April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

This article is brought to you by the St. Hubert Domestic Violence Outreach Ministry.
 
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
 
Each year close to 3 million reports of suspected child abuse are filed in the US. Many cases are never reported. Forms of child abuse are physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect. They are similar to the Domestic Violence cases that are reported.
 
Recognizing the Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect and Making a Difference
 
Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones. While physical abuse might be the most visible, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse and neglect, also leave deep, lasting scars. The earlier abused children get help, the greater chance they have to heal and break the cycle—rather than perpetuate it. By learning about common signs of abuse and what you can do to intervene, you can make a huge difference in a child’s life.
 
All types of child abuse and neglect leave lasting scars. Some of these scars might be physical, but emotional scarring has long lasting effects throughout life, damaging a child’s sense of self, ability to have healthy relationships, and ability to function at home, at work, and at school. Some effects include lack of trust and relationship difficulties, core feelings of being “worthless” or “damaged”, and trouble regulating emotions.
 
Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
 
Reporting child abuse can bring up a lot of difficult emotions and uncertainty. You may ask yourself if you're doing the right thing, or question if your voice will even be heard. Please read our source for more information. 
 
Source: www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm