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Children who
are victims of abuse
must depend on the
adults in their lives to
pay attention to warning
signs, believe them when
they tell us something
is wrong, and respond
responsibly. |
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"I have
found that the best way
to give advice to your
children is to find out
what they want and then
advise them to do it."
- Harry S. Truman |
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Click Below For More
Information: |
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Signs & Symptoms of Abuse & Neglect |
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Handling Disclosures |
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Reporting Abuse & Neglect |
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Support & Healing Resources |
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FACTS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE |
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In America: |
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Each year 1 million
children in the
United States are
confirmed to be
victims of abuse by
Child Protective
Services; millions
more suffer in
silence.
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Each year in this
country, thousands
of children die as a
result of abuse.
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Each year millions
of children witness
domestic violence in
their own homes.
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Most of these
children are
themselves victims
of physical and
emotional abuse.
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Children are most
often abused by the
very people they
rely on for love and
acceptance - parents
and other family
members.
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One in four girls
and one in six boys,
in the U.S., are
victims of sexual
assault by the age
of eighteen.
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In Massachusetts: |
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In Massachusetts, as
of December 1, 2009
there were 104,786
reports of abused or
neglected children.
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In Massachusetts, as
of December 31, 2009
the count was up to
114,159.
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Furthermore,
Massachusetts has
the highest rate of
confirmed cases of
child abuse and
neglect in the
United States.
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Berkshire County: |
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Berkshire County is
one of the 3 cities
in Massachusetts
with the highest
reporting rates of
abuse and neglect.
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Berkshire County
accounts for the
second largest
increase statewide
at 133% of care and
protection cases
filed by the
Department of
Children and
Families on behalf
of abused and
neglected children.
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The Effects: |
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Children who are
either victims of
abuse or witnesses
to domestic violence
often suffer form
Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder,
which has long term
effects on virtually
every aspect of
their lives and
development.
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Children learn what
they live. Children
who live with
violence in their
own homes learn that
violence is an
acceptable way to
deal with
frustration and
conflicts.
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