Preventing Abuse and Neglect

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.

Know the facts…

10,711 Oregon children were identified as abuse victims in 2022.

47% of child abuse victims were under the age of six.

18 children died from abuse in Oregon in 2022.

  • 15 of the children who were killed were under the age of five.

  • 10 of the victims were under one year old.

730 child abuse victims in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County

Oregon Department of Human Services, 2022 Child Welfare Data Book
 

Child abuse appears in more than one form, and recognizing child abuse is an important step in ending it.

  • 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 programs. We are here to help our community’s most vulnerable families.

As leading pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris shares in this video, child abuse is treatable and beatable. Hope is endless, especially through the support and guidance provided by the many volunteers and donors at MountainStar.

Resources on Preventing Abuse and Neglect