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Jon Estrada
Engl 1302-11
C. Bevill
10 May 2015
Fight the Abuse
Child Abuse is an extremely atrocious situation that resides within the nation. More than
one-half of all reported victims (59.2 percent) suffered neglect, an estimated rate of 7 per 1,000
children. Approximately one-fifth of all known victims (18.6 percent) were physically abused, an
estimated rate of 2 per 1,000 children. Of all reported child maltreatment cases, almost one-tenth
(9.6 percent) had been sexually abused, an estimate rate of 1 per 1,000 children (Lanning). One
may not even know it is happening in their own neighborhood. For example, Each day, the
safety and well-being of some children across the nation are threatened by child abuse that inflict
tremendous amount of damage. Intervening effectively in the lives of these children and their
families is not the sole responsibility of any single agency or professional group, but rather is a
shared community concern (Lanning). Schools have one of the largest opportunities to help
promote protection plans to help children in need but have since veered from promoting a safe
haven against child abuse. A schools involvement in prevention can be divided into schoolbased programs, school community programs, and individual action on the part of educators
(Tower). With detrimental statistics showing the effects of child abuse, schools should seek out
ways of helping these children maybe even before it is overwhelmingly abusive. Through teacher
workshops, volunteer work and, revamped student teach programs, schools can inform the
students of child abuse in a new and effective approach in hope of raising awareness and
decreasing the rate of abuse.

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Schools need the most cost effective approach for programs like these in which it would
be reasonably allowed per school year. It also needs reliable sources showing schools are the best
places for acknowledgement of child abuse. Studies show, The view that prevention of child
maltreatment should be "child-centered" infers that schools play a critical role in the
identification and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Schools provide a logical setting for
implementing Child Sexual Abuse Programs because they can reach a significant number of
children. Educators have a unique opportunity to observe changes in children's appearance and
behavior and to provide support, and guidance (Tower) with that, one can focus ideas the school
can provide to help prevention, and it all begins with the Teachers. The leaders of the schools;
the ones put out on the front line for the school. Teachers have the greatest impact on students
and have every opportunity to reach out to students in all areas of their lives. They receive so
much information from the students, but it is important the teachers know how to process the
information and how to extinguish a red flag for child abuse. Requiring teachers to take new and
improved workshops for understanding child abuse and what signals to look out for would
increasingly alleviate potential occurrences and unveil current ones. In the workshops,
discussions about the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (CSAP) programs which play a crucial
role in prevention and early detection of child maltreatment can be acknowledged (Lanning).
The primary goal of CSAP programs is the prevention of the occurrence of sexual abuse, its
early detection when it does occur, and the reduction in severity of emotional sequels subsequent
to its occurrence" (Tower). These workshops would be funded just like any other workshops
would be except, it would cover how to protect and alert oneself of child abuse instead of the
ritual academic calendar. These workshops are fundamental building blocks for a defense against
abuse. But there is more a school can do as well.

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Informing students of the threats from Child abuse in their lives and in their friends can
also make a difference. During the course of a school year schools have red ribbon week for
being above the influence of drugs, why not have a week of child abuse awareness. Get guest
speakers who will raise awareness to the students and incorporate Socialization or, learning
appropriate ways to interact with peers (PCAA) as they participate in activities during the
school day and even find days where the academic agenda has space for informative videos to be
shown so the students can be enlightened by visuals of child abuse. Of course, participation
forms would need to be signed so students could watch the videos because there could be
obscene situations some parents would rather not have their child exposed too. They may want to
inform their child themselves as well. It is crucial students be aware of child abuse because there
are so many students who do not have the knowledge to understand it is happening to them.
Having friends or a group is more powerful and can be more effective to speak out if a friend is
in danger rather than the individual feeling alone and having no one to get help.
After school activities that can enhance a childs well-being are just as effective in
preventing or unveiling abuse. Sometimes there is a need for kids to remain after school for
multiple reasons. Whatever the reason, students in after school activities can be helped by
connecting with each and every one within the program and demonstrating sincere care for them
can open the kids up and speak out for help. Reducing the level of chronic disruptive and
aggressive behavior in middle school populations by teaching conflict management and peer
mediation skills. Such acting out behaviors are frequently observed in youth who have been
abused or are members of high-risk families. In after school activities, one can be given hope for
a good life by being enforced and surrounded by positive people who want to help them in all
aspects of life. Exercises can be implemented to create awareness about abuse, videos can be

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shown and, after school activities alone give a safe place for children until their parent can get
them or if they have no safe place to go. It doesnt stop with the schools though. In order to make
the schools possible on raising awareness for child abuse, volunteers such as parents and future
college students who need community service hours for their resumes and college applications
make marvelous candidates for positions in the after school programs. These individuals can also
help reduce the expenses of programs that need to be funded like these. It allows for many life
experiences to move in and out of the after school program and increase a positive lifestyle for
everyone.
For so many opportunities to help prevent child abuse of any kind, why havent we put
emphasis on promoting awareness to help increase the prevention of it. Certainly it isnt the
funding; in some schools, the amount of funding ranged from $ 100 per year to $2,800 per year.
Correlation between funding and length of program was conducted using a cross tabulation
analysis, while a t-test was used to determine the connection between funding and evaluation.
Both analyses revealed non-significant results. Funding did not seem to be a factor in whether
the program was evaluated or in determining the length of the program. In fact, programs that
were not funded tended to be longer than the funded programs (Evers). These workshops,
student programs and, after school activities are feasible and need to be proposed. The
community can also help to make a significant difference in the children living in it. Within the
schools is the best place to start and with so much support the schools can get, there is no reason
tactics like the ones listed in this proposal should not be implemented immediately.

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Works Cited
Evers, Tony, PHD. Madison, WI: Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction, Jan. 2013. PDF.
Lanning, Beth, and Marilyn Massey-Stokes. "Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs In Texas
Accredited Non-Public Schools." American Journal Of Health Studies 21.1/2 (2006): 3643. Academic Search Complete. Ebsco Database. Web. 1 May 2015.
"Recognzing #GreatChildhoods." Prevent Child Abuse America. N.p., 2013. Web. 01 May 2015.
Tower, Cynthia. "The Role Of Educators In Preventing And Responding To Child Abuse And
Neglect.". N.p., 2003. Web. 2015.