Sixteen Years Later
Avram Piltch, the Managing Editor of About.com, emailed me about the Joel Steinberg case. Joel Steinberg is the lawyer who beat his daughter Lisa to death in New York City in 1986. He was recently released after having served two-thirds of his sentence.
"Did the case raise our awareness of child abuse?" Avram asked.
Sorry, but no. This is going to be a darned pessimistic article.
The residents of New York City, and most of the country, were stirred into a frenzy of outrage toward this batterer and murderer. His release from prison provoked even more. But as I look for something positive in the incident, in the anger, in the massive media coverage, I am forced to conclude that almost nothing positive has come of it.
Sixteen years after the incident, after the shock and the horror and righteous anger, this country is firmly in the hands of politicians who are actively hostile toward agencies that fight domestic violence and child abuse. Human service agencies have been slashed; their numbers dramatically diminished, their funding shrunk, and their public support shriveled. Who put these politicians in charge? The voters, of course.
The anger and outrage provoked by the Joel Steinberg case was sound and fury, signifying nothing. Should that little girl have been saved? Of course. Was it possible to save her? Of course. If you ask around, you'd find that everybody would support that.
But nobody is willing to vote on it. And nobody is willing to pay for it.
Studies and Conclusions
- Department of HHS Survey 1993
This study shows a dramatic increase in child abuse reports: "..nearly doubled in the United States between 1986 and 1993. The survey also indicates that while the number of total child maltreatment instances that were investigated by state agencies remained constant from 1986 to 1993, the percentage of cases investigated declined dramatically." - And these are underreportings
The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect says that "all forms of child abuse are greatly underreported and underestimated in current research. Accurate statistics on the prevalence of abuse are impossible to gather at this point. The problems are under-recognition, underreporting, and a lack of one comprehensive definition of what constitutes abuse." - The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse reports that "...the rate of child abuse and neglect fatalities reported by NCANDS has increased slightly over the last several years from 1.84 per 100,000 children in 2000 to 1.96 in 2001 and 1.98 in 2002."
- Minnesota funding cuts
Minnesota Governor Pawlenty cuts child abuse prevention programs in 2003. - Cuts in Austin, Texas
Cuts in Child Abuse Prevention Funding in Austin, Texas, 2003. - Federal Funding Cuts
Bush Cuts Funding for Child Abuse Prevention Programs. - Federal Funding Cuts
"Domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse programs are facing devastating funding cuts as a result of federal and state budget deficits. Already many programs have had to scale back their services and reduce their staff; some have even had to close their doors." - Rochester, New York Child Abuse Prevention Funding Cuts
"Failure to invest in programs that prevent child abuse and neglect will cost New York taxpayers millions of dollars down the road — and lead to more violent crime." - Cuts in Alabama
"In Alabama this year, state funding for child care programs were proposed for cuts." - Budget Cuts in Kentucky
"Child welfare programs and other vital services to children and vulnerable adults are likely to suffer if potential budget cuts become a reality, Cabinet for Families and Children Secretary Viola Miller said this week."
In other words, we are not winning this war. Do a search on Google about child abuse funding cuts. You'll find news articles about this disgrace in most, if not all, states in the country.
Go to the next page to learn more.
