Did you know that....

in Colorado:

•In 2002, 27,889 children were reported as abused or neglected and referred for investigation.

•Of those, 7,570 children were substantiated as abused or neglected. Of these children, 44.9% were neglected, 25% were physically abused, and 11.8% were sexually abused.

•This figure is a 57% increase from 2000.

• In 2002, 25 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in Colorado.

Nationwide:

•1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.

•1 in 5 children is solicited sexually while on the internet.

•Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) are on children ages 17 and under.

Who are the perpetrators?

•30-40% of victims are abused by a family member

•Another 50% are abused by someone outside the family whom they know and/or trust; only 10% are abused by strangers.

• Most perpetrators don't molest only one child if they are not reported and stopped.
Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between one and nine victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims.

•An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.

There is a local non-profit organization that is on the front lines of the fight against child abuse. Known as SungateKids, this organization provides expert forensic interviewing services to child victims of abuse and to the agencies that investigate the allegations. Unlike law enforcement and social services personnel, however, the Forensic Interviewers at SungateKids are trained experts in the art and science of interviewing children. Their expertise makes the process less stressful for children and more effective for the investigative and judicial systems. In just the last year, SungateKids' Forensic Interviewers conducted approximately 700 interviews and SungateKids provided ancillary services and ongoing support to over 1,000 children and their non-offending family members.

I am nominating SungateKids to receive an award from YourHub. I believe in the work that they do, but even more than that, I believe in the thousands of children who have passed through their doors. Children like Hannah, who was holding her mother's hand when she was shot at point blank range by her ex-boyfriend; children like Sara, who was molested by a family "friend"; children like Jake, who was physically and sexually abused by his stepfather. For all these children, and thousands more, going to SungateKids and being able to tell their story to someone who knows how to hear it can make all the difference.

Most people have never heard of this worthy organization -- and too many people don't want to know about it. They want to pretend that child abuse -- particularly child sexual abuse -- happens to somebody else's children, in somebody else's neighborhood. But child abuse cuts across all lines and it happens in all neighborhoods. Helping SungateKids get this message out is the best way to protect our kids, and to help those who have already been hurt.

This award will help SungateKids, and it will help our community be a better place for children. Please help SungateKids bring truth, hope and healing to the children who need it most.