Child abuse is an all-too-common occurrence. Every year, 700,000 children experience abuse. Five children die as a result of abuse or neglect each day. It could be that a child you pass on the street or even know personally is involved in a traumatic situation that endangers their life. No child should live in fear or be forced into unsafe conditions.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Take this opportunity to learn more about the signs of child abuse and how you can get involved to put a stop to it. Our children and families count on the action and support of communities across the nation to step up and bring hope to dark and dangerous situations.
Signs and Repercussions of Child Abuse
There are many signs that a child is being abused. They include:
- Self-harm
- Unexplained injuries
- School absence or change in performance
- Behavior changes such as anger, defiance, aggression, or hyperactivity
- Withdrawal from activities and social groups
- Lack of self-esteem
- Poor hygiene
- Avoidance of certain people or places
- Reluctance to go home
- Running away from home
- Lack of supervision
The list goes on. Abuse also has long-term consequences. Mental health disorders such as depression, as well as crime, and a continued cycle of abuse later in life are common. Some children are more likely to engage in harmful behaviors such as smoking, drinking, drug use, and early or risky sexual activity. In some cases, a child may even attempt suicide or die from maltreatment.
Unfortunately, many times, the abuse comes from a parent or someone else that the child is close to. No matter how difficult the situation is if you suspect child abuse, report it immediately to the appropriate authorities.
Why Child Abuse Can Be Difficult to Detect
It is a sad fact that 20% to 30% of child abuse cases get overlooked by hospitals and other agencies. Last year alone, an estimated one in seven children was abused. Early identification of these tragic situations is essential to stopping them and keeping children safe.
Oftentimes, children that are being abused are too afraid to come forward and ask for help. They could be threatened into silence by their abuser, or lack the faith and trust in adults to give them the assistance they need without additional repercussions. You can help by educating yourself and pledging your children’s safety donation, so programs have the resources they need to identify abuse cases. Any amount or form of support gives hope to families and friends that are experiencing a tough situation.
While there are many programs and resources out there that aim to identify and stop abuse or neglect, they are vastly underfunded and overworked. There are an estimated four million referrals made for child abuse every year. Overwhelming caseloads and high turnover rates mean that some cases slip through the cracks. Many child welfare groups also operate under restrictive time limits or lack the data and proof they need to step in.
How i-Guardian Can Help Prevent Abuse
i-Guardian is a non-profit organization that is working on critical technology to greatly increase the effectiveness of medical professionals, government agencies, law enforcement, and other programs for recognizing and stopping child abuse.
Access to crucial data through a unified system is the best way to monitor and track concerns and make sure they don’t escalate. i-Guardian is creating an innovative solution to identify child abuse early. Real-time data and communication between the professionals that work with children and have the power to intervene quickly can make a huge difference in the quality of life of so many children.
i-Guardian’s unique approach uses Artificial Intelligence to conduct an analysis of available data and determine the likelihood of the presence of abuse. This is a game-changer as it allows relevant agencies to get ahead of the problem and address the child’s needs fast.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Every donation gets us closer to our goal of making i-Guardian a reality. The support and contributions of community members like you can help us implement this technology. Early intervention and prevention make a tremendous difference in the lives of our nation’s children.
Visit our GoFundMe page today to learn more about our mission and to make your donation. Our donation campaign is counting on you to help us fund this critical work to detect and prevent abuse. Together we can put a stop to child abuse and make a real difference for thousands of vulnerable children.
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲!
𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 https://donorbox.org/april-is-national-child-abuse…
It’s time for us to make a change. This is why we are developing i-Guardian.
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