Whenever a child dies, something has gone terribly wrong,
 and all efforts should be made to find out exactly what
took place that led to the untimely death. We cannot replace
 a child but we can do all that is possible to make sure another
young life is not taken. By taking steps to ensure no other
child falls victim to violence, the life taken away will never be in vain.

The weight of the world’s problems does not lie on any one
particular’s shoulders. It lies on all of us. We need to work together
… communities and families …. to bring about positive changes.
 Only by working together as a team and by listening and hearing
every concerned voice can change come about. Granted,
there are those who have the attitude that as long as their
families are well, everyone else is on their own. Sadly,
we fail to realize that what affects one, affects all.
 All our inactions and actions have an effect on our universe.
We don’t have to look out for one another, but usually
this backfires in one’s face. Treat others badly, you will
eventually get burned. Turn away from others in need, and you
may be turned away when you are in need someday. It is a vicious,
 but true, cycle.
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Now think of those innocent children hiding in the corner.
 Maybe in the eyes of one of their parents or even both,
they are no good and rotten. Maybe as soon as the lights
 go off at night, their nightmares are just beginning or
perhaps they started hours before. Maybe they go out
of their way to try to please their parent, thinking that
 there is something wrong with themselves and that if
 they would only be better (or prettier, or smarter, or talented),
the hitting and name-calling would stop. Think of the heart-breaking
cries of agony as a child fights for their right to live without
 violence in their home. Some of those cries will be snuffed
 out one day or night without anyone coming to that child’s rescue.
 Imagine the horror that child must have felt as their life was
 coming to an end, at the hands of someone who should be
kissing and hugging them.
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According to ChildhelpUSA (http://www.childhelpusa.org/
child/statistics.htm):

(ChildhelpUSA is "one of the largest and oldest national
non-profit organizations dedicated to meeting the physical,
emotional, educational and spiritual needs of
abused and neglected children.") Childhelp
USA can be contacted 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week at 1-800-2-A-Child.

Statistics:

More than 3 million child abuse reports were made i
n 1997 alone.

The actual incidence of abuse and neglect
 is estimated to be 3 times greater than the number
reported to authorities.

Every 10 seconds a child is abused.

Child abuse kills more children in America
 than do accidental falls, drowning, choking on
 food, fires in the home, or suffocation.

More than 3 children die each day as a resul
t of parental maltreatment.

Head trauma is the leading cause of child abuse
death among babies.

More cases of child sexual abuse are never reported
than are ever tried in court.

In 1997 nationwide, there was an estimate
 of 84,320 new cases of child sexual abuse.

Victims:

Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of child abuse an
d neglect fatalities were children under the age of
5; 38% were children under one year of age.

Girls are sexually abused 3 times more often than boys,
 while boys are at greater risk of emotional neglect and serious injury.

Women sexually abused before age 18 have lower levels o
f interpersonal functions and social adjustment as adults
and are less likely to form trusting relationships.

Perpetrators:

Substance abuse, lack of parental skills,
poor understanding of a child’s normal development path,
young maternal age, poverty, and a history of domestic
violence are common indicators for the occurrence of child abuse.

An estimated half of all homes with adult violence
 also involve child abuse or neglect.

Child molestation remains a crime most
 often perpetrated by relatives and acquaintances rather than strangers.

One third of all child molesters incarcerated
in state prisons nationwide had attacked their
own children or stepchildren, the majority of whom
 were age 12 or younger.

More than half the child victims of rape
 or sexual assault are ages 12 or younger.

Grief Recovery

GROWW (Grief Recovery ONLINE for ALL Bereaved)
can be accessed at http://www.groww.com.

You have "permission to grieve".

This is a place "where you CAN recover from
the overwhelming pain of grief".

"It’s a place of belonging".

If you are grieving from the loss of a loved one, visit
 this website. There are caring people to speak
 and talk with. They have secure chatrooms,
message boards, resources, and more.

Another worthwhile website dedicated to children
 and families is CALM – Child Abuse Listening and
Mediation (http://www.calm4kids.org/main.htm).
Go to their website and see what they offer under Prevention,
 Treatment and Intervention.