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What is Child Abuse?
CHILD ABUSE
UNDERSTANDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Child abuse has far-reaching negative effects on not just its victims, but society as well.
Survivors of child maltreatment are at greater risk for physical, emotional, work,
and relationship problems throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Nationally, the
highest rate
of child abuse is for
children under age one with 25.3% per 1,000
cases as compared to
San Bernardino County
which had a
rate of 30.7% substantiated
cases per 1,000 children
under
one years old. (americanspcc.org)
CHILD ABUSE
is defined as an act or
failure to act by a parent, caregiver,
or other person defined by state law
that results in
physical abuse
,
neglect
,
sexual abuse
,
emotional
abuse
, or presents an imminent risk
of harm to a child.
What is child abuse?
28.3%
of adults report being
physically abused as a child.
Physical abuse
of a child is when a parent or
caregiver causes any non-accidental physical
injury to a child. There are many signs of physical
abuse. If you see any of the following signs,
please get help right away.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
Physical abuse
includes striking, kicking,
burning, biting, hair pulling, choking, throwing,
shoving, whipping or any other action that
injures a child. Even if the caregiver didn’t mean
to cause injury, when the child is injured it is
abuse. Physical discipline from a parent that
does not injure or impair a child is not
considered abuse; however non-violent
alternatives are always available.
10.6%
of adults report being
physically abused as a child.
Emotional abuse
of a child is when a parent or
caregiver causes any non-accidental physical
injury to a child. There are many signs of physical
abuse. If you see any of the following signs,
please get help right away.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional abuse
includes striking, kicking,
burning, biting, hair pulling, choking, throwing,
shoving, whipping or any other action that
injures a child. Even if the caregiver didn’t mean
to cause injury, when the child is injured it is
abuse. Physical discipline from a parent that
does not injure or impair a child is not
considered abuse; however non-violent
alternatives are always available.
Child neglect
is when a parent or caregiver does
give the care, supervision, affection, and support
needed for a child’s health, safty and well-being.
Child neglect includes:
physical neglect and
inadequate supervision
,
emotional neglect
,
medical neglect
, and
educational neglect
.
Physical neglect
includes deserting a child or
refusing to take custody of a child who is under
your care, repeatedly leaving a child in another’s
custody for days or weeks at a time, failing to
provide enough healthy food and drink, failing to
provide clothes that are appropriate to the
weather, failing to ensure adequate personal
hygiene, not supervising a child appropriately,
leaving the child with an inappropriate caregiver,
and exposing a child to unsafe/unsanitary
environments or situations.
Emotional neglect
includes ignoring a child’s
need for attention, affection and emotional
support, exposing a child to extreme or frequent
violence, especially domestic violence,
permitting a child to use drugs, use alcohol, or
engage in crime, and keeping a child isolated
from friends and loved ones.
Medical neglect
includes not taking the child to
the hospital or appropriate medical professional
for serious illness or injury, keeping a child from
getting needed treatment, not providing
preventative medical and dental care,
and failing to follow medical recommendations
for a child.
More than
3/4
of all cases in the
U.S. are classified as neglect.
Educational neglect
includes allowing a child to
miss too much school, not enrolling a child in
school (or not providing comparable home-based
education), and keeping a child from needed
special education services.
CHILD NEGLECT
Sexual abuse
occurs when an adult uses a child
for sexual purposes or involves a child in sexual
acts. It also includes when a child who is older or
more powerful uses another child for sexual
gratification or excitement.
Sexual abuse
includes non-contact abuse,
making a child view a sex act, making a child
view or show sex organs, inappropriate sexual
talk, contact abuse, fondling and oral sex,
penetration, making chidlren perform a sex act,
exploitation, child prostitution, and child
pornography.
Types of Abuse
5
WWW.KIDSFIRSTFND.ORG
CHILDREN DIE EVERY DAY
DUE TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
80% of these children are under the age of 4
HOW YOU CAN HELP
KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF ABUSE
UNEXPLAINED
INJURIES
BEHAVIORAL
CHANGES
INAPPROPRIATE
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
LACK OF HYGIENE
OR PERSONAL CARE
CHANGES
IN A
C
ADEMIC
PERFORMANCE
FEAR OF HOME
OR CAREGIVER
REPORT ABUSE
WHEN YOU SEE IT
YOU CAN PREVENT
CHILD ABUSE!
If you have a reason to believe
a child has been or may be
harmed, call your local public
children services agency or your
local police department.
A child abuse report is made every
10 SECONDS
20.7%
of adults report being
sexually abused as a child.
SEXUAL ABUSE
NEGLECT
PHYSICAL
SEXUAL
MEDICAL NEGLECT
25%
50%
75%
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