Children who are abused battle the negative impact of their trauma for the rest of their lives. Abuse hinders a child’s development and takes away the hopeful start of life everyone deserves. Child abuse is a tragedy of humanity, and we fight to end it every day. To prevent child abuse, we first need to understand its detrimental impact and what it looks like.
The statistics of child abuse are jarring:
- 10,766 Oregon children were identified as abuse victims in 2021.
- 47.3% of child abuse victims were under the age of five.
- 18 children died from abuse in Oregon in 2021.
- 12 of the children who were killed were under the age of five.
- 8 of the victims were under one year old.
- Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County had a combined total of 725 abuse victims
Oregon Department of Human Services, 2021 Child Welfare Data Book
Child abuse appears in more than one form, and recognizing child abuse is the first step to ending it. Some types of child abuse are:
- Physical abuse: The intentional use of physical force or the deprivation of physical needs.
- Emotional/Psychological abuse: The harming of a child’s self-worth through verbal or physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse: Any action that forces a child into sexual activities.
- Neglect: A child’s basic needs are not met by their caretaker.
The realities of child abuse are absolutely heartbreaking—but there is hope! MountainStar is solely focused on child abuse prevention through our relief nursery and family support programs. We are here to help as many families in need as possible.
As leading pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris shares in the video below, child abuse is treatable and beatable. Hope is endless, especially through the support and guidance provided by MountainStar and our volunteers and donors.
Resources on Preventing Abuse and Neglect
Brain Development Videos
Other Organizations Working to Prevent Abuse & Neglect
