Rise in child abuse fatalities--and it's basically due to unemployed male caretakers (Binghamton, New York)

As a refugee from upstate New York, I can tell you with some assurance that the regional economy is a mess. Lots of manufacturing jobs have been lost over the past decade or so, and the only jobs replacing them are at the low-end of health care (nurse's aide, etc.) or fast food. Men don't want to go from big wages at the now shuttered steel plants to these low-wage service jobs. So moms are working while dads are unemployed. So something as got to give. Mothers in desparation are turning to these guys for "child care," and now we are seeing the fall out from that. It's all very nice that the social service agencies lecture moms on not choosing "convenience" in these issues, but when your mother works, your sisters work, and "high quality" daycare is hard to find and expensive, what is a young mom to do? You end up with the baby daddy or boyfriend who can't/won't get a job. Unemployed male "babysitters" are at very high risk of abusing children, and there seems to be no doubt that this demographic group is largely responsible for the upsurge in child abuse across the country--if not the world--not just in upstate New York.

Want more evidence? Here's the same trend in New Zealand:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/05/alarm-at-child-abuse-trend-canterbury.html

And Indiana:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/05/male-caretakers-common-thread-in-baby.html

And in Pittsburg, Seattle, and Columbus, Ohio:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/05/shaken-baby-injuries-rise-dramatically.html

And California: http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/04/child-homicides-soar-most-committed-by.html

And Australia: http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/03/silent-child-abuse-epidemic-is-growing.html

And Florida:

This study found that 200 children were fatally abused in the state in 2008--a 20% increase from 2007. At the same time, Florida's unemployment rate jumped from 4.1% to 6.2% in 2008, accounting for the loss of 339,600 jobs. So what connects the two?

Unemployed men between 18-30 who watch the children while the mother is at work are the most common abusers, according to the report. Crying, toilet training and feeding are the most common triggers of physical abuse in young children.

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/12/child-abuse-soaring-due-to-unemployment.html

The scholarly research backs up the recent data, too. This what Guteman and Lee have to say about the issue:

"The Role of Fathers in Risk for Physical Child Abuse and Neglect: Possible Pathways and Unanswered Questions" by Neil B. Guteman and Yookyong Lee.

http://cmx.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/10/2/136

Studies have reported that unemployed fathers are far more likely than employed fathers to physically abuse their children (Jones, 1990; Wolfner & Gelles, 1993). One study, using state-level aggregate data, found that states with higher proportions of nonworking fathers also report higher rates of maltreatment (Paxson & Waldfogel, 1999), although these researchers note that caution should be taken in generalizing such findings to individual-level behaviors. Some researchers have hypothesized that unemployment can lower the male breadwinner’s status within the family and that such loss in status might provoke a father to attempt to reassert his authority by engaging in physically abusive and violent behaviors toward the child and/or other family members (e.g., Madge, 1983; Straus, 1974). Studies have reported that fathers who have sustained heavy financial losses tend to become more irritable, tense, and explosive, which in turn increases their tendency to become more punitive toward their children (cf. McLoyd, 1990). It may be that economic losses are perceived as stressful, especially in an uncontrollable way.

But are unemployed dads abusing just from economic stress per se, or because they have been thrust into the role of being primary caretakers, a role that many are just not ready for, either because of nature or nurture? Again, from Guteman and Lee:

In one of the first studies directly examining fathers’ involvement and child neglect risk, Dubowitz et al. (2000) reported that fathers’ greater direct involvement with child care was positively linked with higher child neglect risk but that their involvement in other household domains was linked with lower child neglect risk.

So maybe what we need to do in upstate New York--and elsewhere--is stop assuming that the unemployed dad or boyfriend can "watch the kids" while mothers go to work. Maybe adequate, subsidized daycare or paid maternity leaves might work better. And maybe we need to stop with the radical role reversal experiment and get some of these dads back to work and out of the proverbial nursery.

Hat tip to Denom Shi.


http://www.wbng.com/news/local/97017994.html


Rise in Child Abuse Fatalities
By WBNG News
Story Created: Jun 23, 2010 at 6:17 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 23, 2010 at 8:14 PM EDT

(WBNG Binghamton) Three babies were murdered in New York this week.

An infant girl was severely injured in Binghamton.

In each case a young man was arrested.

Is there something connecting the crimes?

Action News has new details about a 20 year old Binghamton man accused of abusing a 6 month old baby.

Binghamton detectives say the infant's mom stepped out of her home at 2 Spring Forest Avenue for a little more than an hour to run some errands Tuesday.

When she came back, the mother noticed her baby girl was in distress and called 911.

Atif Fafuloziz is charged with first degree assault.

The child's skull was fractured.

Police say Fafuloziz had been convicted of felonies in the past including criminal mischief.

Some people in the neighborhood told us they believed he was a decent guy.

Police and abuse counselors say that's not necessarily a reason to leave a baby alone with someone.

Neighbors along Oak Street in Binghamton are disgusted to hear a 6 month old was physically abused.

This week, people across upstate were horrified by the murders of 3 other babies.

One in Bath and 2 in Oneida.

The suspects are all young men.

Experts say the economy plays a large role in the rise of child abuse.

"The increase in poverty definitely leads to more crimes against children and increased child abuse rates. And in our communities we are seeing unemployment rise," said Christie Finch with Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network.

The US department of Health and Human services reports 75 child abuse fatalities in New York State back in 2005.

In 2008, that number shot up to 107.

"The younger children are, the more vulnerable they are to severe abuse and often fatality. Because of their age, they often are more vulnerable and the caretakers are often the ones in the position that harm them," said Janette Cyganovich with Broome County Family Violence Council.
In abuse cases like the one where a 6 month old is left alone with a male caretaker, Binghamton police say abuse often comes down to a lack of bonding with the child.

Stress levels soar as they cannot get the baby to sleep or stop crying.

Police add that Fafuloziz did not have a lot of alone time with the child or the family, possibly clouding their judgment.

"Children learn violence techniques when they're young. If they're exposed to violence when they're young. It perpetuates through the life cycle," said Finch.

Christie with Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network says child care of convenience is not necessarily the best or safest child care for your child.

If you are in an abusive relationship, or know someone in an abusive relationship, you can call the Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network at (607) 772-0517.

Another option is the Broome County Violence Prevention Council at 607 778 2153.

Services are free.

Leigh Dana WBNG TV Action News.