Abuse a Fact, Help Another

Abuse a Fact, Help Another



Facts, facts, facts, Charles Dicken's Micawber said,

repeat, said. Facts about domestic abuse are easy

to find and hard to take. Boil down to many,

many, many victims, and keep counting. To too

little understanding and far too much fear.

Bruised, pummeled, punched, kicked, dragged,

slapped, raped, and cursed by those who promised

to love and protect. Again, repeat, again, repeat,

repeat again: That, Micawber, is a fact.



A fact often ignored or misunderstood: abuse

is not the victim's fault. If you are a victim,

look in the mirror and repeat again, repeat again,

again repeat: This is not my fault. I am not .

the one who is threatening. I am not the one

scarring. I am not the one finding fault.

I am not the one pounding. I am not the one

in the wrong. And I am not, repeat, not, alone..



Something like a quarter of female victims

of crime are the targets of criminals

that call themselves husbands, lovers,

fathers, friends, companions, partners.

Half or more have children under twelve.

These are facts. And this: Help IS

within reach. Resources are just waiting

to be tapped. If you can't get to a phone,

the Internet or a shelter, ask a friend

or neighbor, a minister, a cop – check

directories or have someone check

for you – to help you and any children

involved. More than you imagine

are,. or have been, where you are --

or are now. This is fact, too.

But the number one fact to remember

is that you have it in you to act

on your own. Take back your life.

Love and respect who you are.

Climb around fear on your way out.

Hey, you're a class act. 's' a fact!



©) Phyllis Jean Green
for Angels That Care

http://www.byfaithonly.com/stopabuse.html

Help Stop Abuse

The following information was provided by Childhelp USA. If some or any of the information here offends anyone I do apologize but I feel this is information that needs to be passed on to more and more people. There was a day when such topics were not discussed and many many children went unprotected. Having lived threw abuse myself I know what many of the effects it can have not only as a child but in adulthood also.
It is my prayer that if this information prevents even just one child from experiencing pain then it is worth offending a few. As I have said before Children are our most prized possession and they should be treated so. Because of the abuse I experienced I can assure you that if I suspected a child was being abused in any way shape or form I would report it in a heartbeat with no regrets or concern at all for myself. Before you leave please feel free to pick up your free globe towards the bottom of this page - a gift from me to all the children in the world.

What is child abuse?
Although there are many formal and acceptable definitions of child abuse, the following is offered as a guide. Child abuse consists of any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and which is often represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature.

Major forms of child abuse

Physical abuse - Any non-accidental injury to a child. This includes hitting, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing, shoving, whipping, and paddling.

Emotional abuse - Any attitude or behavior, which interferes with a child's mental health or social development. This includes yelling, screaming, name-calling, shaming, negative comparisons to others, telling them they are "bad, no good, worthless" or "a mistake".

Neglect - Physical - Failure to provide for a child's physical needs. This includes lack of supervision, inappropriate housing or shelter, inadequate provision of food, inappropriate clothing for season or weather, abandonment, denial of medical care, and inadequate hygiene.

Neglect - Emotional - Failure to provide affection and support necessary for the development of emotional, social, physical and intellectual well being of a child. This includes ignoring, lack of appropriate physical affection (hugs), not saying "I love you," withdrawal of attention, lack of praise, lack of positive reinforcement.

Sexual abuse - Any sexual act between an adult and child. This includes fondling, penetration, intercourse, exploitation, pornography, exhibitionism, child prostitution, group sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts.

Who inflicts the abuse?

Child abusers are found among all social-economic, religious and ethnic groups and are most often ordinary people who are trapped in a stressful life situation with which they cannot cope satisfactorily.

A child abuser is usually a person closely related to the child, such as a parent, stepparent or other caretaker. The child abuser is seldom a total stranger.

If you suspect a child is being abused:


1) Call the Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD® to learn the reporting agency for your geographic area and situation. This is frequently a law enforcement agency (police or sheriff's department), and/or the local child welfare agency (DCFS, HRS, CPS,CFS, etc.).
2) Suspicion of abuse is all that is necessary to file a report
3) Your information can be given anonymously
4) Information which will be most helpful: the child's name, age, address, gender, school attended (if possible), and names of parents
5) Upon receiving your information, the child welfare agency will determine the appropriate course of action


States with Toll Free Child Abuse Reporting Numbers

Arkansas
(800) 482-5964
Arizona
(800) 330-1822
Connecticut
(800) 842-2288

Delaware
(800) 292-9582
Florida
(800) 962-2873
Iowa
(800) 362-2178

Illinois
(800) 252-2873
Indiana
(800) 562-2407
Kansas
(800) 922-5330

Kentucky
(800) 752-6200
Massachusetts
(800) 792-5200
Maine
(800) 452-1999

Michigan
(800) 942-4357
Missouri
(800) 392-3738
Mississippi
(800) 222-8000

Montana
(800) 332-6100
North Carolina
(800) 662-7030
Nebraska
(800) 652-1999

New Hampshire
(800) 894-5533
New Jersey
(800) 792-8610
New Mexico
(800) 432-2075

Nevada
(800) 992-5757
New York
(800) 342-3720
Oklahoma
(800) 522-3511

Oregon
(800) 854-3508
Pennsylvania
(800) 932-0313
Rhode Island
(800) 742-4453

Texas
(800) 252-5400
Utah
(800) 678-9399
Virginia
(800) 552-7906

Washington
(800) 562-5624
West Virginia
(800) 352-6513






Both the reporting party and the child who is allegedly being abused must reside in the same state for the following reporting numbers to be valid. When the reporting party resides in a different state than the child,or for states not listed, please call Childhelp's National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4 A CHILD (800-422-4453).
TDD: 1-800-2 A CHILD.
Childhelp USA is a non-profit agency , and is not involved in investigations by a government agency. Hotline counselors are able to provide the state or county reporting number to callers or to provide other referrals.

http://www.rainn.org/

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

ATC is different

ATC is different........ ATC offer solutions and help.......... these other websites are just airing their grievances and playing the poor victims...........

Also the more you talk about something........ the longer it stays with you.......... one has to disengage somewhere along the line....... and then you find........... memories fade.......... they don't appear so important........ but these are just fanning the flames....

I could go on about my experiences when young.........my parents etc......... and say i was abused........... come on........... its v. easy to find a word/niche to say that because of that....... we are handicapped.......... get a life...... go get a life............
I know heaps that have...........
This is not an ideal world........... for sure.......... never was....... and probably never will be........... but why dwell on it........ why not make the most of the good things that come along..........


http://angelsthatcare.blogspot.com/