Wednesday, April 15, 2009
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month...
Today I will talk about something even more depressing and upsetting than taxes... child abuse. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families. What makes this even more pertinent is the sad fact that during times of economic stress like we are currently experiencing, rates of child abuse and neglect go up.
Child abuse is defined as any act to harm or to threaten harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.
Four Basic Types of Child Abuse:
There are more than two million reported cases of physical abuse or neglect in the United States each year (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect). The National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in the United States indicates that approximately 2,000 children per year die of child abuse and/or neglect. At least one in three girls (Russell, 1984) and one in seven boys (Finkelhor, 1985) are sexually abused by the time they reach the age of 18. In the vast majority of cases, sexual abusers are known to their victims. More than half of all sexual abuse occurs within the family. Offenders come from all economic, ethnic, racial, and educational backgrounds and religious traditions. They may be respected members of the community or church.
Studies show that child abuse occurs in 30 to 60 percent of family violence cases among families with children. A 1989 survey of 6,000 families found that 50 percent of men who assault their wives also abuse their children. Another frightening statistic, the Children’s Defense Fund estimates that 30 percent of abused children will abuse their own children, perpetuating the cycle of violence into the next generation.
Child abuse, like any type of family violence, does not discriminate. It occurs within every ethnic, religious and socio-economic background. It is most likely to happen when parents lack parenting knowledge and skills, are cut off from friends and family, have unmet emotional needs, abuse drugs or alcohol, were abused themselves or are going through a crisis.
Abused children tend to lack development in social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills. Many become dependent on drugs, get into legal trouble or become runaways. Girls tend to get into serious relationships at very early ages to escape their family life and often find themselves in abusive relationships all over again.
There are characteristics that are common to many abused children. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in a child, it is possible that the child has been abused in some way. They include mood swings, withdrawal or depression, bed wetting, eating problems, fear of adults, sleeping problems or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, frequent school absences or tardiness, bullying or aggressive behavior, and strange bruises, burns or bites
What should you do if you suspect child abuse?
Learn the warning signs of child abuse and how to report it. If you are a child care provider you are a mandated reporter. This means that you are obligated by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Even if abuse is only suspected, you must report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities immediately. Learn more about mandated reporting in Minnesota.
Some other resources to learn more about child abuse:
Its not just our legal obligation to be aware of and try to prevent child abuse... its the right thing to do for the children!
Today I will talk about something even more depressing and upsetting than taxes... child abuse. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families. What makes this even more pertinent is the sad fact that during times of economic stress like we are currently experiencing, rates of child abuse and neglect go up.
Child abuse is defined as any act to harm or to threaten harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.
Four Basic Types of Child Abuse:
- Physical abuse is the non-accidental harm of a child, including excessive corporal punishment, assault – shaking - slapping – burning or scalding – kicking – strangling
- Neglect is maltreatment or negligence that harms a child’s health, welfare or safety, physical, emotional, or educational neglect through such actions as: abandonment – refusal to seek treatment for illness – inadequate supervision – health hazards in the home – ignoring child’s need for contact, affirmation and stimulation – providing inadequate emotional nurturance – knowingly permitting chronic truancy – keeping a child home from school repeatedly without cause (depriving a child of education).
- Emotional abuse is the verbal assault or emotional cruelty, as well as: close confinement, such as being shut in a closet – inadequate nurturance – extreme discipline.
- Sexual abuse is defined as sexual contact between a child or teenager and an adult or significantly older, more powerful person. In addition to sexual contact, abuse can include: inappropriate verbal stimulation of a child or teenager – taking or showing sexually explicit photographs of or to a child or teenager – exposing a child or teenager to pornography or adult sexual activity.
There are more than two million reported cases of physical abuse or neglect in the United States each year (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect). The National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse in the United States indicates that approximately 2,000 children per year die of child abuse and/or neglect. At least one in three girls (Russell, 1984) and one in seven boys (Finkelhor, 1985) are sexually abused by the time they reach the age of 18. In the vast majority of cases, sexual abusers are known to their victims. More than half of all sexual abuse occurs within the family. Offenders come from all economic, ethnic, racial, and educational backgrounds and religious traditions. They may be respected members of the community or church.
Studies show that child abuse occurs in 30 to 60 percent of family violence cases among families with children. A 1989 survey of 6,000 families found that 50 percent of men who assault their wives also abuse their children. Another frightening statistic, the Children’s Defense Fund estimates that 30 percent of abused children will abuse their own children, perpetuating the cycle of violence into the next generation.
Child abuse, like any type of family violence, does not discriminate. It occurs within every ethnic, religious and socio-economic background. It is most likely to happen when parents lack parenting knowledge and skills, are cut off from friends and family, have unmet emotional needs, abuse drugs or alcohol, were abused themselves or are going through a crisis.
Abused children tend to lack development in social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills. Many become dependent on drugs, get into legal trouble or become runaways. Girls tend to get into serious relationships at very early ages to escape their family life and often find themselves in abusive relationships all over again.
There are characteristics that are common to many abused children. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in a child, it is possible that the child has been abused in some way. They include mood swings, withdrawal or depression, bed wetting, eating problems, fear of adults, sleeping problems or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, frequent school absences or tardiness, bullying or aggressive behavior, and strange bruises, burns or bites
What should you do if you suspect child abuse?
Learn the warning signs of child abuse and how to report it. If you are a child care provider you are a mandated reporter. This means that you are obligated by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. Even if abuse is only suspected, you must report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities immediately. Learn more about mandated reporting in Minnesota.
Some other resources to learn more about child abuse:
Its not just our legal obligation to be aware of and try to prevent child abuse... its the right thing to do for the children!
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 5:38 AM 
