Parents, siblings, and visitors can all inflict abuse. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in 87 percent of child abuse cases the abuser is one or both of the parents. The most recent figures released in April 2000 by the Department of Health and Human Services reveal that in 1998 there were 903,000 substantiated cases of child abuse nationwide. These children were physically, sexually, or emotionally abused as well as neglected. To educate parents, installation Family Advocacy Program staff schedule a variety of classes that cover parenting, child and spouse abuse awareness and reporting, and child self-protection skills.
Individuals can also help in the fight against child abuse.
Childhelp USA, one of America's leading child abuse prevention organizations, suggests three steps anyone can take to help prevent abuse. First, stop and take time to learn the facts. Child abuse results in truancy, homelessness, teen prostitution, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, crime, and domestic violence. Eighty percent of abusers were abused as children, and victims of child abuse are 67 percent more likely to get into trouble with the law. Second, look for the signs of abuse.