Creating a Social Program for the Prevention of Child Abuse - Essay Example

Introduction:- The issue of child sexual abuse has been a matter of growing concern in the United s of America as the number of children who are abused is increasing day by day. Child abuse assumes a greater significance among the social problems that the United States faces today. It causes threat to the Nation’s development as its implications on the society have far reaching consequences. Child abuse affects not only the victims but all sections of the society who are linked with them and it creates lasting personality disorders and psychological problems in the whole life of the abused. As a result there have been many steps undertaken by various organizations, both Governmental and Non-Governmental, for the detection and prevention of child sexual abuse. But all these efforts have not reduced the growing rate of child sexual abuse in the country and this has prompted me to create a social program to identify the reasons and consequences of child abuse, to conduct researches on the reported issues, to identify the issues of unreported cases through analysis of abuse symptoms, to provide guidance and counseling to the victims, their parents and other people who interact with them including the teachers, to make peaceful rehabilitation for them, to suggest legislative and implementation plans before the Governmental agencies, and to organize awareness programs for the public with the ultimate aim to prevent all types of sexual abuse. Statistics on Child sexual Abuse in the United States:- One needs to have a thorough understanding regarding the reported child sexual abuse in the United States. Statistics regarding sexual abuse in the country is quite alarming as it has got far reaching implications in the lives of the abused and the people who are associated with them. The National Child Abuse Statistics (2006) observes: “children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. While 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States, experts estimate that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect is 3 times grater than reported”. (Meara & Fedderson, 2006). The statistics further reveals that a child abuse is reported every 10 seconds and almost 4 children meet with death every day. Besides, many men and women in prison are said to have experienced abuse as children In U.S.A an estimated 906,000 children are subjected to abuse and neglect each year and almost 1,500 children die every year from child abuse and neglect. Consequences:- The effects of abuse do have very far reaching consequences in the lives of the abused. Many of them develop psychiatric disorders in their future life. There is more chance for them to experience teenage pregnancy, or commit violent crimes. They are more likely to turn to be alcohol and drug addicts in the future. All these factors have intensified the need to have a strong and organized counter strategy to fight against child sexual abuse. Child abuse results in the development of many harmful effects in children: “The symptoms can include post-traumatic symptoms, precocious sexualization, depression, anxiety, guilt, fear, sexual dysfunction, dissociative symptoms, eating disorders, substance abuse, prostitution, regressive behaviors such as a return to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting, runaway behavior, and academic and behavior problems.” (Find counceling.com, 2001). These far reaching consequences of the issue have also tormented my mine when I thought of developing a social program. Identification and follow up:- Identifying the abused children is an important factor to provide them with the necessary guidance and counseling. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, “learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect” is the first step in helping abused or neglected children and “a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse.” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2006). The article provides a vivid picture of the signs of physical, sexual and emotional abuse among children. Steps are to be taken to identify all these types of symptoms; identification should be followed by remedial measures like rehabilitation, guidance and counseling. Governmental Organizations on Child Sexual Abuse:- It is necessary to have an understanding of the prevailing Governmental and Non- Governmental Organizations that aim at the prevention of child abuse in the United States through various social programs. The Child Abuse and Neglect Program conducts researches the issue of child abuse and neglect and identifies the stress, risk factors and the psychological effects of child abuse in children and adolescents. The program is part of the Division of Pediatric Translational Research and Treatment Development at the National Institute of Mental Health and paves way for novel treatment and prevention strategies. Similarly, The National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues tries to prevent child abuse through improved laws and judicial decision making. It is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau and provides training as well as consultation on all legal and judicial aspects of the child welfare system. Another remarkable agency is The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (NCCANCH) was established in 1974 by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The organization tries to collect and organize all sorts of information pertaining to child maltreatment and publishes a lot of informative articles and electronic as well as online documents with a view to make awareness in the public. The Child abuse Prevention Organization is yet another organization which has strong networks at the national, state and local levels to prevent child abuse of all sorts. The Child help National Child Abuse Hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. The organization provides assistance in 140 languages, provides information counseling and other support services in this regard. It tries to create public awareness through local and national publicity Medias. Various policies and preventive legislative measure have been undertaken by the Federal Government to eliminate child abuse. The Education Begins at Home Act is an effective Federal funding stream that aims to deliver quality home visiting services to families with newborns and young children. Scope and importance of the proposal:- No doubt, all these organizations play vital roles in the prevention of child abuse in United States, but the increasing number of child abuse has made me to think of creating a social program for the same purpose to tackle all sorts of sexual abuse against children and we have come to know that the Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention/Children's Trust Fund of Alabama provides funds to organizations that work to eliminate the evil of child abuse from the American society. The proposal of the new social program that we have designed is as follows:- The Proposal:- As we realize that a new social program on child sexual abuse is the need of the hour, we propose to have an organization that will take every step to eradicate child sexual abuse in the country. Our plan is to start a national wide organization that has effective network all throughout the State. For this, we plan to set up an effective team which comprises of an advisory board to the management, researchers, counselors, technicians, and supporting staff. Each local body will be connected to the top level enforcement committee making use of all the advanced information technology devices. The hierarchical structure of the proposed organization will be as follows:- a). Board of Directors b) Management Committee Advisory Board to the Management Committee c) Policy Formation Committee d) Finance Managing Committee e) Researchers’ Group f) Coordinating committee g) Public Relation Officers h) Guidance and Counseling Board i) Enforcement Committee j) Staffs and Technicians k) Supporting Staff Our Vision and Mission:- Our vision is to build up an American Society which is free of the menace of child abuse. Our mission is to protect children from sexual abuse through constant efforts to track down all sorts of abuses on children, identify all underlying factors behind the issue and to offer and enact remedial measures for the children who are abused. We also undertake to formulate preventive measures and policies for the same. Our Programs:- 1. To collect the available data on the reported child abuse cases in the United States and to identify the factors responsible for the spread of child abuse. 2. To conduct effective and useful researches on the issue and to understand the consequences and adverse effects of child abuse on children. We plan to undertake case studies for this purpose. 3. To make a probe into the unreported cases of child abuse. 4. To offer guidance and counseling to the victims of abuse, their parents and their family members. 5. To create awareness in the public regarding the issue. For this, we plan to conduct awareness programs, to publish electronic documents and articles, online database, to telecast T.V Programs and to bring into the attention of the public all information and incidents pertaining to the issue. 6. To facilitate rehabilitation of the victims wherever necessary. 7. To assist Governmental agencies through formulation of various effective policies and enforcement plans. 8. To evaluate all the programs constantly to make any necessary modifications or amendments. 9. To ensure adequate supply of equipments, aids and information devices 10. To provide training and refreshment courses to the staff and to equip them to face the emerging challenges. Funding:- The estimated budget of the proposed social program is $10, 00,000. A Table showing the estimated budget of the program is given below:- S.No Expenses Amount 1 Staffing, training, and salary 100000 2 Supplies And equipment 200000 3 Traveling 50000 4 Rent 250000 5 Rehabilitation programs 200000 6 Awareness programs 50000 7 Guidance and counseling activities 50000 8 Others 100000 Total 1000000 Of the estimated $10, 00,000, we plan to raise an amount of $150,000 through contributions from voluntary organizations and charitable individuals. We have an investment of $ 1, 00000 and it would be a great assistance if the Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention/Children's Trust Fund of Alabama could meet the additional fund requirements and allot a special fund to our organization for this proposed program. Conclusions:- Thus, the proposed social program aims at providing services to the affected victims, the parents of abused children and the public. The program also aims to prevent all sorts of abuses through effective awareness programs and anti- abuse measures. We hope that the researches, rehabilitation programs and the guidance and counseling services proposed by our organization would be of great help to the needy and this would in course of time see a highly refined American society where no one is made to suffer the adverse effects of child sexual abuse. We also believe the hard work, sincerity, dedication, commitment and the good will behind this proposed social program will be appreciated by the authorities and will not go unheeded. Reference Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2006). Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm Find counceling.com. (2001). Child abuse: An overview. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/child-abuse/sexual-abuse-effects.html. Meara, S. O & Fedderson, Y. (2006). National Child Abuse Statistics: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse. Child Help. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics Read More