• In the United States, 4 children die as a result of child abuse each day and there are over 3 million reports of child abuse annually.

• In the last decade of the millennium, the number of children reported as abused or neglected in the United States grew by 33% to 3,244,000.

• In the United States, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually exploited before they reach adulthood.

• A child who suffers abuse is 6 times more likely to become an abuser.

• A child who suffers abuse is 53% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile...38% as an adult.

• 80-90% of children who are sexually abused are victimized by adults they know, not by strangers or kidnappers.

• Less than 35% of child sexual assaults are reported to authorities.

• Every 11 seconds a child is reported abused or neglected.

• Every 35 seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected.

• Every 6 hours a child dies from child abuse or neglect.

Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

Who must report: Any person who believes a child has been or will be abused or neglected, as those terms are defined in Chapter 261, Texas Family Code.

When to report: IMMEDIATELY - A report must be made orally within 48 hours after there is cause to believe/suspect that the child has been or may be abused or neglected.

Where to report: Any local or state law enforcement agency or Child Protective Services (CPS). You can make a report to CPS by calling the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. You can reach the Odessa Police Department at 432-333-3641. The Ector County Sheriff's Office can be reached at 432-335-3050.

Penalty: Failure to report is a Class B misdemeanor. Knowingly or intentionally making a false report is a Class A misdemeanor.

Reportable Forms of Child Abuse:

Physical Abuse is physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, shaking, kicking, biting, throwing, stabbing, hitting, burning, choking, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.

Suspect Physical Abuse When You See:

• Frequent injuries such as bruises, cuts, black eyes, or burns without adequate explanations
• Frequent complaints of pain without obvious injury
• Burns or bruises in unusual patterns that may indicate the use of an instrument or human bite; cigarette burns on any part of the body
• Lack of reaction to pain
• Aggressive, disruptive, and destructive behavior,
• Passive, withdrawn, and emotionless behavior
• Fear of going home or seeing parents; injuries that appear after a child has not been seen for several days
• Unreasonable clothing that may hide injuries to arms or legs.

Sexual Abuse includes activities by a parent or caretaker such as fondling a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.

Suspect Sexual Abuse When You See:

• Physical signs of sexually transmitted disease
• Evidence of injury to the genital area
• Pregnancy in a young girl
• Difficulty in sitting or walking
• Frequent expressions of sexual activity between adult and child
• Extreme fear of being alone with adults of a certain sex
• Sexually suggestive, inappropriate, or promiscuous behavior
• Knowledge of sexual relations beyond what is expected for a child's age
• Sexual victimization of other children

Neglect - 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.

Suspect Neglect When You See:

• Obvious malnourishment
• Lack of personal cleanliness
• Torn or dirty clothing
• Stealing or begging for food
• Child unattended for long periods of time
• Need for glasses, dental care, or other medical attention
• Frequent tardiness or absence from school

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

Suspect Emotional Abuse When You See:

• Over compliance
• Low self-esteem
• Severe depression, anxiety, or aggression
• Difficulty making friends or doing things with other children
• Lagging in physical, emotional, and intellectual development
• Caregiver who belittles child, withholds love, and seems unconcerned about child's problems

Related Website Links:

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas -  www.cactx.org

2005 Texas Child Abuse Prevention Kit - www.itsuptoyou.org

National Children's Alliance -  www.nca-online.org

National Association to Protect Children - www.protect.org

ChildHelp USA - www.childhelpusa.org

Darkness to Light -  www.darkness2light.org

Prevent Child Abuse Texas - www.preventchildabusetexas.org

Child Abuse Prevention Network - www.child-abuse.com

National Clearing House on Child Abuse and Neglect - www.calib.com/nccanch

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - www.missingkids.com

PANdora's Box – www.prevent-abuse-now.com