President Signs Protect Our Kids Act Into Law - Northern Michigan's News Leader

A Bill signed into Law by the President this week, aimed at ending child abuse, was written by a Congressman from Michigan.

The Protect Our Kids Act of 2012, will appoint a Commission to study deaths from child abuse and neglect.

Current statistics show that 2,000 children die every single year from child abuse; 82% of those children are under the age of 4.

But, there is a larger number that goes un-reported.

That is the reason, Congressman Dave Camp co-authored the Legislation, to emphasize that deaths from child abuse and neglect are preventable and under reported.

     "The key to child abuse prevention in general...is awareness and then it's education.  And, people need to be aware that this is a problem," says Christal Wilcox Frost of Traverse Bay Area Child Advocacy.

The Center believes this Law is extremely important in educating parents on the signs of child abuse and how to handle certain situations, to prevent all forms of abuse.

     "It's a problem of humanity, you know?  So, now that the Nation is looking at it, we can have that support from our President, from our Politicians, to know that what we're doing prevention wise is the right thing," says Frost.

They are hopeful that having this Law will help the United States make progress toward eliminating this epidemic.