CHILD ABUSE

National Council On Child Abuse & Family Violence

Child Welfare Information Gateway connects professionals and concerned citizens to practical, timely, and essential information on programs, research, legislation, and statistics to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.

Boys Town is the nation's largest privately funded organization serving severely at-risk children. Founded in 1917 by Father Edward Flanagan, this nonprofit, nonsectarian organization provides abused, abandoned and neglected children with a safe, caring, loving environment where they gain confidence to get better and learn skills to become productive citizens. Named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America's Promise Alliance.

A Canadian child abuse statistics survey done by Bibby in 2000 (20011)revealed that 56% of adolescents rated child abuse as their top societal concern. It would be very easy to brush this statistic off by saying 'what do they know, they're just kids'. But before you set this adolescent concern aside, consider that in a decade or two or three these same 'kids' will be our lawyers and judges and lawmakers. These same 'kids' are our future. We owe it to ourselves to take the statistic seriously.

World health organization [WHO] Child maltreatment, sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, includes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity. Within this broad definition, five subtypes can be distinguished – physical abuse; sexual abuse; neglect and negligent treatment; emotional abuse; and exploitation.

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. To report abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD. If the abuse is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

For over 100 years, Tennyson Center has been changing lives and giving hope to children and families throughout the Rocky Mountain region. At Tennyson Center, children and families have a full spectrum of resources to help them gain insights, support and healing through a variety of programs including residential treatment, special education/day treatment, a special services unit for sub-acute and respite needs, and community-based family services. What You Can Do to Help.

Child Abuse: A fact sheet from the Department of Justice Canada