Sowing Seeds of Hope works throughout the year to strengthen families by offering parenting support, educational resources for children, and providing assistance to families that are experiencing economic difficulties. Each April, we participate in Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

Most of our programs have been cancelled or postponed this year due to COVID-19. We know that it’s more important than ever to remind members of the community about this issue since child abuse is more likely to occur in times of stress. We’ve included some important facts below.

Child abuse is more common than you might think.

• • Child abuse is not just someone beating a child. Neglect, sexual abuse, and psychological maltreatment are also forms of child abuse.
  • Children from families of all races, faiths, and socioeconomic backgrounds experience abuse.
  • The abuse of over 7 million children a year is reported in the United States. Many more cases of abuse probably go unreported.

Child abuse has lifelong consequences.

• • In one study, 80% of participants who had experienced abuse as children had at least one psychological disorder by the time they turned 21.
  • Two-thirds of adults in alcohol and substance abuse treatment report experiencing abuse or neglect as children. More than a third of adolescents who are reported as being abused will have a problem with addiction by the time they turn 18.
  • Children who are victims of abuse are nine times as likely to commit a criminal offense in their lifetimes than those who did not experience abuse. Adults who are incarcerated are twice as likely to have been abused as those who have not been to prison.
  • Approximately 30% of children who survive being abused will go on to abuse their own children as adults.

Child abuse can be deadly.

• • On average, more than four American children a day die of child abuse. That’s about 1,700 a year.
  • 72% of fatalities are children under three years old. Nearly half are under one.
  • At least one parent is involved in 80% of deaths related to child abuse.

If you believe you know a child who is being physically, sexually, or psychologically abused or neglected, we urge you to protect the child by calling a local law enforcement agency of the Department of Human Resources. As adults, we must defend children in our community who are unable to defend themselves.