Research Paper on:
Child Abuse Statistics

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
which is far reaching and has a number of diverse faces. The statistics concerning child abuse are astounding to say the least. An estimated 1,215 children died  in 1994 as a result of child abuse (Nester, 1998). Even more frightening is the fact that child abuse is more common now than it was just a few  years ago. In 1986 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported an estimated 1.4 million cases of child abuse (Nester, 1998). By 1993 that number had  increased to 2.4 million, 1994 to over 3 million, and by 1995 to 3.1 million (Nester, 1998). Child abuse has come  into public consciousness since about the 1960s. Numerous laws have been passed requiring public officials such as Community Health personnel and teachers to report suspected abuse. Policies are  in place which delineate the correct response to child abuse as well. In fact, the only reassuring thing about the statistics involving child abuse is that people are becoming  more aware of the problem and more willing to report suspected abuse (Nester, 1998). Child abuse can be either an act  of commission or omission (Nester, 1998). It can take the form of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect (Nester, 1998). Neglect can take the form of  either gross neglect or medical neglect. A nonorganic failure to thrive can also be an indication of child abuse. Child abuse can entail actual physical harm in which  a child sustains physical damage and emotional harm in which the charge is endangered psychologically. This harm can be either actually occurring or considered potential given the circumstances of