In observance of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Midland branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) is set to participate in the Five Days of Action campaign, running from April 15-19. The initiative aims to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and encourages adults to take preventive measures when they are aware, witness, or can respond to such situations.
The YMCA stated on its webpage dedicated to the Five Days of Action that organizations interested in joining the campaign must register at https://y-usa.formstack.com/forms/5daysofaction2024 and download a toolkit for the event. "All children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, and what they can achieve," says the YMCA.
In its effort to prevent child sexual abuse, the YMCA launched its Know. See. Respond. Campaign. According to their website, knowledge about child abuse aids others in understanding it better, seeing enables intervention on behalf of children, and responding ensures it is addressed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that at least one in seven children have been victims of child abuse or neglect in the past year in the U.S. It further noted that many cases go unreported with an estimated total lifetime economic burden associated with child abuse and neglect amounting to approximately $592 billion in 2018.
The CDC also highlighted that while physical injuries are often linked with child abuse, victims may also experience emotional and psychological issues such as anxiety or posttraumatic stress. They said these individuals are at risk of enduring more abuse as they age, along with potential substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections, delayed brain development, lower educational attainment, and limited employment opportunities.