The WM Parenting Connection

By Alyssa Ast -Babies to Big Kids Expert

Thousands of American children are abducted and abused every day while the country turns a blind eye to the vast majority of these children. Not all cases of abducted, abused, and neglected children are reported on the news. In fact, most never make it on the front cover of a newspaper.

According to the FBI, they receive over 2,000 reports of missing children each and ever day. That means a child goes missing about every 40 seconds, every day of the week, all year long. With this many children missing each and every day, where are the efforts to recover these children safely?

In 2005, it was estimated 900,000 American children are abused or neglected by their caregivers. At least four children per day die at the hands of an abuser or due to severe neglect. While many cases of child abuse and neglect are reported, it's estimated for every case of child abuse and neglect that's reported, at least 2 other cases go unreported. With these shocking numbers, why aren't severe efforts in place to protect the children of America?

An advocate for missing and exploited children, Christina Newman, shared her thoughts about why she's so passionate about spreading the word about the missing and exploited children in the United States.

WM: Despite the obvious, why are missing and exploited children such a passion for you?

Christina Newman: If you take the obvious reasons and put them aside what else is there? Children have lost their voices. The old adage, "Children should be seen and not heard." That saying is alive and well today and unfortunately not helping anything at all. The voice of a child is meek and invisible in most regions of the world. We as adults are their protectors and to be honest we are failing at our job. It is time to stand up and shout out that we have had enough! Enough of our children being mistreated! Enough of our children being abused, molested and murdered!

WM: What is your vision for this epidemic in the future? (IE: do you want to see all children found, set up organization, ect)

CN: Oh what a grand notion, all children being found and/or placed in loving homes. Where they run free with no cares and the warm feeling of trust and love in their hearts. My hope for the future is to help educate people on the signs of child abuse and neglect. To open their eyes of this crisis instead of washing their hands of it. I know this subject makes your stomachs turn and you just want to turn away but doing so is only making it worse. There are organizations put in place to help create awareness and people working diligently to put an end to it. Check your local area and if there is not one, start one. Step up and be the voice when no one else will. You will find, in most cases, people will follow.

WM: What do you feel needs to occur in order to change the current circumstances with the way cases of missing, abused, and neglected children are handled?

CN: Wow, to be honest I really have no idea, people are flawed and we make mistakes. I have read many cases where someone simply dropped the ball. Imagine feeling like you failed a child and because of that something horrible has happened. This concept is not appealing to people when considering this career path. The burn out on service workers in this field is incredible high. Less man power means less eyes and hands on deck.

I will always bring it back to awareness and education. Educating parents and children on preventative measures is the best way we have to help. Once a child goes missing then it is in the hands of the authorities and faith. As parents, teachers, neighbors, etc.. we need to take the right steps to ensure that it does not happen to begin with.

Among lack of awareness lurks lack of funds. I see this a lot, budget cuts in departments which trickle down to our workers. Lay offs mean less workers and more mistakes made each day. Priorities need to be rethought and funds allocated accordingly. I also believe, and this is my personal opinion, that the punishment for said crimes do not fit. I can not understand how anyone who is convicted of molesting a child can be released back into the general public. We are allowing these predators back on the streets with our children and that just seems idiotic to me.

WM: Any final words or thoughts?

CN: People need to overcome wanting to hide. No, no one wants to hear about it and when they do they say how awful it is but that is all they are doing. When people think a child is being abused in any way they need to report it. Awareness is so important, pass on what you know to others. Self defense is another great way to help protect your children, help them to know what to do in situations that may arise. We are all they have.

I do not say this to put people down. I know that most of us are really just trying to get by. We get caught up in our worlds and don't see much of the outside. Our children are being taken right from under us, educate yourself and your children.

A great place to start educating yourself is http://www.missingkids.com also known as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They have wonderful resources available to help you get started down the path of awareness as well as ways to get involved. Become part of the solution and feel safer!

In an effort to practice what I preach, myself and a wonderful woman and colleague of mine, Ms. Lashawn Chillious, are putting together and silent stance for all children who have been snuffed out by silence. On May 25, 2011, National Missing Children's Day, we will be helping to spread awareness in Cleveland, OH. More information on this event will be released later this year.

For more information about child abductions visit: Violence Prevention and Intervention

For more information about child abuse and neglect visit: 11 child abuse facts.

More about Christina Newman:

Christina Newman is a freelance writer and blogger. She is a proud mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and most importantly a woman! Each day she pushes herself to grow as a person. Christina is not only passionate about missing and exploited children but the environment, family values, cooking, culture, travel, and much more!