Child Abuse In Michigan

Child Abuse in Michigan

Child abuse in Michigan can be seen as the act to a child that may cause harm or threaten to harm a child, its health, or its welfare. It occurs in many ways that are non-accidental where the individual who abuses the child plans it and goes ahead to carry it on. The harm caused to the child may be physical or mental depending on the specific abuse that is used on the child. Other cases of abuse have been identified in the sexual abuse of a child, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment of the child. A child may be abused by many individuals starting from the immediate parent to the farthest person who has access to the child. Previously in Michigan, children have abused by their parents, legal guardians, and many other individuals who are held responsible for taking care of the child. Teachers and leaders in churches have also been reported abusing children mentally, physically, sexually, etc.

A Serious Public Health Problem

Child Abuse in Michigan

In Michigan, child abuse has been identified as one of the most serious public health problem. Research done in Michigan show that in every five minutes, a child is abused. This is a very large number since in a day; about two hundred and forty four children are abused in the country. Also, the research shows that most if these children are very young with ages ranging between zero and six years (Jennifer 2007: p.1). Some of the principles causes that have been associated with the child abuse is the excessive use of alcohol and drugs by some parents in Michigan. These individuals show little care for their children and they won’t mind whatever happens to the children. Some of the alcoholics have been reported to have abused their children sexually as a result of use of alcohol. Individuals with low capacity to control stress and anger are more likely to abuse children in their families than individuals who have no stress or those who can control the stress and anger easily. This implies that those children who belong to families with such individuals are more prone to child abuse. In those families where the parents and other members of the family show little or no care for the children, the children belonging here are likely to experience child abuse be it in terms of mental abuse or any other form. Other children who are prone to child abuse are those who belong to families undergoing serious economic, personal, or housing problems. Individuals with such problems do not mind about the care of the children and might abuse the children themselves.

Effects

Children who have been abused at these very young ages experience many psychological, behavioral, medical, and emotional disorders (Jennifer 2007: p.1). Some children have been reported to have experienced moments of depression as a result of abuse. This depression might affect the child for the rest of his or her life if proper counseling and education is not offered. As a result of abuse in the families, some children grow up to alcoholics or drug abusers in a bid to try and forget the memories. These children might also become criminals at very young ages.

Prevention Measures

In a bid to try and prevent child abuse in Michigan, the government has come up with different plans that will help address the issue in the community level and also countrywide. The parents

Child Abuse in Michigan

are encouraged to strengthen their families since strengthening the families means that the children will be in a less risk of being abused. When families are strong and the children are not abused, the chance is that these children will have the responsibility of protecting their children and some cases of alcohol and drug abuse that are as a result of frustrations are likely to reduce. A children’s trust fund has been developed where the funds are aimed at supporting the prevention programs. Individuals are also encouraged to join the movement as this will help in moving the program faster.

The Michigan state has some laws that address the issue of child abuse. The laws involve the children, the care taker, and the individual who abuses or is suspected of having plans to abuse the child. Some of the laws include: if an individual identifies another person abusing a child or planning to abuse a child, this individual should report with immediate effect so that action can be taken over the suspect (JSTOR (Organization). Any person is held liable for reporting and failure to report will result to the individual paying damages or spending about ninety one days ion prison for guilty of misdemeanor. However, in suspect cases, a person should have a reasonable cause to suspect that another individual has the intention to abuse a child. Individuals found guilty of abusing children undergo severe punishment but the punishment depends on the particular way that the child was abused (Lewis 1999: p.225). The severe punishment is meant to warn the individuals from taking similar actions in future and also warn those individuals who could have plans to abuse children in the future.

Conclusion

Child abuse in Michigan has been an issue of concern where over two hundred children below the age of six years have been abused. This abuse to children has taken place in many different ways such as mental exploitation of a child, physical exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, maltreatment, etc. Most of the abuses take place in the families where these children live. Child abuse has been a public health concern where children from families where parents take alcohol and other drugs, where individuals have no control over anger and stress, and where individuals are going through serious economic problems are more prone to child abuse than the rest of the children. Child abuse causes depression, alcoholism and drug abuse, and crime in children who are victims of it. The government has come up with prevention measures and laws that are supposed to prevent child abuse in Michigan.

Child Abuse in Michigan

Bibliography

Jennifer, M. G. (2007). Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Retrieved on 25-Nov-09 from http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0 ,1607,7-168-25488_43769-166771–,00.html

JSTOR (Organization). (2000). Michigan Law Review, Volume Ninety Two, Issues. P.139.

Lewis, O. (1999). Woman Abuse: Facts Replacing Myths. Suny Press, 224-226.