FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hillary Angel
Phone: (909) 390-1239
E-mail: hangel@wilkinguge.com
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS BRING HOPE TO SUVIVORS
DURING NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
SAN DIEGO April 2006 –Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are
able to detect abuse and can
assist families with preventive
measures to help reduce the number of child abuse cases.
An estimated 906,000 children in the United States were victims of
abuse and neglect, according
to the 2003 Child Maltreatment Data Report, conducted by the National
Child Abuse and Neglect
Data System. Data also indicated that 18.9% of the children were
physically abused over the course
of the year, while 9.9% were sexually abused. In addition,
nearly 61% of the children suffered from neglect. Other children surveyed were emotionally and psychologically
maltreated.
Physically abused children exhibit symptoms that include unexplained
bruises and cuts, depression,
and a fear of adults. Emotionally abused children often develop
a lack of concentration, eating
disorders, or other symptoms that require hospitalization.
Sexually abused children generally have nightmares, wet the bed, and
display uncharacteristic knowledge of
sexual acts. Neglected children
can appear extremely hungry, and may
be absent from school and/or lack supervision.
Action steps to take if you suspect a child is being abused:
1. Report your suspicions to the authorities. In California, you can
report child abuse by calling
the California Department of Social Services
at (916) 445-2771 or call your local child protective
services agency.
2. California law allows minors to consent to their own mental health
treatment or counseling on an outpatient basis. If a minor is 12 or older, he/she
can seek medical treatment if he/she has been an alleged victim of
child abuse or incest, or is in danger of serious mental or physical
harm without such treatment.
3. Seek help from a mental health professional, such as a Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). Many MFTs are trained to assess,
diagnose and treat individuals who have been impacted by abuse. Insurance
plans in California often cover mental health
services.
Parents should ensure that their child feels safe enough to disclose
abuse. When a child does so,
parents should take such accusations
seriously and seek treatment from a qualified therapist.
You can
also contact any of the following organizations to seek treatment and
learn more
about child
abuse prevention.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
www.TherapistFinder.com
National Children's Advocacy Center
Phone: (256) 533-KIDS (5437)
http://www.nationalcac.org
National Clearinghouse of Child Abuse and Neglect Information
www.nccanch.acf.hhs.gov
Prevent Child Abuse of America
Phone: 312-663-3520
www.preventchildabuse.org
About CAMFT
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, with
27 chapters throughout the
state, is an independent professional
organization, representing the interests of licensed marriage
and family therapists. CAMFT provides TherapistFinder.com as a resource
to the public looking
for marriage and family therapists located in California. For more
information about CAMFT, please
call (858) 292-2638 or visit www.camft.org.
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