CHILD USA IS COMMITTED
TO ENDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
CHILD USA is the leading national nonprofit think tank working to end child abuse and neglect in the United States.
CHILD USA engages in high-level legal, social science, and medical research and analysis to derive the best public policies to end child abuse and neglect in America. CHILD USA produces evidence-based solutions and information needed by policymakers, organizations, media, and society as a whole to increase child protection and the common good. Since its inception, CHILD USA has made great achievements in ending child abuse and neglect in America!
April 19, 2021: The Rally for a Window
On April 19, 2021, CHILD USA co-hosted the Rally For A Window on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg, PA. Survivors, advocates, and allied organizations banded together to demand a window to justice for Pennsylvania’s survivors of child sex abuse. If you missed the Rally for a Window, you can watch our highlight video here!
April 19, 2021: The Rally for a Window
On April 19, 2021, CHILD USA co-hosted the Rally For A Window on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg, PA. Survivors, advocates, and allied organizations banded together to demand a window to justice for Pennsylvania’s survivors of child sex abuse. If you missed the Rally for a Window, you can watch our highlights video here!
Did you miss CHILD USA’s 4th Annual Awards Ceremony?
Well, we recorded it! Find out about all the work CHILD USA has done this year and listen to McKenna Gray’s song written just for us!
Did you miss CHILD USA’s 4th Annual Awards Ceremony?
Well, we recorded it! Find out about all the work CHILD USA has done this year and listen to McKenna Gray’s song written just for us!
Check Out CHILD USA’s Child Sex Abuse Portal – it’s the only resource of its kind!
CHILD USA’s portal is a curated list of books (both fiction and nonfiction), documentaries, videos, articles, and online resources. Whether you are a survivor of child sex abuse, a family member, or someone who works with children like a coach, a teacher, or clergy, this is a place where we hope that you can browse, learn, and relax in peace.
Instead of randomly googling for information, we have done the research to find materials that are respected, illuminating, and informative.
Firm and organizational sponsorships are also available by clicking HERE
Check Out CHILD USA’s Child Sex Abuse Portal – it’s the only resource of its kind!
CHILD USA’s portal is a curated list of books (both fiction and nonfiction), documentaries, videos, articles, and online resources. Whether you are a survivor of child sex abuse, a family member, or someone who works with children like a coach, a teacher, or clergy, this is a place where we hope that you can browse, learn, and relax in peace.
Instead of randomly googling for information, we have done the research to find materials that are respected, illuminating, and informative.
Firm and organizational sponsorships are also available by clicking HERE
CHILD USA is asking What About the Children during COVID-19. The conversation about COVID-19 has left out an important and vulnerable group, children. CHILD USA is working to bring awareness to the heightened risk of children who are isolated at home in dangerous circumstances and have lost the safety nets their daily lives normally provide. Visit our WATCH page to see how CHILD USA is helping parents, teachers, child protection workers, and policy makers address the pandemic’s unintended consequences.
CHILD USA is asking What About the Children during COVID-19. The conversation about COVID-19 has left out an important and vulnerable group, children. CHILD USA is working to bring awareness to the heightened risk of children who are isolated at home in dangerous circumstances and have lost the safety nets their daily lives normally provide. Visit our WATCH page to see how CHILD USA is helping parents, teachers, child protection workers, and policy makers address the pandemic’s unintended consequences.
CHILD USA IN THE NEWS
Louisiana’s new child sexual abuse law surprises advocates, legislators
New Maine law will remove time barrier to civil claims on childhood sexual abuse
All Things Considered
Breaking the Silence: Sexual Abuse Survivor Opens Up About Her Alleged Abuse
New Maine law will remove time barrier to civil claims on childhood sexual abuse
Megan Gray | June 24, 2021
All Things Considered
Louisiana’s new child sexual abuse law surprises advocates, legislators
Breaking the Silence: Sexual Abuse Survivor Opens Up About Her Alleged Abuse
CURRENT INITIATIVES
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM
There are two paths to justice for children who have been sexually abused: criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. Historically, the vast majority of child sex abuse victims have been unable to prosecute or file civil lawsuits because they missed the arbitrary procedural deadline—the statute of limitations (“SOLs”)—for their claims. CHILD USA leads the movement to end this injustice that also harms the public good by keeping victims from naming their predators and the institutions that enabled them.
ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ATHLETES: THE GAME OVER COMMISSION
Like other arenas where children can be isolated and manipulated by predatory adults, youth sports programs present steep challenges to the protection of children. Sports programs, at all levels, are a critically important frontier in the investigations into child sexual abuse and one of the least studied. CHILD USA is leading the way with its Game Over Commission and social science studies aimed at athletes.
EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT
CHILD USA is committed to making sure all children get a quality education, no matter where they live. Currently, only 24 states and the District of Columbia classify educational negelct as abuse. CHILD USA will continue to work to make sure all children have access to a great educations as well as to services that will allow them to take advantage of that education.
FAMILY COURT REFORM
Child sexual abuse perpetrated within families is one of the most insidious and under-prosecuted crimes, and the legal system often fails to adequately protect a child from an abusive parent. CHILD USA is dedicated to reform of the family court system to ensure child protection.
MEDICAL NEGLECT AND VACCINE AVOIDANCE
Most states have laws giving religious exemptions to testing and screening of children. Federal law requires doctors treating children on Medicaid or CHIP to perform several tests and screening on the children, yet federal law also allows states to offer religious exemptions. CHILD USA’s research into these religious exemptions laws reveals the exigency for policy that protects the health and safety of children
CONVERSION THERAPY
CHILD USA is studying the health and welfare effects on those who have been subjected to so-called “conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy,” which is intended to “fix” their sexual orientation. As with every other initiative, CHILD USA is pairing legal and social science research and analysis to determine what is in the best interest of children and the public good.
This approach has been uniformly rejected by every leading medical organization.
CHILD MARRIAGE
Child marriage happens more than you think. Girls are at risk of sex abuse in far too many cultures, including the United States. In 36, or 2/3, of the states, the age of marriage for minors with parental consent is 16, which is very young for marriage. In some states, though, the minimum is even younger with judicial and parental consent. CHILD USA is studying child marriage as part of its overall agenda to fight child sex abuse and girls’ challenges to fulfilling their potential.
MEDICAL NEGLECT AND VACCINE AVOIDANCE
Most states have laws giving religious exemptions to the testing and screening of children. Federal law requires doctors treating children on Medicaid or CHIP to perform several tests and screening on the children, yet federal law also allows states to offer religious exemptions. CHILD USA’s research into these religious exemptions laws reveals the exigency for a policy that protects the health and safety of children
FAMILY COURT REFORM
Child sexual abuse perpetrated within families is one of the most insidious and under-prosecuted crimes, and the legal system often fails to adequately protect a child from an abusive parent. CHILD USA is dedicated to reform of the family court system to ensure child protection.
ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF ATHLETES: THE GAME OVER COMMISSION
Like other arenas where children can be isolated and manipulated by predatory adults, youth sports programs present steep challenges to the protection of children. Sports programs, at all levels, are a critically important frontier in the investigations into child sexual abuse and one of the least studied. CHILD USA is leading the way with its Game Over Commission and social science studies aimed at athletes.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM
There are two paths to justice for children who have been sexually abused: criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. Historically, the vast majority of child sex abuse victims have been unable to prosecute or file civil lawsuits because they missed the arbitrary procedural deadline—the statute of limitations (“SOLs”)—for their claims. CHILD USA leads the movement to end this injustice that also harms the public good by keeping victims from naming their predators and the institutions that enabled them.
EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT
CHILD USA is committed to making sure all children get a quality education, no matter where they live. Currently, only 24 states and the District of Columbia classify educational negelct as abuse. CHILD USA will continue to work to make sure all children have access to a great educations as well as to services that will allow them to take advantage of that education.
CONVERSION THERAPY
CHILD USA is studying the health and welfare effects on those who have been subjected to so-called “conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy,” which is intended to “fix” their sexual orientation. As with every other initiative, CHILD USA is pairing legal and social science research and analysis to determine what is in the best interest of children and the public good.
This approach has been uniformly rejected by every leading medical organization.
CHILD MARRIAGE
Child marriage happens more than you think. Girls are at risk of sex abuse in far too many cultures, including the United States. In 36, or 2/3, of the states, the age of marriage for minors with parental consent is 16, which is very young for marriage. In some states, though, the minimum is even younger with judicial and parental consent. CHILD USA is studying child marriage as part of its overall agenda to fight child sex abuse and girls’ challenges to fulfilling their potential.
CHILD USA MONDAY BLOG (& Other Things to Read)
Abolishing the Child Welfare System Would Harm Victims of Child Abuse
By AJ Ortiz, MSSP
Our nation’s child welfare system exists to fulfill society’s collective commitment to protecting children when they become victims of serious abuse. Unfortunately, this system is deeply flawed, and youth involved in child welfare services are often retraumatized, revictimized, or otherwise poorly served. Children of color are overrepresented in this flawed system, and in a national moment of reckoning on issues of race, we face a critical question: do we advocate for reforms or tear the child welfare system down?
June 21, 2021
CHILD USA MONDAY BLOG (& Other Things to Read)
Abolishing the Child Welfare System Would Harm Victims of Child Abuse
AJ Ortiz, MSSP
Our nation’s child welfare system exists to fulfill society’s collective commitment to protecting children when they become victims of serious abuse. Unfortunately, this system is deeply flawed, and youth involved in child welfare services are often retraumatized, revictimized, or otherwise poorly served. Children of color are overrepresented in this flawed system, and in a national moment of reckoning on issues of race, we face a critical question: do we advocate for reforms or tear the child welfare system down?
June 21, 2021
CHILD USA’s Weekly Data Drop
CHILD USA’s Weekly Data Drop
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