Omarees Story

What Can You Do?

Child Abuse

Omaree Varela died when he was only 9

years old at the hands of his abusive
mother and father after reaching out to
the athourities not once but two times.
Around six monthes prior to his death, in
June of 2013, the young child called 911
for help that could have saved his life.
Sadly, the call was not prioritized and
Omaree never got the help he so desparatly needed. During the call, the parents
are clearly heard screaming and cursing at
Omaree, verbally abusing, and threatening to hurt him. Eight monthes before

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO MAKE

A REPORT?
Necessary Information

Child's name, address, and age

Parent's name and address
Nature of the abuse

Omaree took things into his own hands

and called for help, another call was
placed to the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) by a concerned
teacher suspicuios of abuse in the home.
After being arrested in December on
charges of child abuse leading to death,
Omarees mother, Varela-Casaus told
KOAT that the death of her child was an
accident and that she was only trying to
discipline him when she "kicked him the
wrong way" (Lafin).

You dont have to hit to

hurt.
By Keora Wodka

What Is Child
Abuse?

The Effects of Abuse on Children

Not only does abuse in some cases bring physical damage to the
child, but the emotional pain they face as well. The effects of abuse

Child abuse is when a parent or care-

effect each child differntly. Many children who are abused by a par-

giver, whether through action or failing to

ent or caregiver experience a constant fear of their abuser and the

act, causes injury, death, emotional harm

harm that person has and could likely again inflict upon them.

or risk of serious harm to a child. There

Child abuse is not usually a one time thing, rather it occurs regu-

are many forms of child maltreatment,

larly. Some children even develop eating disorders, sleep distur-

including neglect, physical abuse, sexual

bances, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, academic problems, sudden chance in

abuse, exploitation, and emotional

abuse. -Child Help

self confidence, social withdrawl and millions of other possible fallouts.

There are four types of child abuse:

The Harsh Truth

Physical, which is harm inflicted on

the child by the caregivers body (ex.

Facts About Child Abuse:

hitting, slapping, kicking, etc.)

Neglect, which is the absence of parental care to meet the childs needs
(ex. not feeding the child or providing
a place to sleep)

Emotional, which insists of degrading

actions or words twords the child (ex.
telling the child he or she is worthless)

Sexual, which involves the behavior

intended to meet the offenders sexual
needs.

Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the U.S.

As many as 80% of child abusers were abused as a child themself

Approximatley 18000 children a year become disabled as a result of their

abuse

Every day, at least 3 children are killed because of abuse or neglect by their

caregivers

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be abused before they turn 18

(Information from the American SPCC).