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Child abuse and neglect can
and does happen to anyone. It is important for every person to take child
abuse and neglect seriously, to be able to recognize when it happens,
and to know what to do next.
There are four types of child
maltreatment:
Neglect:
Neglect is the failure to
act on behalf of a child. It is an act of omission and is generally
characterized in three categories:
Physical Neglect:
Failure to meet the requirements basic to a child’s physical development,
such as supervision, housing, clothing, medical attention, nutrition
and support.
Emotional Neglect:
Failure to provide the support and/or affection necessary for the child’s
psychological and social development.
Educational Neglect:
Failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs.
Note: Cultural
standards of care in the community and poverty may be contributing factors
indicating the family is in need of information or assistance/resources.
Indicators of Neglect:
Physical Indicators of Neglect:
- Chronic uncleanliness or poor hygiene including lice, scabies, severe
or untreated diaper rash
- Untreated illness or injury
- Unsuitable clothing, missing key articles of clothing such as socks,
shoes, or a coat
- Height and weight significantly below age level
Behavioral Indicators of Neglect:
- Chronic hunger, tiredness or lethargy
- Begging or collecting leftovers
- Unusual school attendance (frequent or chronic absence, lateness,
coming to school early or leaving late)
- Assuming adult responsibilities
- Vandalism or delinquency
Abuse:
Abuse represents an action
against a child. It is an act of commission and is generally characterized
in three categories:
- Physical Abuse: The non-accidental injury to a
child
Physical
Indicators
Behavorial
Indicators
- Sexual Abuse: Any act of a sexual nature upon or
with a child. The act may be for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator
or a third party. This would, therefore, include not only anyone who
actively participated in the activity, but anyone who allowed it.
(Includes rape, touching, fondling, or involving a child in pornography)
Physical
Indicators
Behavorial
Indicators
- Emotional Abuse: Chronic or consistent attitude
or acts, which interfere with the psychological and social development
of a child. (Such as criticizing, insulting, rejecting or withholding
love from a child)
Physical
Indicators
Behavorial
Indicators
Indicators of Physical
Abuse
Physical
Indicators:
- Unexplained, chronic or repeated bruising
- Unexplained burns
- Other unexplained or repeated injuries
Behavioral
Indicators:
- Behavioral extremes (withdrawal, aggression, regression)
- Excessive fear of the parent or caregiver
- Unusual shyness, wariness of physical contact
- Attempt to hide injuries
- Depression, excessive crying
- Antisocial behavior, such as substance abuse, truancy or running
away
Indicators of Sexual
Abuse
Physical
Indicators:
- Somatic complaints, including pain and irritation of the genitals
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Pregnancy
- Bruises or bleeding from external genitals, vagina or anal region
- Genital discharge
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothes
- Frequent, unexplained sore throats, yeast or urinary infections
Behavioral
Indicators:
- Poor peer relationships, inability to relate to children of same
age
- Regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking, bedwetting, fear
of the dark
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Promiscuity or seductive behavior
- Aggression or delinquency
- Truancy or chronic running away
- Prostitution
- Substance abuse
- Reluctance to participate in recreational activity
- Recurrent nightmares, disturbed sleep patterns, or fear of the
dark
- Sudden decline in school performance
- In young children, preoccupation with his/her sexual organs, his/her
parents’ or other children’s
Indicators of Emotional
Abuse
Physical
Indicators:
- Eating Disorders
- Speech disorders, such as stuttering
- Weight or height significantly below the norm
- Flat or bald spots on infant’s head
- Nervous disorders such as hives, rashes, facial tics, or stomachaches
Behavioral
Indicators:
- Habit disorders, such as biting, rocking, head banging
- Regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking, “baby talk”
etc.
- Poor relations with peers
- Self-Isolation
- Cruel behavior to other children or animals
- Substance abuse, excessive risk taking, suicide attempts, prostitution,
delinquency
- Fire setting
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