Social worker wants public to see seriousness of child abuse

Kristi Murphy, a licensed clinical social worker and the clinical director for Childhelp, recently wrote an opinion article for Fox News stating that she believes the Casey Anthony trial should show people the importance of protecting children. Murphy wrote that 150 children die each month from neglect or child abuse, and the recent trial should draw attention to this fact.

When many Americans heard that 2-year-old Caylee Anthony was found dead in a Florida swamp, the social worker believes many were numb to the concept and viewed it as "just another episode in the reality show." However, for people like Murphy who work with neglected or abused children every day, the situation seemed all too real.

Murphy said she wants the public to understand that there are countless children who are locked in cages, burned as punishment and fed only a few crackers every day. The Anthony trial, she said, should be an indication that parents do not always act responsibly.

According to Murphy's organization Childhelp, the most common type of child mistreatment is neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse.  

POSTED BY: ec_admin - July 20th, 2011 at 03:53pm ( 0 )