Guardians of the Children Pennsylvania- Keystone Chapter

04/28/2026

SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING...

Be the voice to be heard over the silence.

04/26/2026

See Something Say Something...

04/23/2026

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month but as Guardians of the Children, Child Abuse Awareness is a lifetime.

04/22/2026

SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING

Child abuse hurts minds, bodies, and futures.

The trauma of child abuse causes children to lose their sense of safety and trust in the world, and harms their relationships. Left untreated, the trauma of child abuse can lead to:

Mental health problems like depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms;
Behavioral changes like substance use disorders, risky s*xual behaviors, or increased risk for violence against oneself and others; and/or
Physical health problems like infections, injuries, or even heart disease or diabetes later in life.

Source: CDC Fast Facts

04/21/2026

04/20/2026

From the Children's Advocacy Center https://www.childprotect.org/facts-about-child-abuse.html

Approximately 5 children die every day because of child abuse.
1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be s*xually abused before they reach age 18.

90% of child s*xual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way. 68% are abused by a family member.

Most children become victims of abuse and neglect at 18 months or younger.

In 2010, 1,537 children died of abuse or neglect. 79.4% were under the age of 4 and 47.7% were under the age of 1.

Boys (48.5%) and girls (51.2%) become victims at nearly the same rate.

3.6 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the U.S.
Abused and neglected children are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior as an adult.

About 80% of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.

14% of all men and 36% of all women in prison were abused as children.

Abused children are less likely to practice safe s*x, putting them at greater risk for STDs. They’re also 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.

For every incident of child abuse or neglect that’s reported, an estimated two incidents go unreported.

Child abuse occurs across all socioeconomic levels, ethnic and cultural lines, and religions and education levels.

Neglect, the most widespread form of child abuse, makes up more than 59% of abuse cases.

SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING

04/19/2026

Child abuse takes many shapes and forms and affects all ages. In Pennsylvania, the counties with the largest number of child abuse cases are Philadelphia and Allegheny. Between 01/01/19 and 12/31/23, Pennsylvania saw 10,915 convictions of the 32,075 child abuse defendants in 36,386 child abuse cases.

Don't Let Your Silence Drown Out Their Cries

04/18/2026

Getting set up and ready for a day with some kiddos. :)

04/18/2026

GOOD MORNING GOC FRIENDS and FAMILY--today we will be at the YMCA's Healthy Kids Day. 10 AM - 1 PM. Stop out and see us. There will be all kinds of fun things to do.

Emotional neglect is a form of child abuse involving a persistent failure to meet a child's basic emotional needs—such as love, support, and validation—resulting in long-term harm to development. It is often invisible, occurring when caregivers are emotionally unavailable or unresponsive to a child's distress.

Neglect is defined by the CDC as failing to meet a child's basic emotional needs, including the validation of feelings. It is categorized as a, sometimes invisible, adverse childhood experience

Children may exhibit signs such as apathy, depression, extreme compliance, or aggressiveness. They may also show signs of low self-esteem and have difficulty with emotional regulation.

It often stems from a parent's own lack of emotional awareness, mental health issues, or substance abuse. It can be intentional or unintentional.

Adults who experienced this neglect may struggle with low self-esteem, difficulty expressing emotions, social isolation, and chronic feelings of emptiness.

Emotional neglect can take many forms:
Ignoring a child's feelings, failing to express affection, and ignoring the need for attention.

Teaching a child that their emotions are not important or valid.

Children may experience developmental delays in emotional skills.

(multiple sources on-line)

04/17/2026

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