Preventing Violence Against Children

Before the year 1875, many children were not protected from child abuse. Although intervention did occur the intervention was very sporadic due to little or no reporting. Mary Ellen Wilson, a nine year old, lived with her caretakers in a New York City’s residence known as Hell’s Kitchen; She was rescued by the organized child protection which emerged from her rescue in 1874 (Myers, 2008). This young girl was beaten and neglected by her guardians routinely. Etta Wheeler became aware of the child’s dilemma and was determined to save little Mary Ellen Wilson from her abusers. Wheeler went to a couple of authorities such as the police and child helping charities but they did not investigate or want to interfere with the family. At this time there was no child protective services for Etta Wheeler to turn to. Wheeler went to Henry Bergh who dealt with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Bergh assisted Mrs. Wheeler

For centuries child abuse was not investigated due to many reasons. For instance, children were historically seen as property. Young boys and girls were to always follow an adult’s orders without questioning if it was a wrong act that could harm others or themselves. Therefore, kids became taught to stay silent, and never go against their parent’s decisions and expectations. Furthermore, different cultures and family values made it hard to create a definition for child abuse that addressed how to determine if a child was truly being physically, sexually or mentally abused. In 1874, the abuse case of Mary Ellen helped create the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which brought to light the seriousness of how children were being

It was not until the early 1870s that child abuse was first brought into light. The Child-Protection Movement started with the news of one eight year-old orphan named Mary Ellen Wilson. After the passing of her biological mother and father, Mary Ellen was left in the care of her biological father's widow, Mary McCormack Connolly. Mrs. McCormack Connolly badly mistreated Mary Ellen, and neighbors in the building were well aware of the child's predicament (Mary Ellen Wilson, 2013). It was not until Etta Angell Wheeler, a caring Methodist mission worker, visited the residence and noticed Mary Ellen's condition. Ms. Wheeler describes her first meeting with Mary Ellen, as such:

Each week Child Protective Services receives more than 50,000 allegations of child abuse. Two-thirds of the allegations have enough evidence to start investigations. The results of these investigations showed 2,450 children are abused everyday (Ianelli, 2006). In 1999, CPS, nearly four, confirmed an estimated 1,401 child abuse and neglect fatalities every day. (Child Abuse Statistics, nd).

In the nineteenth century, although society became a bit harsher on those who abused or neglected children and child welfare organizations mushroomed, child abuse and neglect were still not considered crimes (Hirschy, & Wilkinson, 2012). However, all through the twentieth century, the social perceptions of child abuse and neglect have shifted a great deal from something that was totally unacceptable to a demeanor that can no longer be allowed both in legal and social circles. But the criminalization of child abuse and neglect was only one step towards overall child wellbeing. There is still much more to be done to ensure that child maltreatment has been eradicated.

Historically, children were viewed very differently than they are today. Adults thought of children as being seen and not heard. Children were expected to work in textile factories or as chimney sweeps in order to provide for their families. They did not have rights and in the family, children followed the rule “do as you’re told” so they would survive. It was not until 1875 when the thought of the rights of children came about. Rights of children “stemmed from their status – dependent, immature individuals who require care, protection, and guidance to survive and flourish,” (Downs, Moore & McFadden, 2009, p. 7). Politicians thought children deserved an education and protection, so they introduced “child saving” activities that advocated for the improving the lives of and conditions for children. Since this was enacted orphanages were developed for communities that experienced disasters and orphan trains helped in resettling over 100,000 children. In 1924 the League of Nations approved the Geneva Declaration of of the Rights of a Child which gave children rights such as receiving food, healthcare, protection, and shelter (Strohm, Powerpoint, September 3).

All around the world, people are abusing animals. Animal cruelty is a big deal because some people do not look at animals as being important; some people do not see a problem with hurting them. Animal cruelty can be define as being a malicious treatment that can cause undue pain or being mistreated. Seeing an animal get brutalize by some humans seems to be cruel. Getting kicked in the ribs, left for starvation and even used for entertainment seems to be heartless. Why abuse animals when they have not done anything to harm a human. If one must see what they are really doing to these animals, then animal cruelty would not be a big deal.

      In today’s world, children are seen as individuals who have certain rights as human beings, and who are worthy of external (or non family) protection.  This has not always been the case.  For the better part of the 19th century, there were no rules or regulations in effect that prevented the mistreatment of children, since they were thought to be completely under the control of their immediate family (University of Delaware).   It was not until 1874 that the first organization concerned with the protection of children was established in New York.  The group called themselves the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC), after the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which was an organization in England that had

According to Pecora, Sanders, Wilson, English, Puckett & Rudlang-Perman (2014), “Every year in the USA, about 695,000 unique children are confirmed as victims of child maltreatment (US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau 2011) (p. 321). Such startling statistics suggest that child abuse is not just a public health issue; it is an epidemic. However, research reveals that prevention is possible through a collaborative effort made by parents, schools, the government, social services, and the

Three strategies for the prevention and treatment of child abuse are parent counseling and support groups, parent education programs, and respite and crisis care programs. Parent counseling and support groups are sessions where parents can work together in order to address their domestic problems and find ways to strengthen their family and build social networks. Mentors may provide support to families in crisis. Parent education programs are programs that help parents obtain positive parenting skills and teach them to decrease behaviors that could lead to child abuse and neglect. Respite and crisis care programs offer temporary relief to parents and other caregivers whenever they find themselves in a stressful situations that could cause them

In history, it shows that there have been interventions, but during the civilizations in "Greece, Rome and Mexico engaged in several forms of child abuse" for cultural beliefs(Child abuse,1). During that civilization they believed in murder and that back then child abuse was very common for punishment. In 2013 archeologists found a "two-thousand-year-old skeleton of a toddler" which had may fractures which proved that child abuse was present(Child abuse,2). This showed that in cultures and religious backgrounds that child abuse was common, but looking back now it was morally wrong. To continue, the intervention of child abuse is presented as "both necessary and morally compelling"(I.Child abuse,1). This illustrates that the process of child

The NSPCC is a charity and they are the only charity who has power to act where there are cases of abuse. They offer services to support families, children and young people, they do this through helplines. They also make people aware to pursue the safety and protection of children. The charity has a responsibility to identify and prevent cruelty to children.

It is therefore not surprising that in many situations the concept of “sparing the rod and spoiling the child” has been passed down generationally, sometimes to the point where abuse is an end result (Crosson-Tower, 2010). The child protection movement had a peculiar start as it evolved out the animal protection movement organized by Henry Bergh, who had gained attention from the community leaders of New York while tending to mistreated animals (Watkin, 1990). In 1874, the beatings and repeated maltreatment of a young girl by the name of Mary Ellen Wilson was brought to the attention of a church worker named Etta Wheeler (Watkin, 1990). Ms. Wheeler pleaded with both Henry Bergh and attorney Elbridge Gerry to prosecute the stepmother (Mrs. Mary Connelly) for abusing the child (Watkin, 1990). Mrs. Connelly was eventually sentenced to a year of prison labor, and Mary Ellen was removed from the home and placed in the care of Sally Angell, the mother of Etta Wheeler. This effort to rescue one child was the impetus for the formation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC), and in 1875. The New York Office of the SPCC was established by Elbridge Gerry and quickly spread to Philadelphia and Chicago (Crosson-Tower, 2010). Throughout the early 20th century, advocates for the protection of children established Children’s Bureau and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), but its activity was slowed as a result of World War I

“The seriousness of emotional deprivation: It is not difficult to understand how children who have suffered from malnutrition or starvation need food and plenty of care in their bodies are to recover so they can go on to lead normal lives. If, however, the starvation is severe enough, the damage will be permanent and they will suffer physical impairments for the rest of their lives. Likewise, children who are deprived of emotional nurturing require care and love if their sense of security and self-confidence is to be restored. However, if love is minimal and abuse high, the damage will be permanent and the children will suffer emotional impairments for the rest of their lives,” said by Mark Z. Danielewski, April 11th, 2014. The issue of child abuse dates all the way back to colonial times in 1809 before organized child protection began. Back in this time child abuse wasn’t recognized by people as a serious issue so many people were able to kill children without harsh consequence. For example in 1810 a woman was arrested for killing a newborn child and admitted to several people that she killed the baby, even so, she was found not guilty most likely because the jury thought was psychotic. Many children went without protection and were killed, raped, kidnapped, and tortured during this time and still this wasn’t seen as a high priority issue in the United States. It wasn’t until 1875 that the world's first organization that was completely devoted to child protection came

In the current period more than ever, to prevent any unsuitable behavior, it must be well justified and financially prepared. There is little information available about the global economic costs of violence against children. However, the bill for such actions against children proves to be high. The variety of short and long term consequences associated with violence against children suggests that there are significant economic costs to society. Thus, the U.S., the cost of abuse and neglect was about 103.8 billion USD in 2007, the estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion. including both direct costs associated with early intervention, medical treatment and associated psychological and indirect consequences related to long-term ill-treatment at individual and societal.