Until 1966, no laws existed to protect children from their parents or caregivers (MacMillan 703). The story of Mary Ellen McMormack was the beginning of a new train of thought in regard to children. “Mary Ellen,” as she is commonly known, was severely abused and neglected by her stepmother. MacMillan goes on to recount the efforts of a church worker who became aware of the abuse Mary Ellen was suffering and tried to intervene. Ella Wheeler attempted this intervention through the New York Police, who refused to help. After their refusal, Wheeler, who believed Mary Ellen was being treated like an animal, contacted Henry Berg, president of The Society of Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals. Berg agreed to investigate and Mary Ellen was found tied to her bed like an animal, neglected and brutally beaten by her parents (MacMillan 705). In 1874, Berg founded the organization, Prevention of the Cruelty to Children. Although this organization helped raise awareness against child abuse there were still no formal laws against it. As a result of this, efforts were made to write laws concerning the treatment of children. As of 1966, all fifty states had child abuse legislation and by 1986 every state but one required reporting of neglect. Forty-one states made explicit references to the reporting of emotional or psychological abuse (MacMillan 705). Although there are several laws that requiring reporting of child abuse very few of those reported cases are ever investigated.
