Over a two to four-month span in 2022, more than 1,900 children died, but I am not talking about a country at war. I am speaking of the staggering number of deaths suffered by children who had been abused. Child abuse can take many forms, from physical to mental to neglect or the absence of care, and it can alter one’s point of view on life. Frederick Douglass said, “It is easier to build strong children than repair a broken man.” To address some of this trauma, community centers should host different types of classes for abused children to discuss what’s bothering them and why.
Whether it’s physical, mental, or something else, child abuse and neglect can negatively impact the way children grow up. According to the article from Advocates for Children, “How Do Child Neglect and Abuse Impact a Child’s Life?” “For abused and neglected children, we know that this impact is profound because physical abuse can affect the mental state.” This is not limited to just a few kids. As stated by national data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over half a million children were victims of child abuse and neglect in 2021, which is the most recent year for which we have data. As we can see, a lot of children will be abused if we don’t at least try to stop this madness.
A way we can address child abuse and neglect is to allow children the space to feel vulnerable and communicate openly. Therefore, community centers should have classes for children to find relief and feel better about communicating their problems. According to the article “Community Centers and Their Role in Supporting a Whole-Health Approach by Elevance Health,” “Community centers play a crucial role in the sense that they draw people together who often share a similar identity and shared interest, and that can lead to strengthening their social ties which have positive implications for their health.” You can tell people what’s going on and how they can help. In conclusion, community centers can be very supportive of children suffering from things like child abuse and neglect.
Child abuse and neglect can significantly affect children’s growth. Community centers should have classes for children having problems so they can discuss their problems and why it’s bothering them. Being abused as a child can affect more than most people can comprehend. In the future, I hope there are no abusers left and that the world has great and smart children who don’t have any problems with child abuse ever again.
