Millions of children are the victims of child abuse every year and if you stop to think about it, what is the cost? Not in terms of money for medical attention, but in the very future of those poor innocents? Yes, the cost of treating them is high, but that is negligible in terms of what their futures will hold for them. Wouldn’t you hate to be responsible for medical claims processing? How could you even code that, if there is such a code for child abuse! Would an insurer refuse payment? Probably not, but still, it is the child who pays the high cost and it is time society took a stronger stance and really did something about it.
The Fright Doesn’t End with Adolescence
Even when children are removed from abusive homes and/or caregivers, the fright they experience doesn’t end there. These children will carry that with them for the rest of their lives and the impact can have significant consequences later in life. According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, the long-term outcomes for adult survivors can be serious. Not only do many of these adults still suffer emotional or psychological problems but their physical health may have been impacted as well. Who should pay the cost for this? Certainly not the children or the adult survivors!
Child Abuse Hides in the Darkness
Unfortunately, this is the problem. It seems as though society has become immune to abuse. You hear story after story of multiple children being locked away, rarely seen by neighbors who knew they were living there. Why doesn’t someone speak up? Child abuse hides in darkness but in the light of day, it should be seen. Much is being written on this, but in many cases, you will hear neighbors say they “thought something was off” or the opposite extreme, “they seemed like such a nice, normal family.”
Fear of Repercussions
Many times, people see and suspect something but are afraid to act for fear of repercussions. What if they are wrong and the children are okay? What if they are right and the abusers redirect their anger towards them? Should you, or shouldn’t you call the authorities if you suspect abuse in a home? The answer is, yes you most certainly should speak with someone. If not the police or CPS, perhaps the school guidance counselor or a neighborhood church would be able to do a bit of investigating.
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Also, you should know that the law protects you as a witness. Your name will not be used when the authorities gain entry to the home. In fact, they don’t even need to mention anyone at all. Police departments across the country are entitled to do “wellness checks” and they often do if someone calls in concern. Many of these children can be given safe harbor if someone would take the initiative to make that phone call. Don’t let your fear of being wrong stand in the way of letting your voice be heard. In fact, lending your voice to the voiceless is the right thing to do. Those children have had their voices taken from them by their abusers.
Don’t let them pay the high cost of child abuse. You can play a role in giving them a brighter future, but you must act to do so. Isn’t it time someone took a stand?