Child Conference Focuses On The Abused Child

By Jan Howard

Citing the “shameful statistics” of the monetary cost to the nation of child abuse and neglect, Dr Jack S.C. Fong, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Danbury Hospital, kicked off the third annual Child Abuse Conference May 11 at Danbury Hospital.

Quoting Donna E. Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr Fong said, “The first, most enduring responsibility of any society is to ensure the health and well-being of its children.”

The nation has to put child abuse prevention at the top of its priorities, he said.

“Look at the money we spend,” Dr Fong said, pointing to the estimated $24,384,347,302 spent in direct costs of child abuse and neglect annually in the United States and the $69,692,535,227 in indirect costs. The total in direct and indirect costs nationally as a result of child abuse and neglect is $94,076,882,529.

Child abuse and neglect costs each United States family $1,462 per year.

In comparison to those costs, “Only one percent is spent on prevention,” Dr Fong said. “We’re not doing much about prevention.”

Annual estimated direct costs of child abuse and neglect include the following:

*Hospitalization, $6,205,395,000;

*Chronic Health Problems, $2,987,957,400;

*Mental Health Care System, $425,110,400;

*Child Welfare System, $14,400,000,000;

*Law Enforcement, $24,709,800;

*Judicial System, $341,174,702.

Annual indirect costs are as follows:

*Special Education, $223,607,830;

*Mental Health and Health Care, $4,627,636,025;

*Juvenile Delinquency, $8,805,291,372;

*Lost Productivity to Society, $656,000,000;

*Adult Criminality, $55,380,000,000.

Dr Fong said $22 per affected child is spent on research funding support and prevention in comparison to $4,665 per affected individual for HIV/AIDS, $4,398 for cancer, $95 for alcohol, $53 for drugs, and $34 for heart.

In 1999, there were 3,244,000 reported cases of abuse and neglect of children under the age of 18, or 46 per 1,000, Dr Fong said. Out of these, there were 1,070,000 confirmed cases, or a confirmation rate of 15 per 1,000 children. There were 1,396 fatalities nationally, with 80 percent under the age of five. Connecticut has approximately five fatalities a year as a result of child abuse, he noted.

“We have to act on it. It must be at the top of priorities,” Dr Fong said. “We need to focus attention on how to treat our society better so society will be better for all of us.”

He called upon attendees at the conference to take an active role in child abuse and neglect prevention by being informed, involved, and advocates.

Dr Fong listed ten ways to help prevent child abuse that are recommended by Prevent Child Abuse America of Chicago, Ill.

*Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know they are special, loved, and capable of following their dreams.

*Help a friend, neighbor, or relative. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand by taking care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.

*Help yourself. When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid.

*If your baby cries… It can be frustrating. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby. Shaking a child may result in severe injury or death.

*Get involved. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library, and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.

*Help to develop parenting resources at your local library.

*Promote programs in school. Teaching children, parents, and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.

*Monitor your child’s television and video viewing. Watching violent films and TV programs can harm young children.

*Volunteer for a child abuse prevention program. For volunteer opportunities, call 800-CHILDREN.

*Report suspected abuse or neglect. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call your local department of children and family services or your local police department.

 The following are 12 alternatives to lashing out at your child:

*Take a deep breath… and another. Remember you are the adult.

*Close your eyes and imagine you’re hearing what your child is about to hear.

*Press your lips together and count to 10… or better yet, to 20.

*Put your child in a time-out chair. (Remember this rule: one time-out minute for each year of age.)

*Put yourself in a time-out chair. Think about why you are angry: is it your child, or is your child simply a convenient target for your anger?

*Phone a friend.

*If someone can watch the children, go outside and take a walk.

*Take a hot bath or splash cold water on your face.

*Hug a pillow.

*Turn on some music. Maybe even sing along.

*Pick up a pencil and write down as many helpful words as you can think of. Save the list.

*Call for prevention information: 800-CHILDREN.

Dr Fong is a resident of Newtown.