April is Child Abuse Awareness Month
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, an opportunity for every New Yorker to do something to prevent child abuse and neglect. Even as the nation's overall crime rate has fallen in recent years, the most vulnerable population of society - children - continue to suffer. More than three million cases of abuse and neglect were reported in 1998, with more than one million cases substantiated. In New York City alone, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) investigated 51,000 reports involving 85,000 children. Studies have shown that neighbors can reduce violence and crime in a community simply by increasing their awareness and working together. In the same way, neighbors can help stop child abuse and neglect. In fact, that's why ACS is creating neighborhood-based child welfare services. Often, however, we don't know what signs to look for or how to help. A recent study found that one-third of all Americans has witnessed an adult physically abuse a child, and two-thirds have seen an adult emotionally abuse a child. Of that number, 44% failed to respond in any way. The most important steps we can take are simple ones: Understand the causes and effects of abuse and neglect. If you know a parent who is under stress, encourage them to seek help. To locate a parenting program that can provide guidance and support, call the Prevention Information and Parent Helpline at 1-800-342-7472. Learn to identify the warning signs of child abuse and neglect. Throughout April, there will be information sessions held in communities citywide. To learn more about these Child Abuse Awareness Month events or to request a representative to speak in your community, call ACS's Office of Community Planning and Development at 212-341-3060. Report any known or suspected case that you observe. Reporting abuse can protect children from further harm and help a family address its problems. Reports can be made by calling the New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline at 1-800-342-3720. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and reports may be made anonymously. ACS has made enormous improvements in how the City investigates these reports and how it supports children and families. In fact, people from all over the country visit ACS to learn from its innovative, comprehensive reforms. ACS is building a highly-trained, qualified staff and keeping its caseloads low. ACS has joined with City agencies such as the Board of Education, the NYPD, and the District Attorney's Offices to better monitor at-risk children and follow through in the prosecution of cases. And to ensure that children and families can get the help they need close to home, ACS is creating networks of child welfare services in each neighborhood of the city. As a result, ACS is seeing significant improvements in children's welfare. The number of children in foster care has dramatically declined from a high of 49,000 in 1991 to 35,000 last fall. Children who cannot live safely at home are being quickly moved to loving, permanent adoptive homes. And there were fewer child fatalities last year than in any year since 1983. This is all heartening news for New York City's children. But one government agency alone cannot ensure that all children are safe. I urge you to take part in Child Abuse Awareness Month events and to encourage others to learn more. Only when all New Yorkers know the facts and take action will we have a chance at putting an end to abuse and neglect. |
