CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT

Children are likely to be victimized violently in their own homes and on the streets. A survey of adolescent boys’ health revealed that one in eight high school boys had been physically and/or sexually abused. Forty-eight percent of physically or sexually abused boys said they had not talked to anyone about their abuse, and only 7 percent had discussed their abuse with a doctor. One in five high school girls surveyed reported that she had been physically or sexually abused. 65 percent of the girls said it happened more than once. Twenty-nine percent of girls who had been physically or sexually abused had not told anyone about the abuse.

Persons responsible for the child

Parents, guardians, foster parents, relatives, or other caregivers responsible for the child’s welfare.

The definition of child abuse

Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.

The definition of sexual abuse also includes:

The employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or The rape, and in cases of caretaker or interfamilial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.

Recognizing child abuse

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect. 

The Child: 

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance 
• Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention 
• Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes 
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen 
• Lacks adult supervision 
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn 
• Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home 

The Parent: 

• Shows little concern for the child 
• Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child’s problems in school or at home 
• Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves 
• Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome 
• Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve 
• Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs 

The Parent and Child: 

• Rarely touch or look at each other 
• Consider their relationship entirely negative 
• State that they do not like each other 

Types of abuse 

The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is important to note, however, that these types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected. 

Signs of Physical abuse

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child: 

• Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes 
• Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school 
• Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home 
• Shrinks at the approach of adults 
• Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver 

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

• Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury 
• Describes the child as “evil,” or in some other very negative way 
• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child 
• Has a history of abuse as a child 

Signs of Neglect 

Consider the possibility of neglect when the  child: 

• Is frequently absent from school 
• Begs or steals food or money 
• Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses 
• Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor 
• Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather 
• Abuses alcohol or other drugs 
• States that there is no one at home to provide care 

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

• Appears to be indifferent to the child 
• Seems apathetic or depressed 
• Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner 
• Is abusing alcohol or other drugs 

Signs of Sexual abuse

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child: 

• Has difficulty walking or sitting 
• Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities 
• Reports nightmares or bed wetting 
• Experiences a sudden change in appetite
• Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior 
• Becomes pregnant or contracts a veneer disease, particularly if under age 14 
• Runs away 
• Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver 

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child’s contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex 
• Is secretive and isolated 
• Is jealous or controlling with family members 

Signs of emotional Maltreatment 

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child: 

• Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression 
• Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example) 
• Is delayed in physical or emotional development 
• Has attempted suicide 
• Reports a lack of attachment to the parent 

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

• Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child 
• Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s problems 
• Overtly rejects the child

Abuse and neglect affect the way young people view themselves and the rest of the world. Many people who were abused as children find it hard as adults to like themselves or to trust other people.As children, they learned to expect very little from adults except pain. They may find it hard to believe that people can really care about them.Because of the long-term pain it produces, child abuse can have a serious impact on communities.

To deal with child abuse, we must recognize it and report it. Reporting child abuse can be difficult, but it is the first step toward stopping it. Many teenagers who are abused feel the only thing they can do is run away from home, which can cause more harm than good.

Abuse can and should be reported to teachers, guidance counselors, or law enforcement officers. Reports also can be made to child protective services, a unit of government that usually can be found in a local social services agency.

It is important to tell someone who can help you decide if there is abuse in your family. If you tell someone who does not believe or help you, tell someone else. It takes courage to ask for help, but if you are abused and you tell someone, things can change.