Facts and Links

84,320 confirmed cases of abuse were reported in the United States in 1997--that's about 231 children a day, 10 children every hour, 1 child every 6 minutes.¹
90% of rape victims under 12 years of age knew their offender.²
In 2003, there were 2,382 reports of child abuse or neglect in Floyd County, Georgia.
In 2001, Harbor House conducted 203 interviews with 189 children.
In 2002, Harbor House conducted 321 interviews with 295 children.
In 2003, Harbor House conducted 314 interviews with 289 children.
As of December 31, 2003, Harbor House had conducted 1,707 interviews.
Harbor House conducted its 1000th child forensic interview on September 25, 2001. (The first interview was conducted on January 6, 1995.)
Only 24% of sexually abused children disclose immediately. On average, a child endures 6 months to 1 year of sexual abuse before disclosing. 7% of sexually abused children endure the abuse for more than 5 years before disclosing.³

Volunteer with a local program. There are several agencies in the Rome & Floyd County area that utilize volunteers in a variety of capacities. Check the Volunteer Opportunities page in the Roman Record (in Monday's edition of The Rome News Tribune).
Report suspected abuse and neglect to the Department of Family & Children Services. Keeping children safe means you have an obligation to inform authorities if you suspect children are being mistreated. Your concern may prevent a child from further abuse. In Floyd County, call DFCS at (706)295-6550 (27hr./day).
Contribute to a child abuse prevention organization. Your donations are put to good use in much-needed community programs that are crucial to prevent child abuse & neglect.
Help a neighbor, friend, or relative. Someone you know may be struggling with his or her responsibilities. Offer a sympathetic ear or a helping hand. Offering to baby-sit once in a while or helping locate community resources can be a tremendous boost to someone under stress.
Promote school programs, such as BITE, that teach children how to protect themselves. Encourage your son's/daughter's school to have the program presented at their school.
Help yourself. Recognize the signs that indicate you may need some outside help. If you feel overwhelmed, constantly sad, angry, or out of control, talk to somebody and get help. Remember, it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help.

National Children's Advocacy Center: A non-profit agency providing prevention, intervention, and treatment services to physically and sexually abused children and their families with a child-focused team approach.
Central Agencies Sexual Abuse Treatment Program: (CASAT) A coalition of agencies whose mission is to promote maximum recovery from child sexual abuse. CASAT works to improve services for children, youth, and families affected by sexual abuse.
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information: Resources for professionals seeking information on the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and related child welfare issues.
Floyd County Child Abuse Protocol: Official reporting guide for professionals involved in child abuse prevention, investigation, and intervention services. (Click Link to download/view zipped MS Word Document)

Wang, C., & Daro, D. (1998). Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1997 Annual Fifty State Survey. Chicago: IL, National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics--1996. Washington, D.C.: Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J. M., & Cardarelli, A.P. (1990). Child Sexual Abuse: The Initial Effects. Newsbury Park: California, SAGE Publications. (60-64)