Every year in the U.S., 60% of children are exposed to violence, crime, or abuse.Let that sit for a moment. Six in ten. And of those: More t
Every year in the U.S., 60% of children are exposed to violence, crime, or abuse.
Let that sit for a moment. Six in ten.
And of those:
More than 1 in 9 have witnessed family violence in their own homes.
1 in 5 have witnessed a parent being assaulted.
This isn’t a distant crisis.
This is happening in homes, neighborhoods, and communities across the nation.
💔 What Exposure to Violence Does to a Child
When a child sees harm, it rewires their world. It teaches them the following:
“Love means pain.”
“Home isn’t safe.”
“My feelings don’t matter.”
“I have to protect myself—even if I’m only 6 years old.”
And that kind of early exposure can leave a lasting mark:
Physical health issues
Emotional dysregulation
Anxiety, depression, or dissociation
Aggression or withdrawal
Difficulty trusting others
Problems in school or with authority
This is not just trauma.
This is a slow, silent theft of childhood.
🧾 The Financial Cost Is Massive—The Human Cost Is Greater
According to the CDC, the long-term effects of early abuse, violence, and trauma come with an estimated annual cost of $600 billion in the United States.
Let’s be clear:
That’s $600 billion to treat something that could have been prevented—if children were protected.
But what number could ever measure:
A child’s lost sense of wonder?
A teen’s quiet shame?
A grown woman’s lifelong anxiety that began at age 7?
The real cost of unaddressed childhood trauma cannot be measured in dollars.
It’s measured in generations lost to survival.
🌱 What We Must Say, Show, and Do
We must stop telling children to “be strong” and start building environments that are safe.
We must:
Teach children that they deserve safety, not just obedience.
Make it clear that violence in the home is never normal—and it is never their fault.
Listen when they say something feels wrong.
Believe them the first time.
Challenge any system, ideology, or adult that teaches children to stay silent while they suffer.
🕊️ Safety is Sacred. And Children Deserve Sacred Things.
Children cannot—and should not—be expected to protect themselves.
That’s our job.
If we want healthier families, schools, and communities, we must invest in prevention, protection, and healing at the root.
Because safety is not a luxury.
It is a birthright.
📍 rosaschildren.com | For safe adults who believe childhood should be sacred—not negotiable.
Gratitude and Appreciation to TVONE for serving information to the community embedded in the programming. A million thanks. #FatalAttractionFacts