Daycare Abuse is a Growing Concern: What to Do if Your Child is a Victim

 Posted on April 09, 2018 in Personal Injury

When you choose your child's daycare, you do so with great care and deliberation. You read the reviews, perform a background check on the teachers, ask friends and family about their thoughts, and meet with school administrators multiple times. By the time your child's first day rolls around, you feel comfortable and confident that your child is in great hands. But then you learn the ugly truth the hard way. One or more of your child's caregivers are not who they said they were. They are child abusers.

Child Abuse Statistics in Daycare Facilities

Sadly, millions of children are neglected, abused, sexually abused, and emotionally traumatized each year. These instances of abuse do not just happen in the home, either. According to studies and reports conducted by ChildWelfare.gov and NCJRS.gov, daycares are responsible for approximately 1,760 childhood fatalities due to abuse and neglect and approximately 2,500 sexual assault cases over a three-year span. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Development, 90% of American daycares are considered to be 'fair' or 'poor,' with only 10% providing high quality care. Data gathered in 2006 from 39 states found that 5,321 daycare providers were abusing and neglecting children in their care.

If your child is the victim of daycare abuse or neglect, fight back on their behalf and help put an end to the harmful behavior. Call Clark Law Group to learn more about your legal options. A daycare abuse lawyer can help you seek justice for your family.

The Long-Term Effects of Child Abuse

Child abuse does not end once a child is removed from the hostile situation. Unfortunately, it has a way of staying with a child for years to come. Sometimes, a child is so emotionally traumatized, the incident sticks with him or her for the remainder of his or her life. Some long-term effects of child abuse may include:

• Self-destructive, self-abusive, or suicidal behavior;
• Passive or withdrawn behavior;
• Low self-esteem;
• Sexual acting out;
• Aggressive, disruptive, and oftentimes illegal behavior;
• Inability to love or trust others;
• Sexual acting out;
• Anger and rage;
• Problems in school;
• Irrational anxiety and fears;
• Fear of trying new things or of letting others close to them;
• Feelings of sadness and signs of depression;
• Flashbacks and nightmares; and
• Drug and alcohol abuse.

Childhood abuse and neglect is not something that goes away just because a child was removed from the situation. If your child has been abused by a daycare provider, he or she may suffer long-term and serious consequences. Compensation can pay for the help your child will likely need in his or her future.

When to Contact an Attorney

If you suspect that your child or another child at your daycare is being abuse by a caregiver, call Clark Law Group today. We can help you determine the best course of action and, if necessary, refer you to a daycare abuse lawyer who can help. Call our office today to schedule your private consultation.