Here are a few facts...

Child abuse occurs in all cultural, ethnic, occupational, and socioeconomic groups.

At least three children under the age of five are victims of abuse every day.

A child is abused in the United States every 10 seconds.

Child abuse is a generational problem — hurtful patterns and behaviors are passed on from parents to their children and to their children’s children, creating a vicious cycle of abuse.

Child abuse can take many forms, such as:

Physical Abuse
A child is regularly hit, hurt, or marred with marks. Objects or fists are used to harm the child.

Neglect
A parent or caretaker fails to provide for a child’s basic needs such as food, a safe living environment or necessary clothing and medical care. In extreme cases a parent or caretaker abandons a child.

Sexual Abuse
Sexual behavior that is not age appropriate, or adult sexual behavior with a child that goes beyond the child’s comprehension.

Emotional Abuse
Continual belittling and berating of the child and tearing down self-esteem. Emotional abuse is often a component of physical or sexual abuse.