Murphy, who is clinical director at ChildHelp, said 150 children mostly under the age of four die from abuse and neglect each month. ChildHelp is one of the largest nonprofit organizations created to help child victims of abuse and neglect.

“The drama in that Florida courtroom is nothing compared to the life or death situations that kids face every day,” said Murphy, referring to the Casey Anthony trial. “Although we hope that Caylee will still receive justice, perhaps her tragedy could be a spark in all of our lives to make a change for all the children who suffer unnecessary, tragic deaths.”

To learn more about how social workers help protect children from abuse and neglect visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Family Safety Website by clicking here.

Children play at Amazing Grace Children's Home in South Africa. Photo courtesy of AFP.

South African government officials fear child trafficking could increase during next year’s World Cup event . Schools will be closed between June 11 to July 11, and officials said more children could be recruited during this period to sell goods on the street or become prostitutes, according to this Agence France-Presse article.

The article also said a social worker saved 10-year-old Thato from prostitution. The Lesotho-born girl was brought to South Africa by a woman known as “granny” and sold into prostitution at age 8. Thato was taken to Amazing Grace Children’s Home.

The National Association of Social Workers is an opponent of child trafficking. To find out what NASW is doing to address this worldwide problem check out NASW’s Peace and Social Justice and Child Rights and Protection Web pages. There is also Better Care Network, a coalition of organizations and individuals who are concerned about children who don’t have good  family care. NASW member Jon Singletary, Baylor University assistant professor of social work, sits on the Better Care Network’s Faith-Based Organization (FBO) Outreach Committee.

Photo courtesy of KGET TV.

When an abused child dies, social workers are sometimes accused of not doing their job. That is why we commend KGET TV Channel 17 in California for its story on the intense process social workers must go through when investigating a child abuse report.

Here’s an excerpt:

“A social worker’s job is no doubt grueling and emotionally taxing as they are responsible for our most vulnerable community members is difficult and dangerous situations every day. On a regular basis social workers must make decisions for others that could mean the difference between life and death.”

For more information on how social workers help children and families go the National Association of Social workers Children and Families Web page or “Help Starts Here” section on Kids and Families.