Child
Abuse. It kills three children
a day* yet it continues. Young children are at the most risk of death due
to child abuse. Between 1995 ands 1997, 78% of child deaths were
less than five years of age at the time of their death, while 38% were
under one year of age. As for cause of death, 44%
of deaths resulted from neglect, 51% from physical abuse, and 5% from a
combination of neglectful and physically abusive parenting. Approximately
41% of these deaths occurred to children known to child protective service
agencies as current or prior clients.
American
Coalition of Abuse Awareness
Compassionate
Friends
Child Abuse Prevention Network
Victim Services
National Commitee
to Prevent Child Abuse
National Center for Kids
Overcoming Crisis
Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which
you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
~Kahlil Gibran
Sources include: National Council
on Child Abuse Prevention; National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
*The most accurate data on child abuse fatalities currently available estimate that in 1996, 1,185 child abuse and neglect related fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Based on these numbers, more than three children die each day as a result of child abuse or neglect. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 34%.