From: The National Center To Prevent Child Abuse:...

Highlights from the 1995 Annual Fifty States Survey
Based on data collected from NCPCA's annual survey of child welfare officials in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, statistics suggest child abuse and neglect continue to pose a major threat to the well-being of the nation's children. The study summarizes the number and characteristics of child abuse reports, the number of child abuse fatalities, and changes in the funding and scope of child welfare services.

Reports of child abuse continue to climb at a steady rate. In 1995, child abuse reports rose 1.7% exceeding 3.1 million. Overall, a slight decrease in the number of substantiated cases occurred, with an estimated 993,000 new cases being accepted on to child welfare caseloads in 1995. For the second consecutive year, the proportion of cases involving various forms of maltreatment were essentially the same among the reported and substantiated cases, suggesting that a greater number of neglect cases and fewer child sexual abuse cases entered the system last year as compared to prior years. Of those cases that were substantiated, approximately 76% received some form of service and 22% of the substantiated cases involved the use of foster care.

Although the data suggest a slight decrease in the total number of child abuse fatalities, the high number of these cases continue to be disturbing. An estimated 1,215 children were killed last year as a result of child abuse or neglect, approximately three children a day. Looking across the past three years, 46% of these fatalities involved children who had current or prior contact with local child protective service agencies. The vast majority of these cases (85%) involved children under the age of five and almost half were under the age of one (45%). Despite the increased implementation of child death review committees and administrative attention to the issue of child abuse fatalities, essentially no change in this statistic has been observed over the past ten years.

While 55% of the respondents indicated that their agency had experienced increased state funding between 1994 and 1995, these increases were relatively small and may well be offset by the decline in funding expected from Federal sources. Indeed, 70% of the respondents had serious concerns about the recent move in Congress to block grant child welfare and related services. These concerns reflect not only the potential loss of funding but also the loss of Federal leadership in this area, particularly with respect to supporting the increased emphasis on family support and other prevention services adopted by many child welfare administrators since passage of the Federal Family Support and Prevention Initiative.

May this Angel Of Light stand watch over all the children until each is home safe, there is no more pain and suffering among our children and that all children grow up to be strong and healthy.

This picture used with the express permission of Gail Gastfield.  Please do not take her without permission of the artist.

Faith is Stronger Than my Fears

Sometimes my cross is hard to bear
for there is darkness everywhere,
and troubles pile around my door
like autumn leaves forevermore.
 

The morning light seems far away,
like I am stuck in yesterday. 
My heart is beating like a drum -
I try to pray, but words won't come.
 

But then the sun begins to rise
and hope is born within my eyes. 
A rainbow forms among my tears 
for faith is stronger than my fears!