About Child Abuse

Signs of Abuse

• WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT?
• Child abuse and neglect is a widespread problem in American society. A child of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background can fall victim to child abuse and neglect.
• Child abuse and neglect is defined as the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse of exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment: of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare
• Under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened

Physical Signs of Abuse

• • bruises, welts, or broken bones
  • cuts or scrapes
  • burns
  • missing hair
  • injuries or redness around the genitals
  • injuries at different stages of healing
  • injury or medical conditions that have not been treated
• BEHAVIORAL CHANGES:
• • aggressive or withdrawn
  • unusual fears, not going home, or fear of people
  • craving for attention
  • fatigue
  • lack of concentration
  • frequent tardiness or absence from school
• SIGNS OF ADULTS WHO ABUSE MAY:
• • harshly punish the child in public
  • refer to the child as a bad child
  • give conflicting stories about injuries
  • become defensive when asked about the child

Comparison/Nurture Wheel

• ABUSE OF CHILDREN VIOLENCE – pinching – hitting – kicking – pushing – twisting arms – choking INTIMIDATION - Instilling fear through looks, actions, gestures, property destruction - Using adult size - Yelling - Being violent to other parent, pets, etc. USING INSTITUTIONS - Threatening punishment with/by God, courts, police, school, juvenile detention, foster homes, relatives, psych wards USING ADULT PRIVILEGE - Treating children as servants - Punishing, bossing, always winning - Denying input in visitation and custody decisions - Interrupting ISOLATION - Controlling access to peers/adults, siblings, other parent, grandparents THREATS - Threatening abandonment, suicide, physical harm, confinement, or harm to other loved ones EMOTIONAL ABUSE - Put downs, name calling - Using children as confidants - Using children to get or give information to other parent - Being inconsistent - Shaming children ECONOMIC ABUSE - Withholding basic needs, using money to control behavior - Squandering family money - Withholding child support - Using children as an economic bargaining chip in divorce VIOLENCE – committing incest – sexual touching/kissing – sexualizing children’s behavior

  NURTURING CHILDREN Love and care for your children TRUST AND RESPECT - Acknowledge children’s right to have own feelings, friends, activities and opinions - Promote independence - Allow for privacy - Respect feelings for other parent - Believe your children PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SECURITY - Talk and act so that children feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves - Be gentle - Be dependable CARE FOR YOURSELF - Give yourself personal time - Keep yourself healthy - Maintain friendships - Accept love PROVIDE PHYSICAL SECURITY - Provide food, shelter, clothing - Teach personal hygiene and nutrition - Monitor safety - Maintain a family routing - Attend to wounds GIVE AFFECTION - Express verbal and physical affection - Be affectionate when your children are physically or emotionally hurt PROVIDE DISCIPLINE - Be consistent - Ensure rules are appropriate to age and development of child - Be clear about limits and expectations - Use discipline to give instruction, not punish ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT - Be affirming - Encourage children to follow their interests - Let children disagree with you - Recognize improvement - Teach new skills - Let them make mistakes GIVE TIME - Participate in your children’s lives: activities, school, sports, special events and days, celebrations, friends - Include your children in your activities - Reveal who you are to your children Love and care for your children