To Know Child Abuse and Child Trafficking is to Prevent Child Abuse.

Child abuse and Child Trafficking is everyone’s problem, which means you are a part of the solution. Get in the know-and impact a child’s life forever.

Estar informado del abuso infantil es prevenir el abuso infantil.

El abuso infantil es un problema de todos, lo que significa que usted es parte de la solución. Infórmese y cambie para siempre la vida de un niño.

Know the Facts

CONOZCA los hechos

1

Child abuse isn’t just physical abuse.

El abuso infantil no es solo abuso físico.

Child abuse is a term that covers many types of maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, psychological abuse and medical neglect. The most commonly reported type of abuse is neglect.

Source: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/canstats.pdf
2

Child abuse affects 1 in 10 children in Escambia County.

El abuso infantil afecta a 1 de cada 10 niños en el condado de Escambia.

Escambia County often ranks 3rd or 4th in the entire state of Florida for child abuse cases. Every year in Escambia County over 7000 reports of suspected child abuse are received by the Department of Children and Families.

Source: https://www.gulfcoastkidshouse.org/recognize-child-abuse/recognizing_child_abuse.asp
3

Most sexually abused children under the age of 18 are abused by someone the child and their family knows and trusts. Perpetrators groom the entire family.

En la mayoría de los casos, los niños son abusados por alguien que conocen y en quien confían.

Less than 5% of child sexual abuse cases involve strangers as the perpetrator. “Stranger Danger” rarely applies. 95% of the time the abuser is someone the child and their family know and trust. Abusers may be a family member, trusted family friend, an older or larger child, or anyone the child perceives as having power and advantage over them.

Source: https://www.gulfcoastkidshouse.org/
4

Child abuse affects kids from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

El abuso infantil afecta a niños de todas las razas y entornos socioeconómicos.

Although these factors can influence rates of child abuse, no racial or socioeconomic groups are immune to child abuse. Research indicates there are risk factors for maltreatment, including caregiver alcohol abuse and caregiver drug abuse.

Source: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/canstats.pdf
5

Child trafficking victims will rarely attempt to seek help when in public.

Si usted sospecha de abuso infantil, tiene la responsabilidad de reportarlo.

Child trafficking is often a hidden crime. Victims may be so traumatized by traffickers that they do not identify themselves as victims or ask for help; they may be forced or coerced through threats and violence; they may fear retribution from their trafficker or law enforcement, including danger to their families. They may not even have their identification documents.

Source: https://www.gulfcoastkidshouse.org/recognize-child-abuse/recognizing_child_abuse.asp
6

The signs of child abuse aren’t always easy to spot.

No siempre es fácil detectar las señales del abuso infantil.
Child abuse can be hard to recognize. Some possible signs of child abuse are:
- Any change in a child's behavior
  - an outgoing child becomes withdrawn or vice versa
  - a child's grades start dropping
  - a child is unable to sleep
  - a child regresses to an earlier stage of development, such as bed-wetting
  - a child becomes fearful
  - a child displays self-harm or aggression to other children
- Frequent bruises or broken bones
- Frequent absences
- Social isolation
- Inadequate hygiene
Source: https://www.gulfcoastkidshouse.org/recognize-child-abuse/recognizing_child_abuse.asp

Play the Video

Know Child Abuse:

Infórmese del abuso infantil:

Prevention Education Training

Prevención Educación Capacitación

Equip yourself with the tools to recognize, report and reduce suspected child abuse and child trafficking.

Ármese con las herramientas para identificar, reportar y reducir el abuso infantil del que se sospecha.

Our 30-minute training course empowers you with the information you need to know. Take the training individually or sign up with a group.

Nuestro curso de capacitación de 30 minutos le da la información que usted necesita. Tome el curso solo o regístrese en grupo.

Knowing grooming behaviors and child abuse and child trafficking facts can help you prevent abuse and advocate for all children.

Training for

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Training for

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To immediately report a case of child abuse, call the abuse hotline at 1-800-96ABUSE.

Para reportar de inmediato un caso de abuso infantil, llame a la línea directa al 1-800-96ABUSE.

Teri Levin

Co-Owner of Levin Rinke Realty & Child Abuse Survivor

I know child abuse, because I’ve experienced it firsthand. Abuse affects all members of the family, which in turn has an impact on the family unit and the future of our children, and in turn, the future for all of us in the community. It is a cycle that must be broken very early.

We all become victims of the abuse in some way if we do not educate and actively work towards fighting it. Child abuse isn’t pleasant to talk about, but bringing it out in the open through education and awareness is the only way to fight it. Healing happens when it is brought into the light.

Teri Levin

Copropietaria de Levin Rinke Realty y sobreviviente de abuso infantil

Yo conozco el abuso infantil porque lo experimenté personalmente. El abuso afecta a todos los miembros de la familia, lo que a su vez impacta a la unidad familiar y, más tarde, el futuro de nuestros hijos, afectando así el futuro de todos en la comunidad. Es un ciclo que se debe romper lo más pronto posible.

Si no nos educamos y no luchamos activamente en su contra, todos nos volvemos víctimas del abuso de una u otra manera. Aunque no es agradable hablar del abuso infantil, exponerlo a través de educación y concientización es la única forma de combatirlo. La sanación ocurre cuando se saca a la luz.

Henry Roberts

Retired Pastor, First United Methodist Church

As a minister at First United Methodist Church from 1984 until my retirement, I have known of Gulf Coast Kid's House from day one. I remember the days when there was not such a pleasant building that welcomed kids who were so afraid and overwhelmed, dealing with people that had mistreated them and a police system that wasn\u2019t yet equipped to handle these delicate situations.

People, churches and schools need to know that when they report abuse, they will not be exposed to anyone that they have reported their suspicions about a child. We hope we are wrong\u2014but being right could mean everything to a child.

Henry Roberts

Ministro jubilado, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida

Como ministro de la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de 1984 hasta mi jubilación, conozco la Casa del Niño Gulf Coast desde sus inicios. Recuerdo los tiempos en que no teníamos un edificio agradable para darles la bienvenida a todos esos niños, tan abrumados y asustados, y tratábamos con gente que los había maltratado y con un sistema policial que todavía no estaba preparado para manejar estas situaciones tan delicadas.

La gente, las iglesias y las escuelas tienen que saber que cuando reportan un abuso, no van a quedar expuestos ante la persona que han reportado como sospechosa de abusar de un niño. Esperamos estar equivocados, pero si tenemos razón, podría cambiar todo para la víctima.

Debbie Ritchie

President of Studer Group

Staggering amounts of physical, sexual and psychological abuse and neglect are happening to children who don\u2019t have the ability or capacity to stop it. Child abuse has no boundaries and it doesn\u2019t discriminate\u2014any race and gender, rich or poor, big city or small town, infants to near adults. It's happening everywhere and the statistics in Escambia County are even more alarming. Why wouldn\u2019t we want to ensure the safety and well-being of children who are so vulnerable and in need of love and care?

For adults, our first responsibility is to make ourselves aware that it\u2019s happening, and to know the signs of abuse. When we are aware, how can we then not feel responsible and accountable to do something about it? Every child deserves to be safe and loved, and we love by ensuring a critical need is met: to be safe and protected from harm.

Debbie Ritchie

Presidente de Studer Group

Una pasmosa cantidad de abandono y abuso físico, sexual y psicológico, se está profiriendo en contra de niños que no tienen la forma o la capacidad de poner un alto. El abuso infantil no conoce límites y no discrimina: afecta a todas las razas y géneros, a ricos y pobres, en ciudades grandes o pueblos pequeños, a bebés y a casi adultos. Está pasando en todos lados y las estadísticas en Escambia County son especialmente alarmantes. ¿Cómo podríamos no querer garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de los niños, que son tan vulnerables y que necesitan amor y cuidados?

En el caso de los adultos, nuestra principal responsabilidad es ser conscientes de lo que está ocurriendo y conocer las señales del abuso. Si sabemos lo que pasa, ¿cómo podemos no sentirnos responsables y obligados a actuar? Todos los niños merecen ser amados y estar seguros, y nuestra manera de dar amor es garantizar que se cubra una necesidad crítica: la de que todos estén seguros y protegidos de daños.

Anne Patterson

Assistant State Attorney

Gulf Coast Kid\u2019s House\u2019s mission is important to me personally because of its incredible effect on the prosecution of criminal child abuse cases. Before the agencies were consolidated under one roof, the prosecution of these cases had to occur after a very long odyssey for these victims and families through the criminal justice system\u2014a process which acted to weaken cases considerably in many ways before the prosecutors could even get started. Now, the prosecutions are much faster, more efficient, victim-focused, and successful.

When I first found myself prosecuting child abuse cases here at Gulf Coast Kid\u2019s House over 16 years ago, I did not imagine how rewarding and meaningful the assignment would ultimately be. The passion and dedication of the board of directors and the executive director and her staff has never waned since GCKH opened its doors, and continues to propel the mission of the organization to educate and help as many children as it possibly can. I am very grateful that I am able to be a part of this effort that can and does change the lives of child abuse victims.

Anne Patterson

Abogada estatal asistente

La misión de la Casa del Niño Gulf Coast es importante para mí en lo personal debido a su increíble impacto en el procesamiento de casos de abuso infantil criminal. Antes de que los organismos se consolidaran bajo un solo techo, los juicios de estos casos comenzaban, para las víctimas y sus familias, después de una odisea muy larga a través del sistema judicial criminal, un proceso que debilitaba considerablemente los casos de muchas maneras antes de que los fiscales empezaran siquiera a trabajar. Ahora los juicios son mucho más rápidos, más eficientes, se enfocan en la víctima y son, también, más exitosos.

Hace más de 16 años, cuando empecé a trabajar en casos de abuso infantil aquí en la Casa del Niño Gulf Coast, no tenía idea de lo gratificante y significativo que este trabajo iba a ser. La pasión y la dedicación del consejo directivo, de la directora ejecutiva y de su personal, no han decaído jamás desde que la GCKH abrió sus puertas, y siguen impulsando la misión del organismo para educar y ayudar a tantos niños como sea posible. Estoy muy agradecida de ser parte de este esfuerzo que puede cambiar, y de hecho cambia, las vidas de las víctimas de abuso infantil.

To Know Child Abuse and Child Trafficking is to Prevent Child Abuse.

Estar informado del abuso infantil es prevenir el abuso infantil.

Know the Facts

CONOZCA los hechos

Child abuse isn’t just physical abuse.

El abuso infantil no es solo abuso físico.

Child abuse affects 1 in 10 children in Escambia County.

El abuso infantil afecta a 1 de cada 10 niños en el condado de Escambia.

Most sexually abused children under the age of 18 are abused by someone the child and their family knows and trusts. Perpetrators groom the entire family.

En la mayoría de los casos, los niños son abusados por alguien que conocen y en quien confían.

Child abuse affects kids from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

El abuso infantil afecta a niños de todas las razas y entornos socioeconómicos.

Child trafficking victims will rarely attempt to seek help when in public.

Si usted sospecha de abuso infantil, tiene la responsabilidad de reportarlo.

The signs of child abuse aren’t always easy to spot.

No siempre es fácil detectar las señales del abuso infantil.

Play the Video

Know Child Abuse:

Infórmese del abuso infantil:

Prevention Education Training

Prevención Educación Capacitación

Training for

Individual

Individuo

Select

Training for

Organization

Empresa

Select

Teri Levin

Co-Owner of Levin Rinke Realty & Child Abuse Survivor

Teri Levin

Copropietaria de Levin Rinke Realty y sobreviviente de abuso infantil

Henry Roberts

Retired Pastor, First United Methodist Church

Henry Roberts

Ministro jubilado, Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida

Debbie Ritchie

President of Studer Group

Debbie Ritchie

Presidente de Studer Group

Anne Patterson

Assistant State Attorney

Anne Patterson

Abogada estatal asistente

Join the ongoing fight to protect kids in Escambia County by subscribing for organization news and updates.

Únase a la lucha para proteger a los niños en el condado de Escambia y registrándose para recibir las noticias y las actualizaciones del organismo.