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 Verlese Pender: The area of Forensic Social Work that I am most interested in is the area of child abuse. I feel that it is important to take children out of unheathly and negative enviornments and place them into ones that will allow them to grow and be happy healthy children. It is common knowledge that child abuse stays with you well into your adult years and although the damage has been done there are steps that we as social workers, child protective agents, and any other area that strives to protect children that can ensure that they don't get stuck in the destuctive cycle of violence. According to Child Welfare Information Gateway; "one- third of all individuals who were abused or neglected as children will subject their children to maltreatment. This cycle of abuse can occur when children who either experienced maltreatment or witnessed violence between their parents or caregivers learn violent behavior and learn to consider it appropriate."



Abuse against children takes on many forms many of which I had never considered before seeing this chart but all of which proves to be extremely damaging to the welbeing of a child. "An estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006 

Christina Daoust- I am not sure what I am most interested in. Everything! Especially with reading other posts, it resparks my interest in another area. I am currently reading a book called Half the Sky. It is about sex slavery and human trafficking. That is definitely a concern. Another is helping kids-- who have or are suffering from abuse, hunger, homelessness, etc. For those of you also with a special interest in protecting children, I would highly recommend the book A Child Called It.





 My name is Nicole DeCarufel and I am most interested in working internationally within the human rights arena assisting refugees that are seeking asylum, or sanctuary, from persecution or danger in their homeland.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants gives the world total as 62,000,000 refugees and estimates there are over 34,000,000 displaced by war, including internally displaced persons, who remain within the same national borders. The majority of refugees who leave their country seek asylum in countries neighboring their country of nationality. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” —Article 1 of the [|United Nations] Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)


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I am most interrested in preventing childhood and teenage crime in the Juvenile Justice System. I feel that by helping children early on by watching for signs, the child has more potential to change the path they are leading. It is important to teach respect, self worth and self esteem as young children. I also feel very strong about education and giving children the help they may need instead of just "leaving them behind." [] []

Juvenile Justice System I am very interested in social work within the Juvenile Justice System. I think it is extremely beneficial for social workers to be educated of the laws and procedures that pertain to juvenile justice. I have had an interest in the juvenile population for a while and think there should be a major focus of attention on this area. [|OJJDP] Lindsey Glovin Ebony Turner-Lack of trust and relationship difficulties, Core feelings of being “worthless” or “damaged.”, &Trouble regulating emotions this some of things that a child can feel while being abused we dont want todays youth feeling like this we need to stop this in its tracks and fights for these children buecause they cant fight for themselves.**


 * Kristin Clements**- As a few others have mentioned, Human Trafficking has become a huge issue not only in other countries but more specifically, right here in our own backyard. As someone who lived in Mountain Brook, Alabama, the home town of Natalie Holloway, a young woman who was believed to have been sold for sex while vacationing with her high school class in Aruba, I have seen the effects of trafficking first hand. I personally witnessed the grief and confusion that Natalie's family, friends and community endured during his tragedy. As human trafficking becomes more and more widespread, there is a greater need to become more informed as social workers. It's an issue we are going to need to be prepared to handle!

 http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/united_states_of_america "The United States of America is principally a transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. It is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually. 1 The U.S. Government is strongly committed to combating trafficking in persons at home and abroad. **[|The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000]**, enhances pre-existing criminal penalties, affords new protections to trafficking victims and makes available certain benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking. It also establishes a Cabinet-level federal interagency task force and establishes a federal program to provide services to trafficking victims. The U.S. Government recognizes the need to sustain and further enhance efforts in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the Act. The U.S. Department of State began monitoring trafficking in persons in 1994, when the issue began to be covered in the Department’s Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Originally, coverage focused on trafficking of women and girls for sexual purposes. The report coverage has broadened over the years, and U.S. embassies worldwide now routinely monitor and report on cases of trafficking in men, women, and children for all forms of forced labor, including agriculture, domestic service, construction work, and sweatshops, as well as trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. "





My name is Autumn Rice and a major issue that I think light needs to be shed on is rape. Unfortunately rape occurs more frequently than one would believe or want to think of and more often than not the purpetrator is someone the victim knows or an acquantiance of the victim. Rape is a huge issue that the crimianl justice system has trouble tackeling and more often than not doesn't handle this cases well due to the lack of evidence in many cases and the high percentage of under-reporting by victims. It is a hard issue to deal with due to the fact that many of these women and children victims have had their sense of control taken away from them. They often feel as though they no longer have control of their bodies. In my opinion it is one of the worst crimes and the least prosecuted in relation to how often it occurs. Victims usually are never able to look at sex or anything dealing with their sexuality the same and this can often cause strain and issues in all their future relationships with the opposite sex or thier significant other/others.



code and, under a just God, can not long retain it." Abraham Lincoln Source: April 6, 1859 - Letter to Henry Pierce********
 * "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves;

code May we take off our blindfolds and open our eyes to the lack of true freedom in our country, in our state and in Orlando! View this slavery map to see cases in own town: Slavery Map

My name is Ericka Dorlean. I want to focus on child abuse and the juvenile justice systems. I have always felt that there is a lack of attention focused in on these children. There are some situations where social workers overlook obvious signs of abuse and neglect. Also I would like to work in the juvenile justice system because majority of the time those teens have no one else to talk to and to guide them in the right path. I just want to make a difference in a child's life.

Federal legislation lays the groundwork for States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum: Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

Physical abuse ​
 * is nonaccidental physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child, that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other person who has responsibility for the child.[|_] Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child. Physical discipline, such as spanking or paddling, is not considered abuse as long as it is reasonable and causes no bodily injury to the child.

Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs. Neglect may be: Physical (e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision) Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment) Educational (e.g., failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs) Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs)

Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent or caregiver such as fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

Emotional abuse (or psychological abuse) is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove and, therefore, child protective services may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm or mental injury to the child. Emotional abuse is almost always present when other forms are identified.

Abandonment is now defined in many States as a form of neglect. In general, a child is considered to be abandoned when the parent's identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left alone in circumstances where the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.

Substance abuse is an element of the definition of child abuse or neglect in many States.​ Circumstances that are considered abuse or neglect in some States include: Prenatal exposure of a child to harm due to the mother's use of an illegal drug or other substance Manufacture of methamphetamine in the presence of a child Selling, distributing, or giving illegal drugs or alcohol to a child Use of a controlled substance by a caregiver that impairs the caregiver's ability to adequately care for the child - Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.

-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.

-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.

-Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

-Thirty-one percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.

-Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.

-About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

-About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.

-The estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion.

Krissy Barbour Week 2

Bridget Gallagher: Currently my primary focus is working with domestic violence victims within the court system. It is disturbing to me when speaking with many young victims that are making excuses for their abusers. For example making comments like,"He didn't hit me, he just knocked me down." "If I gave him my cell phone so he could check my calls he wouldn't have gotten pissed at me." These young woman need to realize this is not acceptable behavior and is abusive in a controlling aspect and will eventually progress into more severe abuse.In addition to domestic abuse my interests are also in human trafficking .It is so disturbing to think children and young women are being exploited and abused in such deplorable conditions.I would like to be notified by fellow students with information on this topic.



=Welcome to The SOW 4

754 Forensic Social Work Theory and Practice Wiki!= ==Your task over the course of modules 1-3 is to as a class create an icon that will represent the range of forensic social work roles, settings, populations, and ethics. Please refer to the Collaborative Icon Assignment in the Webcourse Module 1 materials.==

Danielle Clarke: I am most interested in Human Trafficking. This is such an important issue because it is so hidden. It could be occurring in your neighborhood and you would never know. Every day thousands of men, women, and children go missing and are never found. Many of those are trafficked across international borders and die in slavery. More people need to take efforts in this issue. I plan on being one of them. =GETTING INVOLVED =

1. If anyone would like to learn more about Human Trafficking you can sign up for a newsletter from Human Trafficking.org. A web source for combating Human Trafficking around the world. They have great updates on what is occurring around the world in the fight against trafficking. [|Human Trafficking.org] 2. The University of Central Florida school of Social Work gathered with many schools and organizations in Tallahassee, Florida to lobby the passing of SB168 that seeks to create a statewide task force under The Department of Children and Families to examine the problem of human trafficking within Florida and create forces to fight trafficking in the state of Florida. I was one in attendance for lobbying this bill. There are many ways to get involved in the fight to stop human trafficking. There are many federal and state websites where you can get more information; this is the FBI's website for Human Trafficking[|FBI] This is one of my favorite stories from this website:[|story] On the FBI's links there are links to other federal websites. Hope you enjoy them:-) 3. The following quote was made by our President Barack Obama just a few weeks ago in a Proclaation declaring that human slavery still exists, "As a Nation, we have known moments of great darkness and greater light; and dim years of chattel slavery illuminated and brought to an end by President Lincoln's actions and a painful Civil War. Yet even today, the darkness and inhumanity of enslavement exists. Millions of people worldwide are held in compelled service, as well as thousands within the United States. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade." To this this Proclamation just go to this link[|Proclamation] = =

=**"The disturbing tendency to treat prostitution as a business or industry not only contributes to the trade in human beings, but is itself evidence of a growing tendency to detach freedom from the moral law and to reduce the rich mystery of human sexuality to a mere commodity." ** = =**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">---Pope John Paul II ** =



Ebony Turner: Im most interested in child abuse, women that are victims of domestic violence and minorites that are involved in the judicial system. These are really important and common issues that I would like to make a positive change on.

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Rebekah: One of the areas that I am most interested in related to forensics is that of Women in Prison. I see gender differences as a unique area for further understanding.

Yusimit Barrios: <span style="color: #ac1616; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #ac1616; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">"//Children whose parents have been arrested and incarcerated face unique difficulties//

[[image:griefsmall.jpg width="159" height="213" align="left"]]
<span style="color: #ac1616; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">//Many have experienced the trauma of sudden separation from their sole caregiver, and most are vulnerable to feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, depression and guilt. They may be moved from caretaker to caretaker. The behavioral consequences can be severe, absent positive intervention—emotional withdrawal, failure in school, delinquency and risk of intergenerational incarceration.1 Yet these children seem to fall through the cracks. Police do not routinely ask at the time of arrest whether their prisoners have children, nor do sentencing judges or correctional agencies regularly raise this question. Since no agency collects data about these children, '…it is unclear how many are affected, who they are, or where they liv//e.'" Charlene Wear Simmons, Ph.D. of CRB



==<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Children of current and former prisoners are among the most severely at-risk child <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">ren in our country. Their situations are often unknown and unattended to by human service agencies. They often blame themselves and are afraid to talk to anyone about their feelings. Their situations are often fraught by other multi-risk factors such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, substance abuse, and neglect. ==



CCIP - The Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents

Sarah Persinger: Substance Abuse & Pregnancy
Drug abuse has always been a problem everywhere. The issue that should be exposed is the severity that is amongst the unborn child when the mother is using. Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drug abuse are the more widely researched drugs that create birth defects. There are many common birth defects that are physically seen that are linked to the mother being a substance abuser. Abnormality in the shape of the babies head, face and body is found to be common for the babies of drug abusers. Researchers say that there are linked behavioral problem too, one being ADD and ADHD. Birth defects are permanent. If the child is not born with a physical birth defect it does not mean that they aren’t going to be affect mentally. Mentally the birth defects can affect their learning capability, their judgment, their attention span, and their motor skills. Pregnancy drug abuse can be prevented. This is why these birth defects should be exposed so that woman know the health risks they are putting their child through over a drug. It is so sad how easily this can be prevented - a woman has to realize whether she wants the baby or not, she can't be selfish anymore. Substances can include everything from caffeine, over-the-counter-and prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and alcohol! **<span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> Face of a premature baby whose mother was a cocaine addict. Cocaine abuse may result in both a premature birth, and the addiction of the unborn child. FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is real! I had the pleasure of meeting two young adults suffering from FAS, what a sad story! ***1992 <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancyandsubstanceabuse.html http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec22/ch259/ch259a.html <span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;">http://www.tgorski.com/Prevention/cocaine_use_during_pregnancy.htm <span style="font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">

Some good books: __Fetal Alcohol Syndrome__ by G. Stewart, __Drugs and Birth Defects__ by N. Shniderman & S. Hurwitz and __Chemical Dependency__ by C. McNeece
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**__Jessica Mueller__**: The area I am most interested in is children who are suffering from metal health disorders. I feel that often time’s children who are suffering go unnoticed because their parents or teachers do not have the proper education to recognize the symptoms they are displaying. Because these children’s disorders go unnoticed they may turn to deviancy as a way to cope with their emotions landing them in trouble with the legal system. Social Workers can implement more training programs at the elementary school level in order to inform parents and teachers early on what symptoms they should be looking out for.

Children can be afflicted with some of the same mental health afflictions as adults. For instance, anxiety disorders, severe depression, Bipolar Disorder, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, conduct disorder, eating disorders, Autism, and schizophrenia all show symptoms in children as early as 4 or 5 years old. The cause of children’s mental health problems stems from biology, environment, or a combination of the two. Examples of biological factors are genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, and damage to the central nervous system. Some of the possible environmental situations that can have a negative affect on a child’s mental health are exposure to violence, extreme stress, or the loss of an important person in the child’s life. A huge staple is preventing the onset of mental health disorders caused by environmental upset is helping children cope with traumatic events. According the National Institute of Mental Health, “children are sensitive; they struggle to make sense of trauma. They also respond differently to traumas than adults”. With this in mind, parents of children who experience any kind of trauma, direct, or indirect should consult with a social worker or other mental health counselor immediately.

Studies have shown that about 1 in 5 children and adolescents have some type of mental health disorder. Without early intervention, childhood disorders can persist and lead school failure, poor employment opportunities, and poverty in adulthood. In addition, untreated mental illness in childhood increases the likelihood of the child being involved with the juvenile justice system. In fact, 60% of boys, and 75% of girls who are currently in Juvenile Detention have at least one mental disorder.
 * __Statistics and Research__**:

One of the most commonly used philosophies of care for children and adolescent mental health disorder is called Systems of Care. Systems of Care is an approach to care that recognizes the importance of family, school, and community. One System of Care sponsors programs in many different states. Two programs exist in Florida called One Community Partnership-Working Together For Our Children, and Sarasota County Early Childhood Mental Health Partnership.
 * __Treatment and Prevention:__**


 * __Links__** http://systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/index.aspx

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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">** Walt Disney ** Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children - MarQuitta Adams

Aileen Rodriguez- The subject that I am most interested in is with children that are being abused and neglected. This is something that is so common in today's society that it is sometimes overlooked. I want to make it aware and make a difference in the lives of these children. “[|**Child**] [| **abuse**][|continues to be a significant problem in the United States. It was estimated that in 2001, 903,000 children were the victims of **child** **abuse** or neglect. **Child** **abuse** is a crime perpetrated on the innocent and the defenseless.] ” -Pete Domenici

"...in serving the best interests of children, we serve the best interests of all humanity." -- Carol Bellamy

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Melissa Kelly: I am most interested in domestic violence against women. Did you know that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime? This is a shocking statistic and this abuse needs to be stopped! I want to research more into how to help these women and to know the signs before they start.

Amanda Diaz:

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">//**=**//

"When the good times are good they're so good! But when they're bad, run."
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Things can start out wonderfully in a relationship, especially during the first couple of months. As time goes on, my friends want to hang out but I can't go because he says I'm a lady and like his wife and that's not how I'm supposed to act. Eventually our arguments over little things became so severe that his foot went through the door. Later, a male friend waived at me while we were out together and I waived back out of courtesy. His hands were around my neck as soon as we got into his car. How does she get out? Where does she go? What should be her next move?

With respect to this problem, there seems to be a pattern of one of/all of three main reasons why women might not leave their spouses or intimate partner whether it be homosexual or heterosexual. Most of the time women do not leave their partners due to the following reasons. 1.) Economic reasons: Some woman that tend to be in a violent relationship, are usually not the primary bread winner in the household. If the man in the household makes the most money, he more than likely also has control of the money. More than likely the woman will see little to nothing financially and therefore is unable to afford to live elsewhere on her own and even more so when she has children to support. 2.) No where to go: Some women have an issue of where to go. Some may not have family to stay with or if there are local shelters, they may be full. Another dilemma of going somewhere if there is some place to go it actually getting there. Many times there may be one care in the household and may not have access to the vehicle. 3.) Under the batter's control: Over time women can become under so much control that they tend to lose their self esteem and their self worth diminishes. They are told that the things that are happening to them are their own fault's and they should have known better. Eventually the female might tend to agree with the abuser.

Jaime Lochner- I will be researching rape victims. I feel this is important because I feel it is a total violation of a person and the damage done is not only physical but mental.

How often does sexual assault occur? Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

In 2007, there were 248,300 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.1 (These figures do not include victims 12 years old or younger.) Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.

Here's the math. According to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey -- the country's largest and most reliable crime study -- there were 248,300 sexual assaults in 2007 (the most recent data available).

There are 525,600 minutes in a non-leap year. That makes 31,536,000 seconds/year. So, 31,536,000 divided by 248,300 comes out to 1 sexual assault every 127 seconds, or about 1 every 2 minutes.

General Tips for Helping a Friend

1. Do Get Involved ! Though leaving a violent situation may appear simple from the outside, victims of violence against women and children are almost always trapped in the abuse by multiple obstacles and they need your help very much.

2. Talk with the Victim in a Safe and Comfortable Place. Ask questions. Listen carefully and empathetically. Try as well as you can to understand the mesh of obstacles that keeps her from getting free. It's usually very complex. You can use the guide Tips for Talking with a Friend to help yourself and the victim figure out her most pressing needs and form a strategy for getting help.

3. Make Phone Calls for the Victim. It's extremely difficult for persons traumatized by violence to make the round of phone calls needed to get good information and find the right people to meet her needs. Victims are quickly thrown back into despair when they encounter an unfriendly or unhelpful response. One of the nicest and most helpful things you can do is make that initial round of calls for her or with her.

4. Help Your Friend Start and Keep a Notebook. A notebook is crucial to keep the barrage of names, titles, appointments, specialized terms, case numbers, etc. from becoming an additional anxiety. Putting it all down in one notebook gives a victim control.

5. Accompany Your Friend to Police, Courts, Social Workers and Counselors. Or help her find someone who can accompany her. There are many reasons this is so important. See Tips for Helping a Friend Through the Criminal Justice System.. When accompanying your friend, ask questions, take notes, and don't hesitate to speak up if she's not getting the help she needs.

6. Be Clear with Your Friend about What You Can and Can't Do. You simply can't do it all. Help her find others who can help.

You don't always have to say the "Right Things." Seeing the intensity of trauma in violence against women can be very upsetting. Don't feel you always have to be saying "right things.". Calmness, your presence, and a few kind words work wonders!





RAINN is the leading national organization that runs the 1-800-656-HOPE rape crisis hotline. That hotline forwards calls to the local rape crisis center phone number. The online counseling is run by RAINN volunteers.

Hi. My name is A'Quanda Brown. I am interested in further study as well as adding to the wiki the forensic social work area of child welfare. I want to be sure the aspect of children's well being, justice, and futures are included in our class project. I may want to include pictures of children and statistics that describe and define the importance of protecting children.

Sandra Chicaiza. I am interested in working with child who have been through abuse. It is very sad that a child has to go through any type of abuse. Children have the right to grow up in a loving home with loving parents or guardians. I hope that one day everyone will realize the pain that these children go through. Every child needs a hug, love someone to hold them when they are sick or whentheyneed holding. They deserve the warmth of a parent. Nothing can ever heal the wounds of an abused chld but we as future social workers can fight for their voices to be heard and help prevent future child abuse. National Child Abuse Statistics Child Abuse in America..... Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations.

Statistics -Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.

-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.

-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.

-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.

-Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

-Thirty-one percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.

-Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.

-About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

-About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.

-The estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion. What can be done? Treatment, Prevention and Research are key. Childhelp, one of the largest and oldest national, non-profit organizations dedicated to treatment and prevention of child abuse, provides a broad continuum of programs that directly serve abused children and their families. Childhelp also leads public awareness campaigns to educate the public and rally communities behind the child abuse. What can I do? By supporting Childhelp, you are playing a direct role in the treatment and prevention of child abuse. Your donations, purchases from the Childhelp store and the Gift of Hope gift catalogue, and time spent volunteering help a dedicated and passionate staff carry out Childhelp's mission of meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children.

Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect in USA

-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy

-Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse

-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addiction

-Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children

Consequences of Child Abuse in the USA

-Eighty percent of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder at the age of 21 (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, & post-traumatic stress disorder)

-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy

-Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs

The Link Between Abuse As a Child & Future Criminal Behavior

-Fourteen percent of all men in prison in the USA were abused as children

-Thirty-six percent of all women in prison were abused as children

-Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

The Link Between Child Abuse & Substance Abuse

-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse

-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions

-Nearly 2/3’s of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children

**Tamara Brown– I am interested in the field of juvenile justice. I would like to work with at-risk juveniles as an advocate to deter them from crime and the possibility of becoming incarcerated.** One way to work with juveniles as a positive influence in their lives is as a Guardian ad Litem. The information below is from the Florida Juvenile Justice Website.[|www.guardianadlitem.org]

**The Florida Legislature

Office of Program Policy AnalysisGovernment Accountability **


 * //Youth Entering the State’s Juvenile Justice Programs Have Substantial Educational Deficits; Available Data Is Insufficient to Assess Learning Gains of Students//**, Report No. 10-07, January 2010

__[|Full report in PDF format]__

====Hi, my name is Melanie Rivera. I am interested in working with children but at the same time always had an interest in forensic. I had an experience at work about 4 years ago that made me change my major from Paramedic/nursing to Social Work. I believe in my heart that every child deserves a good home. Every child needs love, no child is borned bad or should I say misbehaved. The way children act is sometimes from their environment. I want to help all the children out there that have neen neglected, abused, and mistreated in anyway. I want to be able to speak for those children that cannot speak for themselves.====

"Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones. Emotional abuse or child neglect, also leave deep, long lasting scars." Myths and facts about child abuse and neglect MYTH #1: It's only abuse if it's violent.

Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Neglect and emotional abuse can be just as damaging, and since they are more subtle, others are less likely to intervene. .

MYTH #2: Only bad people abuse their children.

Fact: While it's easy to say that only "bad people" abuse their children, it's not always so black and white. Not all abusers are intentionally harming their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves, and don’t know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or a substance abuse problem.

MYTH #3: Child abuse doesn't happen in “good” families.

Fact: Child abuse doesn't only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods. It crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.

MYTH #4: Most child abusers are strangers.

Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family

MYTH #5: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.

Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

My name is Tawny Blazejowski and I am also most interested in the Florida Guardian ad litem program. I joined the district 7 team here in Saint Johns County in October and received my first case. Although I am not legally at liberty to discuss my case personally I can speak from general experience when I say the system can be extremely time consuming and frustrating. Unfortunetly the kids are the ones who suffer along with family members or foster parents who are left behind to care for the kids with little to no assistance or support. There aren't enough lawyers volunteering to take the time to visit these kids' homes and speak for them in court so volunteers like me are trained to do it instead. The kids are lucky to have those of us willing to speak for them, otherwise they may not ever be heard.