SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- If you looked around a room full of parents, could you spot the ones who would abuse or neglect their children? Would you know by the way they act or dress? Could you tell by the way they talked or by a certain look in their eyes? Would you feel confident picking out a parent you could trust with your own children?
Some things about child abuse should be easy to figure out, right? Are the images of typical “abusers” shown on TV accurate?
Are men more likely to abuse children than women? After all, aren’t women born to nurture and protect? Isn’t it usually a boyfriend or a step-parent who is most often responsible for child abuse? Who is most likely to abuse their own child?
What about the children themselves? Boys are “harder to handle” and girls “cry more” so, which is at greater risk of being abused? What about race? What about age? What about children with special needs?
According to the U.S. Department of Children and Families in 2004:
• 872,000 children were abused in the United States and 1,490 children were killed by child abuse or neglect.
• Based on data from 32 states, more than 81 percent of children who were killed were under 4 years of age.
• 38.8 percent of child victims were maltreated by their mothers acting alone and 18.3 percent were maltreated by their fathers acting alone.
• 31.3 percent of child abuse deaths were perpetrated by the mother acting alone.
• 10 percent of child abuse was perpetrated by a parent’s significant other or step-parent.
• 50 percent of all victims were white, 25 percent were African-American and 17 percent were Hispanic.
• 48.3 percent of child victims were boys and 51.7 percent of victims were girls.
• 62.4 percent of victims were neglected; 17.5 percent were physically abused and 9.7 percent were sexually abused.
• Based on data from 39 states, 74.3 percent of the victims had no history of prior victimization.
• Children who were reported as disabled were 68 percent more likely to be victims of maltreatment than children who were not reported as disabled.
The truth is, the potential for child abuse exists in every community, school, daycare center and family. Abuse can happen when parents feel overwhelmed, isolated and frustrated. Abuse can happen when communities have nothing to offer families in the way of resources and support. Abuse can happen when parents think they are all alone.
Fortunately, Air Force families are not alone. There are nine base agencies and clinics in place at Shaw to support families. Each agency has a specific mission regarding military families but they work together as a team to provide a seamless network of support so no parents will ever feel they are alone. Everyone needs help and support to be good parents. If anyone thinks they could use some help, they should not wait.