For a little girl called Queenie, a home that protects her from the ugliness of child abuse could be the beginning of a fairy tale come true. She is only a statistic among an estimated several million battered children, but she still has a chance to escape the cycle of abuse in her family.
Child abuse is very circular, affecting self-esteem and social development.
A shelter provides the child a home. About two-thirds were children. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, but the problem is year-round, said Diane Welch, family life specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Another increasing factor is the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Nationally, it is estimated that 4 million women and children are abused each year, but it's the most unreported crime.