United Families International Having to live through sexual abuse as a child is one of the hardest things to have to deal

with, and can really impact a childs life. To have an uncle that you thought loved you so much but then to realize that he loved you too much, and then to have your father loving you the exact same way is not a childhood that brings happy memories to anyone. This was not the way I wanted to be brought up, but nonetheless, this is my background. nd after this experience it was amazing to see how many other people I met growing up that had also suffered through sexual abuse. It is a rampant crime, and one that is also a silent crime. Today, children in merica are suffering from what we call a !hidden epidemic" of child abuse and neglect. report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. That is hard statistic to choke down. #hild sexual abuse has been reported up to $%,%%% times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened. &ot only are children afraid to tell what happened, but its so difficult to have proof that most of the time, the cases go unopened and there is nothing that can be done for the children. In this situation, the children are going to be seen as liars and the perpetrators could now be enraged because the child tried to get help. 'nless there is visible proof, it is extremely difficult to get out of the situation, which is what happened to me as a child. The children also have to fight the loyalty and love that they have for the perpetrator if it is someone close to them. #an you imagine trying to tell yourself its okay to !tattle" on (addy because hes touching you but you dont like it) *f course theres going to be such guilt involved in a childs mind when having to decide between telling someone and hurting the perpetrator that is also a close person to them. +e hear about child sexual abuse all the time in the news. The #atholic #hurch is constantly being accused of sexual abuse against the children in their church. ll you have to do is do a search online for #atholic #hurch sexual abuse and you will get millions of results. ,ou can do a search of sexual abuse in your specific state and there will be a guarantee of news concerning this problem. The issue of sexual abuse is obviously not as nonexistent as one might think. #hild sexual abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. &o one is excluded from abuse. The sad part is that innocent children are being taken advantage of sexually, when their perpetrator should know better. -ore than .%/ of 0uvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way, whether it is their parent, sibling, friend, neighbor or teacher. nd the abuse is longsuffering, causing

damaging feelings, thought and behaviors for the rest of the childs life. 1or those that havent experienced it first hand it is hard to conceptualize hat it happens so much, but for those that have, they live with the effects every single day of their life. #hildren that have to endure any form of abuse are such strong children, and are really going to have to work to turn their lives around from the abuse that they have suffered through. 2o what can parents do to support their children and make sure this doesnt happen) 3arents need to be aware of the possibilities of what could happen to their children, and they need to take precautions wherever they are so that the children are safe. There is an internet site that was built to support families all throughout the 'nites 2tates of merica and to keep them informed about whats going on in their neighborhoods. Its called lertI(, and this website is all about reducing crime while improving safety and security for the children, family and communities all over the 'nited 2tates. This website gives out alerts everytime that something happens in your own community. ,ou sign up, type in your address, and up pops all the alerts. There are so many things that are listed for you4 2exual offenders living near you 3ublic disturbances #ar accidents 2uspicious vehicle5person 3ublic safety alerts

Here is one way that parents can be involved in their childrens safety. *r better yet, here is a way that every single parent should be involved. There are so many organizations that are giving parents the ability to be more involved and educated about whats going on around them, and so parents need to keep track of all of this. The '.2. (epartment of Health and Human 2ervices #hildrens 6ureau report Child Maltreatment 2010 found that ..7/ of victimized children were sexually assaulted. &ow this is ..7/ of a total of 89:,%%% duplicate victims ;abused more than once< and =.9,%%% uni>ue ;one count per child regardless of the number of times abused<. +e need to be aware that sexual abuse is running rampant. 3arents need to get online and get educated, and keep up with some sort of alert system, like lertI(, so that they know whats going on in their neighborhoods. ?esearchers estimate that one@third of abused and neglected children will grow up to abuse their own children when they become parents. +e must put a stop to this. ,ou and I can help in small ways. Teach your children the proper way in which we need to treat ourselves and others, and educate them on what is an okay for of touch from others and what isnt. +e need to give our children the ability to stand up for themselves as best they can, and with this education for them as well as we as parents becoming educated and aware, we can decrease the amount of sexual abuse going on. +hen you see abuse take place, stand up and do something about it, dont ignore it or let it happen. If you dont do anything about it, chances are no one will.

?eferences dministration for #hildren and 1amilies. !Child Maltreatment 2010." '.2. (epartment of Health and Human 2ervices. http455archive.acf.hhs.gov5programs5cb5pubs5cmA%5cmA%.pdf lertI(. www. lertI(.com

!Child Sexual Abuse." merican cademy of #hild and dolescent 3sychiatry. -arch 7%AA. +eb. A9 *ct. 7%AB. http455www.aacap.org5 # 351amiliesCandC,outh51actsCforC1amilies51actsCfor C1amiliesC3ages5#hildC2exualC buseC%..aspx Safe Horizon. 7%AB 2afe Horizon. +eb. A9 *ct 7%AB. http455www.safehorizon.org5index5what@we@do@75child@abuse@@incest@995child@ abuse@statistics@@facts@B%:.html

manda Hildreth is a wife and mother and defines herself through faith, family, and love of writing. 2he has written two personal piece articles about the importance of family and life with her small family, and is halfway through completing a fictional novel about a child surviving through child abuse. manda is an advocate for her :@year@old daughter, Drace, who was born with many developmental disabilities, and will graduate with a -arriage and 1amily 6achelors degree in Eune 7%A9.

Taylor was born and raised in ?oseville, #alifornia. 2he now resides in ?exburg Idaho with her husband of two years, while they attend school. Hartman is a senior at 6righam ,oung 'niversity@Idaho ma0oring in communication with an emphasis in public relations and family studies. 2he anticipates graduating with her 6achelor degree in pril 7%A:.