Child abuse is not only a horrid breach of faith
between children and their caregivers, leaving
physical and emotional scars that are sometimes
permanent, but it also touches every taxpayer,
abused or not, where it hurts.
A recent report by Prevent Child Abuse America
(PCAA) estimated that the annual cost of child
abuse and neglect in the United States is approximately
$104 billion. From this amount, direct costs
of child maltreatment, including foster care, judicial
expenses, law enforcement, and health system
responses account for $33 billion. Indirect costs,
such as long-term economic effects from the damage
that abuse inflicts, are approximately $70 billion.
In 2004, the local, state, and federal cost of
providing foster care was $23 billion.
“Most people don’t think of the costs associated
with child abuse,” says Senator Carlos Uresti,
District 19. “We focus on the horror of child abuse,
and not on financial implications. But the reality is
that child abuse is a drain on our society, both
emotionally and financially. A child who is the victim
of abuse today will carry that experience with
him or her for life, and that impacts a great many
things during the course of one’s life.”
The good news in this bleak scenario is that there
are organizations and movements available to help
prevent and educate about child abuse.
Senator Uresti founded the Blue Ribbon Task
Force (BRTF) Awareness Campaign which seeks to
raise the Bexar County public’s awareness of child
abuse and also to educate and encourage San
Antonio-area parents about resources that are available.
BTRF wants every parent and caregiver to
know that they can call 2-1-1 if they feel overwhelmed
or need support whilst caring for children.
Parents and caregivers who dial 2-1-1 are connected
to critical health and human services to help
them deal with the root causes that can lead to
child abuse and neglect.
Promotional materials, including posters, are
available to physicians and others to post. For BTRF posters and promotional materials, call the Bexar County Medical Society and ask for
Mary Nava at 210-301-4395. For more
information on the BRTF, visit
www.blueribbontaskforce.com.
For professionals, including physicians,
school nurses, teachers, counselors,
psychologists, psychiatrists,
pediatric dentists, fire investigators,
and members of the faith community,
the Childhelp National Child Abuse
Hotline, while not a reporting agency,
is dedicated to preventing child abuse
and is staffed 24 hours each day with
professional crisis counselors with a
database of thousands of resources in
order to inform each caller.
The hotline counselors can discuss
such issues as: signs and symptoms
of abuse; appropriate courses
of action; what happens when child
abuse is reported; and give callers
the number of the local reporting
agency that should be contacted to
report child abuse.
For more information on the
Childhelp National Child Abuse
Hotline, call 1-800-4-A-CHILD
(1-800-422-4453) and push “1” to
talk to a hotline counselor or “2” for
literature to be mailed.
Signs of Child Abuse
The following are a few of the behavioral and physical signs of child
abuse and neglect, in order to remind physicians, school professionals,
and others who work with children what to look for, even if abuse is not
initially suspected. Vigilance is the key. Even those who work with children
on a regular basis can sometimes miss these signs.
Please remember that the listed signs of child abuse in each category
may involve more than one type of abuse or neglect. For example, “lack of
concentration” could be a sign of sexual abuse as well as emotional abuse.
Physical Signs of Child Abuse
• Unexplained burns, cuts, bruises,
or welts in the shape of an object
• Bite marks
• Anti-social behavior
• Problems in school
• Fear of adults
Emotional Signs of Child Abuse
• Apathy
• Depression
• Hostility or stress
• Lack of concentration
• Eating disorders
Sexual Signs of Child Abuse
• Inappropriate interest in or knowledge of
sexual acts
• Nightmares and bed-wetting
• Drastic changes in appetite
• Over-compliance or excessive aggression
• Fear of a particular person or family
member
Signs of Neglect
• Unsuitable clothing for weather
• Appearing dirty or unbathed
• Extreme hunger
• Apparent lack of supervision
