Organizations that Support Child Safety, Increase
Awareness, and Decrease the Incidence of Child Abuse.
ABSTRACT:
This research will show that child abuse is a common concern that affects children across all demographics. This literature review will present statistics on child abuse and will examine organizations in San Antonio, such as Child Safe, to determine their efficacy. It will also examine different types of child abuse and the effects it has on children. This study aims to raise awareness of child abuse in Bexar County because the rate of incidents is increasing.
INTRODUCTION:
Child abuse and neglect are an urgent public health problem because of the gravity of violent crimes family members are committing towards children. There are many forms of abuse including emotional, physical, neglect, and exploitation. Research shows that child abuse and neglect can have long-term effects that negatively impact a victim’s life and, in some cases, former victims can become abusive towards their own children.
San Antonio has “the 4th highest number of reported cases” in Texas; nearly 5,000 children are going through unspeakable trauma (Child Safe, 2016). What is being done to address child abuse in San Antonio? Local organizations, like Child Safe, “provide specialized services to children and teenagers who have been abused, neglected, or sexually abused” (Child Safe, 2016). According to their 2015 annual report (covering July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015), this Bexar County organization serves about 4,440 children and their non-offending family members per year and an average of 670 clients a month. Additionally, Child Safe provides free therapy to child victims. They also raise awareness of abuse throughout Bexar County through child abuse prevention and awareness workshops.
In conclusion, this project seeks to bring awareness about the plight of child abuse victims. Moreover, through our focus on Child Safe, we have identified a model that other local and national advocates and community organizations can follow.
AIM:
This study examines the short and long-term effects of child abuse and neglect—a growing problem in Bexar County and in the United States—and the advocacy efforts of local organizations committed to ending child abuse.
METHOD:
This project offers a literature review of resources and research on child abuse and neglect in San Antonio. Using the ProQuest and Gale Cengage learning databases, our group searched three peer-reviewed journals for scholarship on child abuse in a national and local context. Furthermore, this project highlights Child Safe, a San Antonio based advocacy organization offering yearly demographic statistics on the prevalence of child abuse. This organization also provides services to child abuse victims and offers on-line and in-person child abuse prevention and awareness workshops.