Child abuse in military families

Military children in abusive situations may be caught in a catch 22, according to recent Pentagon reports.

Talia’s Law, signed last year by President Barack Obama, requires military officials to on-base report child abuse reports to civilian authorities. It does not require civilian authorities to inform the military of off-base child abuse reports.

The law is named after Talia Williams, a military child who died in 2005 as a result of ongoing abuse from her father and stepmother. Talia’s father was a soldier stationed in Hawaii. While military officials were notified about the abuse, state officials were not informed.

Between Talia’s death in 2005 and the law’s signing in 2016, approximately 100 children have died as a result on child abuse occurring on military bases.

While this law has the potential to save lives, there are complications.

Many facets of military life are considered risk factors for child abuse and/or neglect. The relative youth of many military parents, as well as lengthy separations and distance from extended family can contribute to abusive situations. While illegal drug use is low among military families, there is an elevated level of alcohol use and abuse which is a risk factor. The stressors of deployment and resulting long-term effect can also contribute to domestic violence and/or child abuse.

Reporting child abuse, according to Article 128 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, can result in dishonorable discharge, imprisonment, and loss of pay.

For many military families, the service member’s salary is often the only source of income. Should child abuse by the service member be reported, and result in a conviction, the income and benefits from the military would be lost. That means the regular paychecks, housing allowance, health care, and support systems. Even without a conviction, there is the potential that reported abuse could lead to adverse fitness reports, lack of promotions, and leaving military service.

So child abuse may or may not be reported to the military police or the chain of command.

Families living off base would likely be reported to civilian authorities before the military becomes involved.

There are only a limited number of states that have mutual reporting laws on the books or in the works. This means that civilian agencies would inform military police about reported abuse. Fifteen states currently have laws requiring social services agencies to inform military commands. Nine other states are considering similar laws this year.

Social services agencies hesitate to inform the military about off-base abuse reports and allegations. There are policies against informing alleged abusers employers, and the US military is considered an employer

The military has treatment options and resources for suspected abusers.

There are family advocacy programs that will work with families to help find a better path. The Family Advocacy Program has 2,000 clinicians stationed at military bases around the world. They offer counseling services for victims, treatment programs for offenders, and prevention options for families.

Despite these programs, child abuse rates in the military have continued to rise.

In the last fiscal year, there were a reported 13, 916 incidents of child abuse or neglect. These amounted to 6,998 cases that met the military’s threshold for continued investigation; 4, 960 children were involved.

This is a rate of 7 cases per 1,000 children. There has been an increase from 5 cases per 1,000 children in fiscal year 2007.

Some cases involved exposure to unsafe conditions or lack of supervision.

This is a lower rate than in the civilian community. However, the factors cited above may cause cases of abuse or neglect to go unreported. Service members fear loss of employment opportunities or other consequences as a result of a report.

Advocating for military children in abusive homes is important.

It is vital that military treatment programs be informed of child abuse allegations against service members that occur off-base. The military does have options available to help treat child abusers, counsel victims, and prevent further incidents.

One way to report off-base abuse would be to directly involve Family Advocacy without going through the military police or chain of command. This would prevent risks to employment and allow families to seek confidential treatment solutions.

For states with reciprocal reporting laws or considering such laws, this could be an effective way to keep both agencies involved and advocate for the victims.

If you see or suspect that a military connected child is in an abusive or neglectful situation on or off base, please notify the proper authorities. It is vital that we all work together to protect the Kids of America’s Heroes.

Meg Flanagan M.Ed and K.O.A.H. Military Education Specialist

I'm a teacher, blogger, writer, runner, mother, and military spouse. I am passionate about helping ALL children learn, offering tips to guide parents through the K-12 education world, and providing useful advice to teachers of all ages and stages.Visit Meg's Blog at MilKidsEd.com

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