Officer Rob Givens, who is part of the Vancouver Police Department Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit. This discussion (for parents and caregivers only) will focus on prevention, risk factors and how to respond if your child is being exploited online. The event will take place Monday, April 15, 2204, 6:30-7:30 pm at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver. More information can be found at bit.ly/KeepingItSafeOnline.
With the same goal as CJC, National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), based in Alabama, shares ten facts about child abuse, to educate individuals and communities about how best to protect children. These facts are published below with permission from NCAC.
Fact #1
Child abuse happens in every part of society. Rates of physical abuse and neglect are affected by socioeconomic status. It is child sexual abuse perpetration/victimization that occurs in all parts of society.
Fact #2
Children are usually victimized by someone they know. In 2019, 91.4% of victims (all types) were maltreated by one or both parents. Other perpetrators known to victims include foster parents, other relatives, neighbors and daycare providers. In instances of child sexual abuse, about 90% of victims know their abuser.
Fact #3
Children rarely tell someone they are being abused. Research has found that most child victims delay or never disclose child sexual abuse to friends, family or the authorities.
Fact #4
It is extremely rare for a child to lie about sexual abuse. Falso allegations of sexual abuse by children and adolescents are statistically uncommon, occurring at a rate of 2%-10% of all cases.
Fact #5
Medical evidence is rarely discovered after a child discloses sexual abuse. Medical evidence is found in less than 5% of substantiated child sexual abuse cases.
Fact #6
While all types of abuse are possible in the home, child neglect is more common than sexual abuse. Child neglect is the most common type of abuse experienced in the home.
Fact #7
Children who are sexually abused are not destined to continue the cycle of abuse as adults. Sexual abuse victims rarely go on to become perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Fact #8
Men and women are both capable of sexual abuse. Research estimates between 10%-20% of substantiated child sexual abuse claims are perpetrated by females.
Fact #9
Boys and girls react in similar ways to sexual abuse. The severity of the traumatization among male victims of sexual abuse is equal to that of female victims.
Fact #10
Children with disabilities are more likely to become victims of abuse than children without disabilities. Children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to experience child sexual abuse than children without disabilities.
Go here to learn more about National Children’s Advocacy Center and child abuse prevention.
Learn more about the Children’s Justice Center, including resources for caregivers, tips on child abuse prevention and information about reporting abuse at www.clark.wa.gov/cjc.
