Read about the brief lives and deaths of 110 Massachusetts children between 2009 and 2013 — a third of them under the watch of the Department of Children and Families: http://untold-stories.necir.org/

Last spring, Jack, along with his brother was placed in a Childhelp foster home. Jack came from a very chaotic and violent home setting, and brought a lot of past trauma and hurt, especially for someone so young; he was only seven years old. Jack showed his pain through his actions and behaviors. We could see it all over his face and how he carried himself. He could not make eye contact when speaking to others and would talk very quietly or not at all. He also had trouble in school controlling his emotions. Jack would yell, kick, hit, and throw objects in the classroom, often being physically restrained by school staff members. On several occasions, Jack’s behavior led to his peers being asked to leave the classroom during these incidents. Shortly after being placed with Childhelp, Jack and his brother moved to a kinship Childhelp foster home for about seven months. It was during this time that Jack began to heal. Continue reading his story: https://www.childhelp.org/story-resource-center/whatever-takes-love-child/

“My mum said I was brainwashed – that my dad had invented it all. To this day, she says nothing ever happened. But I know it did. I’m still living with the feelings and fears from those days now, in my 20s. “I find it difficult to trust people and I have flashbacks, especially if I see something on TV which triggers a memory. I find everyday things, like walking down a street, difficult as I worry that making eye contact with someone will cause them to be physically violent towards me. “For a long time, I accepted what was going on at home as normal. But no child should have to live in fear or on edge in their own home – that’s the place they should feel safest. “I think there’s a risk that children don’t know there’s help out there for them. Even when they see ads for Childline, they may not realise it’s for them. They see the abuse as normal and so don’t connect the adverts or advice to their own situation. “I wish I’d had support from NSPCC services as a child to help me rebuild my life sooner”. Read Pete’s story: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/childrens-stories-about-abuse/petes-story/   *DISCLAiMER Names and identifying features have been changed to protect identity. Photographs have been posed by models.

“I was worried about the violence the children had seen and how it might affect them. Both children were sullen, and weren’t very good at articulating their feelings. They were very obedient and didn’t really behave like children at all. They played quietly and were very subdued.” “The NSPCC’s work with my children gave them the light back behind their eyes. It felt like they’d released whatever they’d been holding on to. We were all finally happy and free to live.” “If there are any parents reading this who are going through something like us, I’d say please don’t be scared and please talk to someone. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and it’s not your fault so stop blaming yourself.” “My children are my stars and I know that they will never harm anyone, but without the NSPCC’s help, they might not have been that way.” Read Margaret’s story: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/childrens-stories-about-abuse/margarets-story/

“I was 16 when a friend introduced me to her church youth group. The first time I went, I met the youth leader, Adam. As I got more involved in the group, transport started to become an issue for me and Adam offered to give me lifts. “Quite early on, Adam and I began texting. When he suggested we hang out outside of the group I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was probably common for youth workers to want to spend time with young people. “I didn’t have a lot of friends so I felt like I’d made a close friend in Adam. He was paying me attention and I enjoyed his company, it felt like he was really looking out for me. “Then, Adam started to encourage me to hang out with him at his house. He started telling me that we had a special friendship.” Continue reading Lee’s story here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/childrens-stories-about-abuse/lees-story/

In 2016, Human trafficking in the United States rose 35.7 percent from the previous year, according to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The hotline reported 7,572 cases involving 6,340 females, 978 males and 70 listed as “gender minorities.” A total of 4,890 reported cases involved adults and 2,387 involved minors. The hotline fielded a total of 26,727 calls last year. California was the number one state with 1,323 cases followed by Texas with 670 and Florida with 550. All three states reported an increase in trafficking crimes. “Left unchecked, human trafficking will continue to flourish in environments where traffickers can reap substantial monetary gains with relatively low risk of getting caught or losing profits,” according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Read more: https://www.upi.com/Report-Human-trafficking-in-US-rose-357-percent-in-one-year/5571486328579/

Social media networks can be a key avenue for sharing messages and educating the public about the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect. The 2018 Prevention Resource Guide was developed to support service providers in their work with parents, caregivers, and their children to prevent child abuse and neglect and promote child and family well-being. It was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, its Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. The resources featured represent the work of a broad-based partnership of national organizations, Federal partners, and parents committed to strengthening families and communities. Link to resources: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/communities/media/

Children who are taught about preventing sexual abuse at school are more likely than others to tell an adult if they had, or were actually experiencing sexual abuse. This is according to the results of a new Cochrane review published in the Cochrane Library today. However, the review’s authors say that more research is needed to establish whether school-based programs intended to prevent sexual abuse actually reduce the incidence of abuse. It is estimated that, worldwide, at least 1 in 10 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience some form of sexual abuse in childhood. Those who are sexually abused as children are more susceptible to depression, eating disorders, suicidal behavior and drug and alcohol problems later in life, and are more likely to become victims of sexual assault as adults. In many countries, children are taught how to recognize, react to, and report abuse situations through school-based programs designed to help prevent sexual abuse. Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150416083738.htm

In 1850, a Catholic orphanage called St. Aemilian was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to take in children whose parents had died in a cholera epidemic. 168 Years later, that same organization — now known as “SaintA” —  is still finding shelter for thousands of children who need it, often kids who have deep trauma in their young lives, and helps those kids with a revolutionary approach that’s spreading across the country. No longer a residential orphanage, SaintA primarily places orphaned, abandoned, neglected and abused children in foster homes, and then coordinates their care. On any given day, it’s looking after some 2,000 children, almost all of whom are part of a 21st century epidemic of childhood trauma. Milwaukee resident Alisha Fox was given that PTSD diagnosis seven years ago, months after she somehow found the courage to tell her grandmother – and then the police – of the terrible trauma she had been enduring. Continue reading the interview between Oprah Winfrey and Alisha Fox, a courageous abuse survivor.

How a child experiences an event and how it’s handled by those around him have an effect on how traumatizing it can be, notes Child Mind Institute psychologist Dr. Jerry Bubrick. When families come upon news accidentally, parents can be caught off guard and respond in a highly emotional way that can impact children. Television coverage and shocking newspaper headlines can also amplify the impact of a disturbing event or loss. So even as you try to soothe and comfort children, it is important to recognize the signs of unhealthy coping that would suggest a visit with a professional might be needed. In extreme cases, children can develop post-traumatic stress disorder, but even less extreme PTSD-like symptoms can interfere with a child’s life and happiness. Here are some signs to look for and things to keep in mind: https://childmind.org/article/signs-trauma-children/