Child Abuse Awareness Month closes; take action. It's a crime reported every 10 seconds within every race, creed, ethnic and social economic structure. In apartments, mobile homes, million dollar houses, churches, schools, crack houses, neighbors' homes and in the homes of the people we think are "Salt of the Earth."
Many take righteous stands for unborn children; let's stand for the children that are here now. It's not religion, moral virtues, skin color, what side of the tracks you live on, what town you live in, money or things.
"STRANGER DANGER" is less than seven percent of abuse. 1/4 girls and 1/6 boys will be sexually abused by someone they know and love, before their 18th birthday, 93 percent of the time. Less than three percent of charges are falsified, and 30 percent goes un-reported. Child abuse belongs to all of us, it's "OUR PROBLEM."
Take action! A couple had grown children and grandchildren, yet they adopted two beautiful children from the foster care system. They took a stand in-between abuse and children, creating prevention!
Adoption might not solve all problems; DO SOMETHING, MAKE THE TIME, And GET INVOLVED. You don't need children in school to be involved. Try one child, one day, 30 minutes a month, a week, a day. Be a role model: an Elder, a foster family, a teacher's assistant, an honorary grandparent, a Big sister, Big brother, or a GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
Arm yourself with knowledge; know what to do and how to handle it "WHEN" it happens. Have conversations, it's about PREVENTION. If you're uncomfortable by doing nothing, you are the problem. BE that person standing between abuse and a child, they need YOU.
Kimberly Lajzer, Founder/CEO Art4aPurpose.Org @ http://www.Art4purpose.Org A National Non-Profit 503 c 3 Asking YOU to help STOMP OUT CHILD ABUSE 828-475-2881
