Everly Dickerd's death is a tragedy. The 3-month-old recently died as a result of injuries due to head trauma. Her baby sitter has been charged with child abuse that led to those injuries.
Sadly, Everly is not the only child to die from child abuse or neglect. Every day in America, four children are killed by abuse or neglect, and 1,833 children are confirmed as being abused or neglected (Children's Defense Fund, 2014). A 2014 Journal of American Medical Association Pediatrics study concluded that one in eight children will be maltreated before reaching age 18.
The effects of experiencing child abuse are long term. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study of more than 17,000 participants found that children who are abused or neglected are much more likely to engage in risky behavior such as illicit drug use, early sexual activity and suicide attempts (Felitti and Anda, 1997).
[For more of this story, written by Chamlee Loscuito, go to http://www.goupstate.com/artic...-place-to-be-a-child]
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