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Ensure Children Have Safe and Healthy Homes
Target: U.S. CongressSponsored by: American Humane Association
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was passed in 1974 because of increasing public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children. CAPTA provides federal money to state and local communities like yours for programs and services to prevent abuse, protect children and strengthen families.
Each year, almost 1 million American children experience abuse and neglect. Of these children, 60 percent suffer neglect, 19 percent physical abuse, 10 percent sexual abuse, and 7 percent emotional maltreatment. All of these forms of abuse can have a lifelong psychological and physical impact on a child. And shockingly, approximately 1400 children are killed each year from abuse, most of whom are under the age of one.
Every five years, CAPTA gets reauthorized. This year it is up for review again. President Bush has already cut many important human service programs in this year's budget (including domestic violence and juvenile justice funds). We need your help to ensure these cuts do not affect the safety of children.
Please ask Congress to not only maintain current funding levels, but to increase funding to keep up with today's economy, so that all children can live in safe and healthy homes.
Each year, almost 1 million American children experience abuse and neglect. Of these children, 60 percent suffer neglect, 19 percent physical abuse, 10 percent sexual abuse, and 7 percent emotional maltreatment. All of these forms of abuse can have a lifelong psychological and physical impact on a child. And shockingly, approximately 1400 children are killed each year from abuse, most of whom are under the age of one.
Every five years, CAPTA gets reauthorized. This year it is up for review again. President Bush has already cut many important human service programs in this year's budget (including domestic violence and juvenile justice funds). We need your help to ensure these cuts do not affect the safety of children.
Please ask Congress to not only maintain current funding levels, but to increase funding to keep up with today's economy, so that all children can live in safe and healthy homes.
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Ensure Children Have Safe and Healthy Homes” petition!
# 19,200:
8:40 am PDT, May 19,
Sharon Schonhaut, Colorado
# 19,199:
8:34 am PDT, May 19,
Roshamiliza Rahman, Colorado
It is our collective responsiblities...we've got to put an end to news on abuse and neglect resulting to death!
It is our collective responsiblities...we've got to put an end to news on abuse and neglect resulting to death!
# 19,198:
8:28 am PDT, May 19,
Andrew Sirotnak, Colorado
# 19,197:
8:00 am PDT, May 19,
Sandra Kuker, Colorado
We are The Kempe Foundation: Advocacy, Training, Education, Treatment and Research for the Protection and Treatment of Abused Children because we cannot ask these silent victims to endure one more day without our help. We are giving hope and saving precious lives. The Kempe Center Mission Statement: The Kempe Center will provide and improve direct clinical services, improve clinical service delivery systems, and provide training, education and consultation programs to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in Colorado and throughout the nation. The Kempe Foundation Mission Statement: The Kempe Foundation will increase awareness, engage in advocacy and secure and provide resources for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. www.kempe.org THANK YOU!
We are The Kempe Foundation: Advocacy, Training, Education, Treatment and Research for the Protection and Treatment of Abused Children because we cannot ask these silent victims to endure one more day without our help. We are giving hope and saving precious lives. The Kempe Center Mission Statement: The Kempe Center will provide and improve direct clinical services, improve clinical service delivery systems, and provide training, education and consultation programs to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in Colorado and throughout the nation. The Kempe Foundation Mission Statement: The Kempe Foundation will increase awareness, engage in advocacy and secure and provide resources for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. www.kempe.org THANK YOU!
# 19,196:
3:27 am PDT, May 19,
Dione Manis, California
Child abuse is the infancy stage for every other societal ill. Tax payers will pay this burden at some point. As a tax payer, I would rather pay at this early point to prevent further and greater problems in the future. I don't want to wait to help these kids, until they are so far gone and in the justice system, on a third strike, after a life time of crime. I know it takes money for these programs, but that cost only grows if we try and correct these issues later through the justice system. Besides, if you need the budget for this, get out troops out of Iraq, and then we will have the funds.
Child abuse is the infancy stage for every other societal ill. Tax payers will pay this burden at some point. As a tax payer, I would rather pay at this early point to prevent further and greater problems in the future. I don't want to wait to help these kids, until they are so far gone and in the justice system, on a third strike, after a life time of crime. I know it takes money for these programs, but that cost only grows if we try and correct these issues later through the justice system. Besides, if you need the budget for this, get out troops out of Iraq, and then we will have the funds.
# 19,195:
5:34 pm PDT, May 16,
Carolyn Brown, Texas
# 19,194:
4:22 pm PDT, May 16,
Patricia C. Riggins, Illinois
# 19,193:
4:08 pm PDT, May 16,
Juliet Babros, California
# 19,192:
2:23 pm PDT, May 16,
Christina Molinari, Indiana
# 19,191:
2:00 pm PDT, May 16,
Mae Desaire, Colorado
# 19,190:
1:46 pm PDT, May 16,
Genia Larson, Colorado
# 19,189:
1:36 pm PDT, May 16,
Glenda Parker, Australia
# 19,188:
1:31 pm PDT, May 16,
Valerie Traina, Colorado
The current administration has been all too happy to provide funds for the war in Iraq, which has meant a huge shortage of monies for social welfare programs in our own country. This is disgraceful! I strongly urge you to generously fund CAPTA.
The current administration has been all too happy to provide funds for the war in Iraq, which has meant a huge shortage of monies for social welfare programs in our own country. This is disgraceful! I strongly urge you to generously fund CAPTA.
# 19,187:
12:52 pm PDT, May 16,
Adriana Guastavino, California
# 19,186:
9:02 am PDT, May 16,
Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 19,185:
9:00 am PDT, May 16,
Deborah Gouge, Pennsylvania
# 19,184:
8:56 am PDT, May 16,
Judyta Dymkowska, Poland
# 19,183:
8:03 am PDT, May 16,
Abby M, Philippines
# 19,182:
10:43 pm PDT, May 15,
Kyla Call, New Hampshire
We are the change !
We are the change !
# 19,181:
9:59 pm PDT, May 15,
Kevin Johnson, Nevada
# 19,180:
9:24 pm PDT, May 15,
Jenny Dooley, Australia
# 19,179:
8:37 pm PDT, May 15,
Jante Bisbing, California
Do NOT cut funding for abused and neglected children. They've already been cut to the bone. If you do, we're going to see suicides, abuse and neglect never seen before. SUPPORT these children, their families and their support systems!! Anything else would be immoral and cruel beyond belief.
Do NOT cut funding for abused and neglected children. They've already been cut to the bone. If you do, we're going to see suicides, abuse and neglect never seen before. SUPPORT these children, their families and their support systems!! Anything else would be immoral and cruel beyond belief.
# 19,178:
3:55 pm PDT, May 15,
Tanna Lee, Georgia
# 19,177:
3:25 pm PDT, May 15,
Carole Kubik, Ohio
# 19,176:
2:53 pm PDT, May 15,
Samantha Klod, Illinois
This must be continued!!!
This must be continued!!!
# 19,175:
2:50 pm PDT, May 15,
Martha Kubik, Ohio
# 19,174:
2:13 pm PDT, May 15,
Tracy Jones, New Jersey
# 19,173:
1:07 pm PDT, May 15,
Emily Cosci, Oregon
# 19,172:
1:00 pm PDT, May 15,
Teresa Wallace, Michigan
# 19,171:
12:50 pm PDT, May 15,
Jennifer Elliott, Oklahoma
# 19,170:
12:39 pm PDT, May 15,
Name not displayed, Michigan
I want programs to prevent child abuse because no one deserves to be abused. Continued programs will help to make people aware of abuse as well as provide the resources people need to help these children and their families.
I want programs to prevent child abuse because no one deserves to be abused. Continued programs will help to make people aware of abuse as well as provide the resources people need to help these children and their families.
# 19,169:
12:22 pm PDT, May 15,
Kyrsten Householder, North Carolina
I believe that every child should have the chance to live in a safe home. I hope that these words will help you ensure the safety of our future.
I believe that every child should have the chance to live in a safe home. I hope that these words will help you ensure the safety of our future.
# 19,168:
12:12 pm PDT, May 15,
Viviane Tuerlinckx, Belgium
# 19,167:
12:11 pm PDT, May 15,
Bart Timperman, Belgium
# 19,166:
12:00 pm PDT, May 15,
Ana Puiu, Romania
# 19,165:
9:03 am PDT, May 15,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
# 19,164:
8:46 am PDT, May 15,
Name not displayed, Texas
I am writing to you today to ask for your support for increasing the budget for state grants, community-based prevention grants, and research grants supported by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Our nation's child welfare system is stretched beyond capacity to handle the full scope of the problem. Appropriate services for families and children who have been victimized by abuse or neglect are lacking, and insufficient funding has been allocated for the prevention of child maltreatment. And now, I fear that this situation may only get worse. President Bush has already cut many important human service programs in this year's budget (including domestic violence and juvenile justice funds), and I strongly oppose cutting into budgets for child abuse services. Our child protection system demands adequate investment. Continuing to do otherwise is far too costly. A 2003 study calculated the total costs of child abuse to exceed $87 billion annually -- $258 million dollars a day -- a figure that includes the immediate direct costs (such as law enforcement, medical treatment, child welfare services and foster care) and long-term indirect costs (including juvenile delinquency and crime, special education, and lost productivity). Yet, according to the Urban Institute, out of more than $20 billion spent each year on child welfare in federal, state and local funds, states typically spend just between 10 and 15 percent on prevention and the protection of children. We have a spending gap in this country in services to prevent child abuse and to intervene on behalf of children known to the child protection system. It would be good business sense if we invested our resources in child protection and prevention services the way we should. Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. James J. Heckman has concluded in his research that "early childhood interventions of high quality have lasting effects on learning and motivation." An additional analysis conducted by Federal Reserve Bank economists recognizes that "investment in early childhood development yields an extraordinary return, far exceeding the return on most investments, private or public ... that are currently funded as economic development." And at a recent Senate hearing, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke noted "a significant return towards investing in young kids." Preventing child abuse is cost effective. Putting dollars aside for prevention is sound investing, not luxury spending. We urge you to put together the resources to support preventive services and treatment services that can save us money in the long run. It is crucial that Congress makes the protection of children a priority. Therefore I urge you to support increased funding for CAPTA. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Angela Plunkett Austin, Texas
I am writing to you today to ask for your support for increasing the budget for state grants, community-based prevention grants, and research grants supported by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Our nation's child welfare system is stretched beyond capacity to handle the full scope of the problem. Appropriate services for families and children who have been victimized by abuse or neglect are lacking, and insufficient funding has been allocated for the prevention of child maltreatment. And now, I fear that this situation may only get worse. President Bush has already cut many important human service programs in this year's budget (including domestic violence and juvenile justice funds), and I strongly oppose cutting into budgets for child abuse services. Our child protection system demands adequate investment. Continuing to do otherwise is far too costly. A 2003 study calculated the total costs of child abuse to exceed $87 billion annually -- $258 million dollars a day -- a figure that includes the immediate direct costs (such as law enforcement, medical treatment, child welfare services and foster care) and long-term indirect costs (including juvenile delinquency and crime, special education, and lost productivity). Yet, according to the Urban Institute, out of more than $20 billion spent each year on child welfare in federal, state and local funds, states typically spend just between 10 and 15 percent on prevention and the protection of children. We have a spending gap in this country in services to prevent child abuse and to intervene on behalf of children known to the child protection system. It would be good business sense if we invested our resources in child protection and prevention services the way we should. Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. James J. Heckman has concluded in his research that "early childhood interventions of high quality have lasting effects on learning and motivation." An additional analysis conducted by Federal Reserve Bank economists recognizes that "investment in early childhood development yields an extraordinary return, far exceeding the return on most investments, private or public ... that are currently funded as economic development." And at a recent Senate hearing, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke noted "a significant return towards investing in young kids." Preventing child abuse is cost effective. Putting dollars aside for prevention is sound investing, not luxury spending. We urge you to put together the resources to support preventive services and treatment services that can save us money in the long run. It is crucial that Congress makes the protection of children a priority. Therefore I urge you to support increased funding for CAPTA. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Angela Plunkett Austin, Texas
# 19,163:
8:36 am PDT, May 15,
Veronica Ventura, Uruguay
# 19,162:
8:15 am PDT, May 15,
Kathy Aschenbrenner, Michigan
The numbers of abused children is staggering. The emotional abuse a child goes through not only during abuse but for the rest of their lives in horrifying.
The numbers of abused children is staggering. The emotional abuse a child goes through not only during abuse but for the rest of their lives in horrifying.
# 19,161:
8:01 am PDT, May 15,
Vickie Riggs, California
# 19,159:
7:28 am PDT, May 15,
Sevi Milano, California
Becasue all children deserve the best in life, and need these services.
Becasue all children deserve the best in life, and need these services.
# 19,158:
6:49 am PDT, May 15,
Milanka Petrova, Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of
# 19,157:
5:54 am PDT, May 15,
Daniella Márquez, Venezuela
# 19,156:
5:04 am PDT, May 15,
Name not displayed, New York
1 in 2 children in the US are beaten by their parents. We need to stop this chain of abuse.
1 in 2 children in the US are beaten by their parents. We need to stop this chain of abuse.
# 19,155:
4:30 am PDT, May 15,
Michel Sylvain, Canada
je demande quont protege d,avantage nos enfant de la violence subis ou dacte d,abus physique tell que l'inceste et d,autre muavais traitement.le devoir de l'adulte et de proteger ces enfants.michel sylvain
je demande quont protege d,avantage nos enfant de la violence subis ou dacte d,abus physique tell que l'inceste et d,autre muavais traitement.le devoir de l'adulte et de proteger ces enfants.michel sylvain
# 19,154:
3:49 am PDT, May 15,
Cinzia Scuderi, Italy
# 19,153:
2:19 am PDT, May 15,
Katarzyna Gawron, Poland
# 19,152:
11:35 pm PDT, May 14,
Serena Wadsworth, Texas
If compassion isn't enough of a reason--which God knows it should be--look at expense. In addition to the costs listed in the letter, there are the ones that occur when those children who aren't protected reach adulthood. A history of childhood trauma often causes or contributes to physical and emotional illnesses and disability. While I can't give the numbers off-hand, I can say with certainty that the cost to state health systems, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security is very high. A lot of emphasis has been placed in recent years on the role of government to protect its people. If we can't protect the most vulnerable and dependent among us from daily terror, then any battle against outside terrorism has no meaning.
If compassion isn't enough of a reason--which God knows it should be--look at expense. In addition to the costs listed in the letter, there are the ones that occur when those children who aren't protected reach adulthood. A history of childhood trauma often causes or contributes to physical and emotional illnesses and disability. While I can't give the numbers off-hand, I can say with certainty that the cost to state health systems, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security is very high. A lot of emphasis has been placed in recent years on the role of government to protect its people. If we can't protect the most vulnerable and dependent among us from daily terror, then any battle against outside terrorism has no meaning.
# 19,151:
11:20 pm PDT, May 14,
Phoebe Co, Philippines