Andrea Luna University of Texas at El Paso Child Neglect and its Distress Report English 1311

ABSTRACT Child neglect is a community problem, which affects many children around the world. There are numerous types of child neglect such as emotional and physical neglect. Various child neglect cases go unnoticed, and suffering children never get their justice. As an overview, child neglect is a problem that disturbs many childrens lives and causes physical and emotional pain. The purpose of the paper is to inform and try and stop child abuse. There are several ways people can help out such as joining or organizing communities in which people can donate and advocate child neglect.

RESEARCH What is child abuse, and how can we end it? Cage, the author of this article describes the overview and the purpose of child neglect. He analyses the statistics of the children that get abused and neglected. The author also explains how one can detect if a child is being abused by various signs. Child abuse and neglect is when a child gets neglected by their parents or their guardian, and can be physically and mentally abused causing the child to have traumas or depression. According to 2008 data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System there are approximately, 772,000 children that were victims of abuse or neglect (Cage 2010). This number can vary during the years. It may decrease or increase depending on the statistical data that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services collects. One way to prevent this community problem is by having people like, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), law enforcement officers, and CPS workers (Cage 2010). These people are always the first to come and investigate child neglect and abuse. They provide children with medical and psychological help. They are trained to, recognize the various types of child maltreatment and the sign that may indicate that maltreatment has occurred (Cage 2010). There are many types of neglect such as physical neglect in which the caregiver fails to provide the children with clothes, food, and attention. This can lead to, malnutrition; serious illness; physical harm in the form of cuts, bruises, burns or other injuries due to the lack of supervision; and a lifetime of low self-esteem (Diaz 2013). There is also educational neglect in which the guardian or parent does not enroll the child into school or any type of educational system. This causes the child to fail in growing educationally and, failing to acquire basic life skills, dropping out of school or continually displaying disruptive behavior (Diaz 2013). Another example is emotional neglect, in which the guardian does not show any form of

affection towards the child and later makes the child turn to drugs and alcohol. This is very serious due to the fact that the guardian can isolate or terrorize the child and can cause to suicide. Many children lives are taken away due to this type of neglect. Lastly there is medical neglect in where a child does not get the medical needs it is supposed to. This can also cause death because the parent fails to provide medical help although financially stabled, thus placing the child at risk of being seriously disabled or disfigured or dying (Diaz 2013). And as mentioned before one can call the U.S Department of Health and Human Services if any of these types of neglect are present in a household. Understanding this problem consists of knowing the facts and being able to determine the signs. There are states that require, every citizen who suspects abuse or neglect to report it.Reasonable suspicion" based on objective evidencewhich could be firsthand observation or hearing statements made by a parent or child (Child neglect treatments.20022013). This can get reported immediately if something like that happens. Child neglect cases are very important that people are aware of what is happening in order to help the child before it is too late. Many children suffer such as Ron who said I should be dead now from the things that were done to me. I truly believe it is because of God that I am still here (Ronald 2013). This is when you ask yourself, how many children suffer without the world even knowing? Ron was just a small boy when the abuse and neglect started. As bath time approached his mother, introduced asphyxiation into the childhood ritual. While in the tub Rons mother would hold a bath towel over his mouth until he screamed "I can't breathe! shed let go, but then do it again (Ronald 2013). These graphic scenes scar a child forever and they have to live with explicit memories which they will never forget. Eventually Ron was taken to other of his family members because

his mother did not want to take care of him anymore. They all knew what was occurring to him and no one said a word. It was later that he looked for help from another source, and up to this day he is still coping with his trauma his mother left him. It is said that today as more people are aware of child abuse and neglect, there is more people doing something about it which, has come a substantial decline in rates of reported physical and sexual abuse, a new report says (Healy 2013). In 2011, Nationally, more than three-quarters of these cases are classified as neglect, 8% as physical abuse and 9% as sexual abuse. Specific rates vary among states (Healy 2013). Before people would not take emotional abuse serious and would not look at it as a type of child neglect. As for now, people accept the fact that it is and more cases are reported. It is good to know that anything that causes a child to suffer is a type of abuse or neglect and should be instantly be reported. There is website such as National Childrens Alliance in which provides ways for the community to get involved. By providing statistical facts, this website addresses not only the United States but all the countries and compares the statistical rates of child neglect. It also evaluates the funding opportunities, professional resources, memberships, and how to donate for the children. There is a list of centers one can get to show their support. This page shows you the local communities people can gather together to stop child neglect. There are many other ways to support this cause but the webpage shows you how to get started. As we know that some cases never get resolved until it is too late like the one for example the one about an eight year old girl whos autopsy revealed that she had been strangled to death. The article examines the death of an eight year old girl. It was published in the Chicago Tribune, and her autopsy revealed that she was strangled to death. Under this webpage one can

find articles such as this one, which are cases of child neglect. Some cases go uncharged, while other accomplished justice. Many sources focus on the infamous types of child neglect, but what happens when the child is not born yet? Many women do not understand the, Dangers of drug use or addiction that can present to children during pregnancy. These dangers can result in a lifetime of problems for children. Any alcohol or drug use by a pregnant woman means a child has been drug-exposed during the pregnancy (What is child abuse and neglect? 2013). As children grow to be young adults alcohol and drug use could be present causing the child to continue the life cycle of child neglect and abuse to their own children. Not only can it be harmful later into the childs adulthood, but they could also come out with defects, such as physical complications or behavioral and emotional problems. Other type of child abuse is the selling or buying of the child. It is not seen in the United States as much as other countries, but it is also considered child abuse. Like many other types it is frowned upon and, It does not apply to legitimate adoptions or domestic relations planning (What is child abuse and neglect? 2013). There is also child pornography in which children are subjected to play a part in adult videos, and are forced to do it. This is disturbing for the child and can later result in depression and suicidal thoughts. Any type of abuse can result in suicidal thoughts or death itself. CONCLUSION So what can you do to help? When will the horrific events stop? It is up to people to organize and join communities to advocate and reach out to many suffering children that are going through any form of abuse. It is best that one gets familiarized with the signs of abuse or neglect to make it possible to get justice for the children.

Work Cited Child neglect (treatments) . (2002-2013). Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/child-neglect?tab=Treatments Cage, R. (2010). The role of first responders in child maltreatment cases: Disaster and nondisaster situations. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/first_responders/chapter1.cfm Diaz , J. (2013). Child neglect . Retrieved from http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-neglect.html Healy, M. (2013, Semptember 12). Child neglect accounts for 75% of reported abuse cases. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/12/child-abuseneglect/2803099/ National statistics on child abuse. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/NCANationalStatistics Ronald, T. (1959-2013). Neglected, abused, and molested; ron couldnt escape. Retrieved from http://www.childhelp.org/stories/entry/neglected-abused-and-molested-roncouldnt-escape1/ Williams-Harris , D. (2013, July 13). Autopsy: Death of girl, 8, ruled a homicide. Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-13/news/chi-autopsy-death-of-girl-8ruled-a-homicide-20130713_1_8-year-old-girl-child-neglect-death-investigation\ What is child abuse and neglect? . (2013). Retrieved from http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/Pages/abuse/abuse_neglect.aspx