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Blue ribbon symbolizes abuse prevention  by Gale Horinbein, MSW, LMSW  SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect)  Every day three children in the United States die as a result of maltreatment. One in four girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Seventy-five percent of high school dropouts and 85 percent of long-term prisoners experienced abuse or neglect. Forty-five percent of abused children become adult alcoholics. Nationally, more than 3 million child abuse reports are filed each year and more than 20,000 of those reports involved 45,000 children from South Carolina. Tragically, the highest rate of child maltreatment occurs to our youngest and most vulnerable children under the age of three. In addition, younger children die more often from abuse and neglect. Child abuse is a major health issue and these statistics reflect the seriousness of this problem which affects not only children but families and society as well. Experts believe many more cases go unreported and will never be brought to the attention of the state's child protective agencies or law enforcement. This is unfortunate since reporting abuse can help connect families with counseling and services to relieve a family's stress which in turn could save a life. In 2001, a report released from Prevent Child Abuse America estimated that the United States spends $258 million each day as a direct or indirect result of the abuse and neglect of our nation's children. Since conservative estimates were used, the actual annual cost could be higher than its estimate of $94 billion per year. This estimate includes the costs associated with intervening to help and treating the medical and emotional problems suffered by abused and neglected children, as well as the cost associated with the long-term consequences of abuse and neglect to both the individual and society at large.  To raise awareness about the impact of child maltreatment and its prevention, the blue ribbon campaign is held each year during the month of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout the month, the community is encouraged to wear a blue ribbon to symbolize their commitment to protect children and end child abuse and neglect. The campaign was initiated in 1989 by a Virginia grandmother, Bonnie Finney, as a tribute to her grandson. Three-year-old Michael Wayne Dickinson was killed by his mother's abusive boyfriend and his battered body was found at the bottom of a canal. Following her grandson's death, Finney started a personal crusade to help protect children by tying a blue ribbon to her van antennae to remind herself and others of the terrible beatings her grandson sustained. This action touched so many people in her community that it spread from neighbors to the media and eventually grabbed the nation's attention. Today the blue ribbon has become the national symbol of child abuse and a constant reminder of our need to protect children. Although child abuse is a serious problem and often times life threatening, the good news is that child abuse is 100 percent preventable. The cycle of abuse can be prevented by early intervention and providing support and preventive services to families. April's observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity to remind ourselves of our collective responsibility to prevent the abuse and neglect that robs so many of our society's children of their childhood, their sense of security and well being. Get involved. Wear a blue ribbon and support the prevention of child abuse. For more information about programs to prevent child abuse and neglect, contact the Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, at 747-1339. To order ribbons or obtain information about child abuse, call 792-8947. Facts About Child Abuse 1. Child abuse can be fatal. For the past two years, an average of three children a day have been reported as fatal victims of maltreatment. The vast majority of these children are two years old or younger. 2. Child abuse stymies a child's growth and development. The emotional and physical damage children suffer from abuse and neglect is extensive. Documented consequences of abuse include chronic health problems, such as low self-esteem, lack of trust, and poor relationships with adults and peers. 3. Child abuse is costly for many social institutions. Remediating the immediate consequences of serious physical abuse alone costs child welfare agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities almost $500 million annually. 4. Child abuse costs continue to multiply. For example, children killed as a result of parental abuse or neglect never have the opportunity to contribute to society. In 1986 and 1987 these deaths cost more than $1.2 billion in lost productivity. 5. Child abuse victims often repeat the violent acts they experienced on their own children. Although some victims can overcome the scars of their abuse, child abuse victims are six times more likely to become abusive parents than non-abused children. 6. Treatment services, while critical, are often ineffective in permanently altering parental behaviors. Program evaluations have found that even sophisticated clinical demonstration projects, often consisting of weekly contact for 12-18 months, eliminate the future likelihood for physical abuse or neglect for less than half their clients. 7. Preventive programs targeted at parents before they become abusive or neglectful reduce the likelihood for future maltreatment. Parenting education, support groups and home visitor programs have consistently demonstrated positive outcomes. Specific gains include improved mother-infant bonding, enhanced parenting skills, and more consistent use of health care services. Recipients of these services also have demonstrated a reduced rate of child abuse when compared to comparable groups of parents not receiving services. 8. Prevention programs targeted at children can improve a child's awareness of how best to avoid child abuse and other unsafe practices. A recent review of 25 evaluations of these programs indicate that such efforts consistently resulted in increased knowledge for children about safety rules and what they should do if they are being abused. Further, the programs create an environment in which children can more easily disclose prior or ongoing maltreatment. 9. Child abuse prevention efforts serve as a way to combat other social problems of concern to the policy makers. Research has found a strong correlation between a history of abuse and a variety of adult problem behaviors, including substance abuse, juvenile and adult crime, and poor social adjustment. The consistent expansion of prevention services may well lead to the eventual reduction of these problems. 10. Child abuse prevention creates a more compassionate society, one which places a high value on the welfare of children. Ensuring the safe and secure rearing of the next generation requires the efforts of all policy makers and all citizens.