Rain Feather's blog: "Child Abuse Advocate"

Helping a child Many people are afraid of reporting child abuse. They think, "I don't want the person I reported to know," or, "I'm afraid it will come back to haunt me," or, "it's not my business." Ironically, if you asked people if they should help if seeing a nearby car accident, most will say yes. But in a case of suspected child abuse, that thinking may be different. Why? Because of prevalent attitudes that someone else's children are either "their responsibility" or "their property." Without aware adults, some children might never receive help. Be an advocate for children by knowing the signs of abuse and reporting child abuse. Remember, you are reporting suspicion of child abuse. Even if you aren't sure, it's better to let authorities check it out. You might save a child's life! You should know about these signs... When you have concerns for a child's well-being, the indicators listed below may help guide you in your thought process. Many of these "symptoms" or "signs" could be caused by things other than abuse or neglect. Generally, these indicators do indicate that a child's safety may be at risk and, at the very least, the situation should be assessed by a professional who is able to determine the causes of these symptoms and offer the help and assistance necessary to reduce the risk to a child. Signs of Physical Abuse Physical Indicators: Unexplained bruises and welts on the face, throat, upper arms, buttocks, thighs or lower back in unusual patterns or shapes which suggests the use of an instrument (belt buckle, electric cord) on an infant in various stages of healing that are seen after absences, weekends, or vacations. Unexplained burns, cigarette burns, especially burns found on palms, soles of feet, abdomen, buttocks; immersion burns producing "stocking" or "glove" marks on hands and feet; "doughnut shaped" on buttocks or genital area. Rope burns. Infected burns indicating delay in treatment; burns in the shape of common household utensils or appliances. Behavioral Indicators: Behavioral extremes (withdrawal, aggression, regression, depression). Inappropriate or excessive fear of parent or caretaker. Antisocial behavior such as substance abuse, truancy, running away, fear of going home. Unbelievable or inconsistent explanation for injuries. Lies unusually still while surveying surroundings (for infants). Unusual shyness, wariness of physical contact. Signs of Sexual Abuse Physical Indicators: Torn, stained or bloody underclothes. Frequent, unexplained sore throats, yeast or urinary infections. Somatic complaints, including pain and irritation of the genitals. Sexually transmitted diseases. Bruises or bleeding from external genitalia, vagina or anal region. Pregnancy. Behavioral Indicators: The victim's disclosure of sexual abuse. Regressive behaviors (thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark). Promiscuity or seductive behaviors. Disturbed sleep patterns (recurrent nightmares). Unusual and age-inappropriate interest in sexual matters. Avoidance of undressing or wearing extra layers of clothes. Sudden decline in school performance, truancy. Difficulty in walking or sitting. Signs of Emotional Abuse Physical Indicators: Eating disorders, including obesity or anorexia. Speech disorders (stuttering, stammering). Developmental delays in the acquisition of speech or motor skills. Weight or height level substantially below norm. Flat or bald spots on head (infants). Nervous disorders (rashes, hives, facial tics, stomach aches). Behavioral Indicators: Habit disorders (biting, rocking, head-banging). Cruel behavior, seeming to get pleasure from hurting children, adults or animals; seeming to get pleasure from being mistreated. Age-inappropriate behaviors (bedwetting, wetting, soiling). Behavioral extremes, such as overly compliant-demanding; withdrawn-aggressive; listless-excitable. Signs of Neglect Physical Indicators: Poor hygiene, including lice, scabies, severe or untreated diaper rash, bedsores, body odor. Squinting. Unsuitable clothing; missing key articles of clothing (underwear, socks, shoes); overdressed or underdressed for climate conditions. Untreated injury or illness. Lack of immunizations. Indicators of prolonged exposure to elements (excessive sunburn, insect bites, colds). Height and weight significantly below age level. Behavioral Indicators: Unusual school attendance. Chronic absenteeism. Chronic hunger, tiredness, or lethargy. Begging for or collecting leftovers. Assuming adult responsibilities. Reporting no caretaker at home. This information provided courtesy of Lorain County, Ohio Children Services, through their website, www.childabuse.net. We provide this information as a service, and no listing of abuse or neglect indicators can include all signs. Please use your best judgment. How do I report? If you are concerned about the safety of a child and want to report suspected child abuse or neglect, DO NOT MAKE A REPORT VIA E-MAIL. Click here: How to Report Child Abuse. http://www.childabuse.org/recognizing%20abuse.html Brought to you by: Rain Feather

"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime." Herbert Ward At This Place: A Christmas Story By K. Kringle Once upon a Christmas, a special kind of spirit was in the air. This was more than the usual holiday spirit we find at seasonal parties or on a snowy street where shoppers bustle from store front to store front wishing one another a Merry Christmas. No, this was a different kind of spirit and a different kind of place. This was a place filled with love and care; a place where, no matter how bad things got, people never gave up. There were children at this place, many whom had never before experienced the warmth, the joys and the traditions of the holiday season which so many of us take for granted. Some of these children had come to this place from homes where Christmas was just another day, often a day that brought even more pain and anguish into their young lives. For these children, there had never been presents under a brightly lit Christmas tree...in fact, in many of their homes, there wasn't even a tree. Santa Claus never visited their homes on Christmas Eve. And for a few of these children, the holiday season had become a virtual nightmare. While other, happier children lay sleepless in their beds on Christmas Eve, unable to sleep because of the anticipation and excitement of Christmas morning, these children, too, lay awake in their beds, though not because of excitement. No, their sleeplessness came from fear; fear that if they dared to close their eyes, they might once again fall victim to the horror which all too often reared its ugly head. Certainly, Santa Claus never paid a visit to their homes. In fact, the only legendary character to ever visit their homes on Christmas Eve was the Boogie Man. But, at this special place, here was a chance to change all that. Here was a chance to show these children what was possible. Yes, at this place, things were different. At this place, caring people were ready to help these children discover what the holiday season COULD be, what it was meant to be. And so, at this special place, children had a chance to not only experience a holiday filled with love and care, but to come to an understanding that the pain and fear which had filled their lives was NOT their fault. "I think the reason Santa never came to my house was because I wasn't a very good girl", said young Emily. "Maybe that's why my daddy kept hurting me so much." This place would help Emily to realize that Santa's absence at her home on all of those lost Christmas Eves wasn't because of anything she had done. This place would help her to realize that Santa WANTED to come to her home...but that Santa can only enter homes where the holiday spirit is strong, where Christmas is all about the love of children. This place would help her learn that Santa can only exist with loving, believing hearts and healthy, caring souls. For most of Emily's young life, the homes in which she had lived were inhabited by broken hearts and wounded souls, so there could be no Santa. But at this place, Emily would finally get her first visit from Santa on Christmas Eve. And at this place, Emily would finally learn that Santa is so much more than a man; that Santa is the embodiment of love and care, a spirit that cherishes the welfare of children. But she would also learn that Christmas is so much more than a visit from Santa. Certainly at this place--- for the first time in her life--- young Emily would have gifts on Christmas morning. But the most important gifts she would receive would NOT be the ones that would be wrapped in boxes with bows under the tree. Because, at this place, for the first time in her life, Emily would feel the holiday spirit grow within her. She would learn that, in spite of the pain inflicted upon her by one or two ill-thinking adults, people were inherently good at heart. She would learn that it wasn't her fault. She would learn that, with time, with love and with care, she would heal. And she would learn that this place---Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home---would always be the home where she finally discovered Christmas. And at this place on that Christmas morning, she was overhead to say, "Until I came to live here, I never knew that people cared about me so much." If you were touched by this story and would like to ensure that this spirit lives on at Tennyson Center for Children, please consider making a tax-deductible donation (any amount of $5 or greater) by clicking here. Thank you for your generosity. http://www.childabuse.org/

Sex Crimes Very few allegations can damage your future as much as the charge of a sexual offense. Serious charges can be made by anyone regardless of physical evidence and are too often pursued by overzealous prosecutors. To make matters worse, local defense attorneys are often reluctant to aggressively defend against sexual charges for fear of damaging their reputation in the community. When you are accused of any sexually based crime, there is a natural tendency for everybody to consider you guilty regardless of the facts. We believe in your innocence and are prepared to take your case to trial, whether or not the prosecution plans to do so. Defending Yourself A sexual charge must be aggressively defended. There generally are no acceptable plea agreements that come with sexually based crimes, even for minor offenses. A conviction on any of these crimes will result in registration as a sex offender, usually for life, felony conviction and prison time. This is why we get trial-ready very early in the case. We know that to get an acquittal will take a tremendous amount of work. The earlier we get involved, the better the results will be. Why Criminal Defense Associates? This law firm was built specifically to specialize in the area of sexually based offenses — specifically child molestation, pornography, rape and offenses against minors. These types of cases are unique in so many ways that you need highly specialized legal counsel to handle them. We are the leading experts in sexual crimes defense and have carefully assembled a team of senior trial attorneys with extensive experience in this area and a spectacular track record. Criminal Defense Associates is a national law firm. We are not afraid of confronting local judges and prosecutors to aggressively defend against heinous sexual charges. In fact, we bring a level of intimidation that often results in a favorable settlement or dropped charges without the need for a trial. If you, a family member, or a friend has been accused or charged with a sex crime, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately. In criminal matters, specifically sexual offenses, having experience and being proactive can be pivotal to the outcome of your case. In protecting your rights, we can help reduce or eliminate bail requirements, get appropriate motions to suppress evidence, provide emotional support to loved ones, perhaps even obtain motions to dismiss the case — all in an effort to keep your matter "one step ahead" of the prosecution. http://www.criminaldefenseassociates.com/crimes/sex