As their bellies rumble, their bodies ache and they attempt to hide every bruise and scar, victims of child abuse hide in plain sight.
It is through community education and action that child abuse can be prevented.
Social work instructor Linda Deamer has worked in the field of child welfare for over 30 years, and she stresses that no matter your major or occupation, all students, faculty and members of the community can help combat child abuse by becoming educated about the problems plaguing children in society.
"I think many times people are not aware of the magnitude of the problem," said Deamer. "I think sometimes people aren't aware of how vulnerable children are and how they really need someone to advocate for them. Many times it's those who are closest to them in relationships that are the offenders or the perpetrators, so they need somebody to advocate for them because of their dependency on others."
According to statistics collected by the Children's Bureau, National Children's Alliance and Child Help organizations, an estimated 681,000 children suffer from abuse each year. An average of four children die each day from child abuse.
According to Deamer, one does not need proof of abuse to make a report to Child Protective Services. If abuse is at all suspected a report can be filed, and it will be the responsibility of CPS professionals to investigate. Being educated on the signs of child abuse and neglect can be helpful in determining whether or not a call should be made.
"Some of the categories of child maltreatment are physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment," said Deamer.
Signs of physical abuse include unexplained marks, bruises or burns, behavioral problems such as aggression, depression and suicide attempts and reluctance to leave school or to go home. Signs of physical neglect include poor hygiene, inadequate clothing, lack of supervision, hunger or inadequate and unsafe housing. Signs of sexual abuse include STDs in young children and knowledge of sex beyond what should be expected of the child's age group.
There is a misconception that when a call is made to CPS, removal of the child is the goal. Although there are certain circumstances in which children are removed, a plan is made to reunite the child with his or her family.
"I think sometimes people don't want to get involved," said Deamer. "Oftentimes they think if they do get involved, that people's children are going to be taken away from them. That's not the focus. It's, in fact, a misconception of the agency. When there's an allegation of abuse and neglect, the goal is, even if it's substantiated, if the risk can be minimized and a safety plan can be put in place, the goal is to preserve the family."
Students aged 21 and older can take action against child abuse by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused children.
"When children are removed from their families by order of the court, we (the CASA volunteers) are assigned to that child's case if the judge deems it necessary," said Austin Cradic, student and CASA volunteer. "My job is to visit the children at least once a month, investigate the home situation they were removed from and the one they are currently residing in, and then report on that on the court date where the judge decides what to do with the children."
CASA volunteers must agree to an extensive background check and a three-week training period. Volunteers are educated about the court system and legal processes so they can help implement the best intervention possible.
"Best case scenario is that the children end up going back to their families. Plan B is trying to get them adopted by family or close friends that the children know. If that won't work than we try any eligible adoption. But sometimes neither of those will be an option and then the child will stay in temporary foster homes until they are adopted. That's the worse case scenario."
According to preventchildabusenc.org, child abuse inflicts pain that extends well into adulthood for many victims. Children's brains are in a critical state of development. Neglected and abused children are in a constant state of stress, changing their brain chemistry and hindering healthy development. Poor development can lead to psychological and emotional problems that prove detrimental long after the abuse has stopped.
An estimated 46 percent of homeless youth have run away to escape abuse. Abused children are 25 percent more likely to experience teen pregnancy. Approximately 14 percent of men and 36 percent of women in prison were abused as children. Individuals who were abused as children are also more likely to develop psychological problems such as depression or eating disorders.
Child abuse is a problem that affects both the victims and society as a whole. By becoming educated and being proactive, a community devoted to preserving the safety of children can be created. To learn more about Child Advocacy Services, go to childadv.net. To report abuse to CPS, call 855-452-5437.