In 2005, nearly 900,000 incidents of child abuse were reported to state agencies in the United States, according to the most recent federal figures.
It is easy to gloss over that number and overlook the fact that the figure tallies separate incidents of a child being hurt. Studies report that about 1,500 child-abuse fatalities occur annually.
The smaller number might be mentally more manageable, but remember, there are thousands of children in life-threatening situations at the hands of adults.
Another study reports that children living in households with unrelated adults are about 50 times more likely to die of inflicted injuries as children living with biological parents.
Those are frightening reports that must be taken as warnings.
In many cases of child abuse, the boyfriend of the child's mother was the alleged or convicted perpetrator, studies show. Scholars and social workers see the abusive-boyfriend syndrome as part of a broader, worrisome trend of greater risk of child abuse in nontraditional family units.
Brad Wilcox, a University of Virginia sociologist, said the higher risk is ``the dark underbelly of cohabitation,'' and that cohabitation often promotes relationships that aren't good for children.
Each family is different, and the compositions of family units are varied and changing.
As a society we still value the traditional model of parents and biological children; however, the diversity of family units ranges from single parents to unmarried adults with children, stepfamilies and homes with adopted children.
There are many successful parenting arrangements _ traditional or not _ that don't make news reports because they work.
Cohabitation is common. The U.S. Census reports that 30 years ago, nearly 80 percent of children lived with both parents; now about 65 percent do.
Of all families with children, nearly 29 percent are one-parent units, up from 17 percent in 1997.
In a recent Texas case, the mother and stepfather of a 2-year-old girl were arrested in connection with the toddler's death. The mother's attorney said her husband was overwhelmed by his sudden fatherhood.
Eliana Gil, clinical director for Childhelp, a national abuse-prevention group, said many cases of abuse are by boyfriends and stepparents who lack a relationship with the child and are primarily interested in their partner.
But mothers shouldn't be given a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Often, mothers are the first, best defense for children, and they are responsible for finding trustworthy baby sitters.
There is no room for doubt when it comes to finding child care, and single parents must realize that adults they see socially may not be ready, willing or capable of taking care of children.
The act and rates of child abuse are horrendous.
But we can heed the statistics of abuse and individual reports as reminders that children are vulnerable and need protection no matter what their family circumstances.
