Approximately 3.2 million American children are abused each year. Child abuse was first recognized as a social issue in the early 1900s when children in the US were being treated like slaves. US laws were then passed to protect children from the types of abuse they faced in the late 1800s. There are several forms of child abuse including neglect, verbal, physical, mental/emotional, and sexual abuse. Each type can cause long term physical, psychological, and behavioral harm for victims. It is important to help prevent abuse by being nurturing parents, reporting any suspected abuse, and helping promote protection programs.
2. History Of Child Abuse Child Abuse was brought to an issue in the early 1900s. It was first invented in Great Britain. Children were treated like slaves back in the 1800s and the United States didn’t want children to go through the abuse that they were going through back than. The United States wanted a law about protecting children. (http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/137/Child-Abuse-History.html)
3. Abuse Law Reporting and Responding Maintaining records Protection Related Issues http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/a-z/child_abuse.html?DCMP=KNC-Child-Abuse&HBX_PK=child+abuse+law&HBX_OU=50 http://ardenreign.com/mgallolaw.com/_borders/gavel.jpg
4. What is Child Abuse? Neglect Verbal Physical Mental Sexual
5. Child Abuse Facts 1, 4690 children died from child abuse in 2005. Another 899,000 children were victims of child abuse 564,500 suffered neglect 149,000 were physically abused 83,500 were sexually abused 64,000 were mentally/emotionally abused Children age 3 and younger are consistently the most victimized group. One in 3-4 girls and one in 6 boys have been molested by the age of 18. 70-90% of the molesters are family members or close friends. http://cardinalmccloskeyservices.org
6. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 905,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006. http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm
16. How Physical abuse effects a child Long- Term Physical disabilities Problems with relationships On going emotional problems Feeling of low self-esteem Depression
17. How to Identify Ignoring a child Rejecting Isolating Corrupting Verbally assaulting Terrorizing Neglect
18. How Mental/ Emotional abuse effects a child Long- Term Low self-esteem Insecure Shame Poor development Anger
20. How to Identify Touching sexual offenses Non-touching sexual offenses Sexual exploitation Direct disclosure Indirect methods
21. How Sexual abuse effects a child Long- Term Psychological problems Social Problems Physical complaints Eating disorders Over irritation Denial and repression Re-experiencing
23. How it Effects Children Anti social and self-destructive behavior Academic difficulties Depression Attention Problems Suicide
24. Help Prevent Child Abuse Be a nurturing parent Help a friend, neighbor, or relative Help yourself If your baby cries… Get involved Promote programs in school Monitor your child’s television and video viewing Report suspected abuse or neglect volunteer
25. ABUSE is not ok! What abuse does to someone How abuse eventually starts
26. Get INVOLVED? Decide whether or not to get involved www.abuseandviolenceresourcecentre.com
28. What you can do to help The most important thing you can do is to listen without judging, respect their decisions, and help find ways to become stronger and safer!!! www.abuseandviolenceresourcecentre.com
29. WHAT NOT TO DO When talking to someone is being abused, some things may not help, or may stop them from wanting to confess to you fully. www.abuseandviolenceresourcecentre.com
30. Help to Increase their safety It is important to think about how he or she can be protected from the abuser!! www.abuseandviolenceresourcecentre.com
Notas do Editor
In 1999, an estimation of 3,244,000 children were reported to Child Protective Services for Child abuse.
Child abuse branch off from Child labor back in the 1800s. They have children from the age of six working in factories. Children were not treated well, overwork, and underpaid. Many children died working because they weren’t given breaks. Many children were neglected. If any child was late for a responsibility they had to do or disrespected some one, they would be physically abused.
Child abuse is broadly defined in many states as any type of cruelty inflicted upon a child, including mental abuse, physical harm, neglect, and sexual abuse or exploitation. The specific crimes charged in instances of child abuse can include assault and battery. In many states, certain individuals and caregivers are required by law to report suspected child abuse. State Laws on Child Abuse and NeglectAll States have enacted laws and policies that define State roles and responsibilities in protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. Issues addressed in statute include mandatory reporting, screening reports, proper maintenance and disclosure of records, domestic violence, and other issues.
Child abuse affects many children of all ages. Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones. Child abuse is harm to, or neglect of, a child by another person, whether adult or child. Child abuse can be physical, emotional - verbal, sexual or through neglect. Abuse may cause serious injury to the child and may even result in death.
Every six hours a child dies in the united states due to child abuse. Child abuse is increasing in America. In 2005, more than 3.5 million children reported as a victim of child abuse. One out if every four children die because their bodies can no longer put up with the abuse. Child abuse is proven that it kills more children in America than accidental falls, choking on food, suffocation or fires in the home,. There are many innocent children who are living in a home where abuse is a daily routine part of their life. More than eight out of ten abused children are abused by their own parents. What is sad to say that infants under one year of age are the most common deaths. If one child in the family is being abused than most likely the other children are too.
The effects of child abuse and neglect is often discussed in terms of physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences. Physical consequences, such as damage to a child's growing brain, can have psychological consequences such as emotional difficulties. Psychological problems often consist as high-risk behaviors. Depression and anxiety may make a person more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, or overeat. High-risk behaviors can lead to long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, and obesity.
Neglect is the hardest type of abuse to define. Neglect occurs when a child or teen doesn’t have adequate food, housing, clothes, medical care, or supervision. Neglect can only happen when a parent does not support their child. Emotional neglect happens when a parent does not provide enough emotional support or pays little or no attention to a child. It is when they fail to provide for the basic needs of one or more dependent victims he or she is responsible for. It is neglect when an employed parent fails to care for their child enough. It is not neglect if a parent doe not give a child something he or she wants like a new computer or cell phone.
When children are not given basic needs of life, they suffer from neglect. Neglect consist of many forms. A neglected child may be deprived of proper food, medical care, and shelter. More ways to identify neglect abuse is when the child wears unsuitable clothing for the weather, their appearance is dirty or not bathed, extreme hunger, and lack of supervision. Neglect may result in children who are too thin. Constant drowsiness, illness, or poor dental care can also be considered child neglect. I talked to a teacher who knew someone who was neglected. She always told me that if I thought someone was being abused than I should report it. She told me that she had a student who was abused. He was younger and very thin. He would always ask when snack time was and instead of paying attention in class he would always try to sneak food. After awhile of the same behavior and reported it and the child’s house was invested and they food out that the child ws being deprived of food.
The effects of child abuse and neglect is often discussed in terms of physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences. Physical consequences, such as damage to a child's growing brain, can have psychological consequences such as cognitive delays or emotional difficulties. Psychological problems often consist as high-risk behaviors. Depression and anxiety may make a person more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, or overeat. High-risk behaviors can lead to long-term physical health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, and obesity.
Verbal abuse occurs when one person uses words and body language to inappropriately criticize another person. Verbal abuse often involves “put downs” and name calling intended to make the victim feel they are not worthy of love or respect, and that they do not have ability to show their talent. Verbal abuse is dangerous because it is often not easily recognized as abuse, and therefore it can go no for extended periods of time, causing severe damage to the victim’s self-esteem and self-worthy. The damage to the victim may fail to take advantage of opportunities that would improve their lives because they come to believe they are not worthy of those opportunities.
Verbal abuse is hard to identify but you would be able to tell by the way the child acts when you talk to them. If you tend to raise their voice and the child looks scared more than they normally would than most likely they are experiencing verbal abuse. Often a verbal abuser is sensitive to outsiders finding out about the abuse and is very careful to save scenes for when they are at home. Many verbal abusers are delightful and charming in public. They will treat their children as if they were an extremely perfect family. They save the cruelty for a private audience of one.
Verbal abuses destroys children's confidence. They will have extremely low self esteem. Verbal abuse causes anxiety because the child has yet to overcome the situation they were in. The child has kept the truth in so long that they never know what to do and they don’t know how to make the right choices. After a while of being verbally abused, they might start to think that it is the right thing to do. Some children who don’t get help have a lot of anger built inside of them and they take it off on the wrong people. Depression is caused by the child being alone is having no one to talk to because their parents kept them away from everyone for a long time. The child might be uncommunicative because they are afraid to hear their voice out loud and that they might say the wrong thing.
Physical abuse occurs when one person uses physical pain or threat of physical force to intimidate another person. It is the most often easily spotted of abuse. Physical abuse may involve the insignificant threat of physical violence if the victim does not comply with the wishes of the abuser and still be considered physical abuse. People can die from the injuries they sustain while being physically abused.
Physical abuse is the most visible form of child abuse or maltreatment because physical indicators are the first to be noticed. The first step to eliminating child physical abuse is to acknowledge that it occurs. The next step is to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms in order to determine if a child is being abused. There are several factors to be considered in raising the question of possible physical abuse like the child has fear of adults, anti-social behavior, unexplained marks, problems in school, and disagreement of the injury. Physical abuse consists of anything one person does to another that causes physical pain. This includes slapping, pinching, punching, pushing, throwing objects at another person, assaulting someone with an object or anything that brings about physical pain or discomfort to another. Physical abuse can result in bruises, black eyes, knocked out teeth, broken bones, internal organ injuries, miscarriage, brain concussions, and even death. Many victims of physical abuse become experts at hiding the abuse from others. They also become experts at coming up with excuses for their bumps, bruises or broke bones if they are ever discovered and asked about them.I talked to a child who was physically abused by her father. When she came in contact with him, she said she would back away because she was afraid and she would avoid eye contact with him. She said that one of her teachers found out she was being abused because she had spilled something on her shirt. She asked the teacher for her help and the teacher gave her an extra shirt. She took off her shirt and she had an undershirt on but you could see around her neck and the teacher seen the bruises. The teacher reported it to a counselor and the truth finally came out.
Mental abuse often contains strong emotionally slick content designed to force the victim to comply with the abuser’s wishes. Mental/ Emotional abuse happens when yelling and anger goes too far or when parents constantly criticize, threaten, or dismiss kids or teens until their self-esteem and feeling or self-worthy are damaged. Emotional abuse is designed to cause emotional pain to victims or to “mess with their heads” in attempts to gain compliance and counter any resistance. Emotional abuse can hurt and cause damage just as physical abuse does.
Child physical abuse damages children both physically and emotionally. The longer physical abuse of a child continues, the more serious the consequences. The starting effects of physical abuse are painful and emotionally traumatic for the child. The long-term consequences of physical abuse impact on the child in their adult life, on their family and on the community.In some situations, physical abuse results in the death of the child.Studies of physically abused children and their families indicate that a significant number of physical and psychological problems are associated with child physical abuse. Abused children compared with non-abused children may have more difficulty with academic performance, self-control, self-image and social relationships.
Ignoring a child can either be physically or psychologically. It’s when the parent or caregiver is not able to respond to the child. The parent will probably never look at the child or call them by their name. Rejecting the child is a refusal to respond to the child’s needs.Isolating the child is when the parent or guardian prevents the child from having normal social interactions with peers, family member, and adults.Corrupting a child is when a child is taught to encourage or forced to develop inappropriate or illegal behaviors.Verbally assaulting involves constantly belittling, shaming, or verbally threatening the child. When terrorizing a child is when the parent or caregiver threatens or bullies the child and creates a climate of fear for the child.When the parent or guardian fails or refuses to provide the child with necessary educational services, mental health, or medical problems, its considered neglecting the child.
Low self-esteem, insecurity, shame, poor-development, and anger are effects of long term emotional abuse. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Many of us was talk this saying when we were younger, Emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving psychological scars.
Sexual abuse is any type of sexual contact between an adult and anyone younger than 18 or between a significantly older and younger child. Sexual abuse also occurs if one partner has agreed to a certain level of sexual activity and another is forced upon them. If a family member sexually abuses another family member it is called incest. Molestation, incest, inappropriate touching with or without intercourse, and a partner or date rapes are all instances of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse id often coupled with physical abuse or threatens of physical abuse and emotional abuse. Sexual abuse is basically if anyone overpowers another person in a sexually uncomfortable way regardless of their age. Children or adults are both sexually abused doe to any sort of unwanted sexual contact on a victim by an abuser.
You can identify an abuser because they will often threaten harm to their victims or to someone or something their victim cares about in order to compel the victims silence about the sexual abuse or to convince the victim that he or she “asked for it” in some way. The effects of child abuse are depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, and physical injuries. A family member or someone normally does sexual abuse close to him or her. You can identify child sexual abuse if you see someone pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual contact against the child, physical contact with the child’s genitals, viewing of the child’s’ genitals without physical contact, or using a child to produce child pornography.
Psychological problems may be fears, panic attacks, sleeping problems, nightmares, irritability, outbursts of anger and sudden shock reactions when being touched. It can also be little confidence, and self-respect, and respect for one’s own body may change. Many problems like harm to the body, addiction to alcohol and other substances, excessive work or sports, depression, self-destruction, and prostitution may occur. Social problem could be that they have little confidence in other people and fear of loss of control in relationships. Physical complaints may be abdominal pain, stomachache, nausea, headache, back pain, painful shoulder, and chronic pains can occur.Eating disorders often occur in sexually abused people. Over irritation is when they are easily affected, hot-tempered, jumpy, excessively alert, and they don’t fall asleep easily. Denial and repression is when they deny or repress the harm events. They don’t want to talk about or avoid certain situations. Re-experiencing is when they experience the events again. They are confronted with memories of the abuse.
If you suspect child abuse, you should get involved by helping the child find a way out to get out of that information. If you feel that it is not your placed to get involved in that type of situation, you should at least do the right thing by contacting child services or calling you local police station. Many children are still being abused today and if people know others who are being abused than they should do the right thing and get involved. Imagine if you were being abused or someone you know was abused, how would that make you feel.
Children are suffering by trying to understand the situation and why the abuse is happening. Children will blame themselves for what is happening and they shouldn’t be. They are not asking to be abused. Children experience the same kinds of thoughts when they suffer abuse, except they are much more immature and often make much less sense because the violence is occurring in their own family, and nothing makes sense in that situation. The most reported effects that have abuse has on a child is academic difficulties, aggressive behavior, alcohol and/or other drug abuse, anxiety, attention problems, bad dreams, bed wetting, behavior problems, chronic pain, compulsive sexual behaviors, concentration problems, dangerous behavior such as speeding, dehydration, depression, eating disorders, fear or shyness, fear of certain adults or places, frequent injuries, learning problems, lying, panic behaviors, headaches and stomach aches, running away, self neglect, sleeping disorders, social withdrawal, stealing, stuttering, and suicide attempts. Abuse increases the risk of all of the symptoms. Children are supposed to learn everything they need to live in this world from their caretakers. Abusive parents provide the opposite for their children.
Children need to know that they are special, loved, and capable of following their dreams. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand by taking care of the children, so the parents can rest or spend time together. When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control, take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid. It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry, Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby. Shaking a baby may result in serve injury or death. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library, and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families. Teaching children, parents, and teachers prevention strategies can help keep children safe. Watching violent films and TV programs can harm young children. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call your local department of children and family services or your local police department. For information about volunteer opportunities, call 1 800 CHILDREN
Family Violence cab affect anyone. It can happen in any kind of family. Sometimes parents abuse each other, which can be hard for a child to witness. Some parents abuse their kids by using physical or verbal heartless as a way of discipline. Abuse doesn’t just happen in families. Bullying is a form of abusive behavior. Bullying someone through pressure, threats, or humiliation can be as abusive as beating someone up. People who bully others may have been abused themselves. People also abuse people who they are dating. Being abused is no excuse for abusing someone else. Abuse can also be directed to people because of their race, religion, abilities, gender, or sexual orientation.
Many people worry that they will be interfering if they get involved or that it is a private matter. Our support can make a difference. You might risk some embarrassment if you get involved. If you approach them sensitively, without being critical, most children will open up to you, even if they are not ready to talk about their situation.
Approach the child in a sensitive way. You need to show that you are concerned and that they need help. They may not be ready but they need to know that someone is there for them. They will have little trust in you but at least you are there to help. Don’t push them into talking if they are uncomfortable, just let them know that you are there if they want to talk.
Listen to what he or she has to sayBelieve what he or she tells youTake the abuse seriouslyHelp him or her to recognize the abuseTell them you think they have been braveHelp them build confidence in themselvesHelp them understand that the abuse is not their faughtHelp protect themselvesHelp them with what they can doOffer assistanceRespect themMaintain contactTell about services availableKeep supporting
Don’t blame them for the abuseDon’t keep trying to work out the reasons for the abuseDon’t be criticalDon’t’ criticize othersDon’t dive adviceDon’t pressure
Help them if they want to leave and confessAgree on a code word or signal if needed helpFind ways to leave quicklyHelp prepare escape bagContact police
