Voices serves children and youth of all ages, from infants born drug-exposed to youth on the edge of independence (up to their 21st birthday). One quarter of the children Voices represents are five years old or younger. Over 50% are teens or older youth. Regardless of age, all children and youth who have been victims of abuse and neglect and find themselves in foster care face many threats to their health and well-being.
Of the children Voices served last year, at least 68% had been physically abused, 13% had suffered sexual abuse, 22% were drug-exposed infants, 20% had suffered from serious medical neglect and 35% experienced physical neglect. Most are victims of multiple types of abuse, neglect and abandonment.
In addition to the trauma they have suffered, our kids often suffer from health, mental health and behavior problems, developmental delays and academic failure. Voices’ children are diagnosed with serious psychological or educational challenges at a rate two to seven times higher than the general child population.
The importance of helping others is a principle that can be found in every sphere of society, in one form or another. Views differ as to what motivates the helping individual, or group, but, in the end, it's ones subjective experience of the act that gives it credence, or not
Children eligible to enter school are provided with benefits intended to help their parents overcome the financial restrictions that might prevent their children from enrolling in school – items such as school uniforms and shoes, school fees, backpacks and other supplies. Which is wonderful! Great job, Voices for Children!
Humans seem to have an innate ability to help one another. This ability may very well be the aspect of "us" that promotes the survival of our species. A compassionate sense of existence drives us to be there for one another; even strangers. The Voices for Children really shows the benefits of helping children and their families.
Children eligible to enter school are provided with benefits intended to help their parents overcome the financial restrictions that might prevent their children from enrolling in school – items such as school uniforms and shoes, school fees, backpacks and other supplies. Which is wonderful! Great job, Voices for Children!
Tameka-
ReplyDeleteYour comment that "seem to have an innate ability to help one another" is awesome We can be the foundation of help for each other. But on the other hand we are the detriment to each other as well. Which is proven by the stats you provided. 68% physical abuse is obscene. That is number is much higher than I have ever expected. Thanks for sharing.
I really liked you comment of human being having the inner desire to help one another. I wonder, in these situations, where the children are victims of abuse, neglect, drugs, etc. Obviously, the children need as much help as possible. However, at what point do we stop to help the parents? For whatever reason, these parents do not know the effects their behavior has on the child, or how to stop themselves from behaving that way. For a young parent, like a teenage mother, they are more likely to smoke during pregnancy and drink due to lack of knowledge and maturity. Do we only take care of the children, or do we attempt to help the parents as well?
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