~ National Child Abuse Prevention Month ~

What is child abuse?

Child abuse takes many forms, physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, neglect, exploitation, and more. When we speak of child abuse, we normally first think of physical abuse, spankings, and whoopings, but the shocking truth is that neglect is the number one form of child abuse in America. More children die from neglect every year, than any other form of childhood maltreatment. Basically, any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation of a child, or an act or failure to act presenting an imminent risk of serious harm to a child.

There are several forms of child abuse. Check them out...

TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE:

• Physical Abuse: Physical hitting, unlawful corporal punishment or injury.
• Neglect: General and severe, lack of basic needs, malnutrition.
• Emotional Abuse: Causing psychological or emotional instability.
• Verbal Abuse: Yelling, screaming, belittling, bullying, cursing.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual assault, pornography, exploitation.
• Child Safety: Willfully harming or endangering a child, hot cars.
• Shaken Baby Syndrome: Shaking causes death or permanent brain damage.
• Domestic Violence: Dysfunctional or violent home or family.
• Substance Abuse: Parent or caregiver’s personal drug & alcohol abuse.
• Abandonment: Parent’s identity or whereabouts unknown, no support.

How can you tell if a child is being abused?

PHYSICAL INDICATORS:

UNEXPLAINED BRUISES AND WELTS:

• On face, lips, mouth
• On torso, back, buttocks, thighs
• In various stages of healing
• Cluster, forming regular patterns
• Reflecting shape of article used to inflict (electric cord, belt buckle)
• On several different surface areas
• Regularly appear after absence, weekend or vacation

UNEXPLAINED BURNS:

• Cigar, cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, back or buttocks
• Immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like doughnut shaped on buttocks or genitalia)
• Patterned like electric burner, iron, etc.
• Rope burns on arms, legs, neck or torso

UNEXPLAINED FRACTURES:

• To skull, nose, facial structure
• In various stages of healing
• Multiple or spiral fractures

UNEXPLAINED LACERATIONS & ABRASIONS:

• To mouth, lips, gums, eyes
• To limbs and buttocks
• To external genitalia

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS:

• Wary of adult contact
• Apprehensive when other children cry

BEHAVIORAL EXTREMES:

• Aggressiveness
• Withdrawal
• Frightened of parents
• Afraid to go home
• Reports injury by parents

PHYSICAL NEGLECT

PHYSICAL INDICATORS:

• Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress
• Consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities or long periods
• Constant fatigue or listlessness
• Unattended physical problems or medical needs
• Abandonment

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS:

• Begging, stealing food
• Extended stays at school (early arrival and late departure)
• Constantly falling asleep in class
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Delinquency (e.g. thefts)
• States there is no caregiver

EMOTIONAL CHILD MALTREATMENT

PHYSICAL INDICATORS:

• Habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking, etc.)
• Conduct disorders (antisocial, destructible, etc.)
• Neurotic traits (sleep disorders, speech disorders, inhibition of play)

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS:
BEHAVIORAL EXTREMES:

• Compliant, passive
• Aggressive, demanding
• OVERLY ADOPTIVE BEHAVIOR:
• Inappropriately adult behavior
• Inappropriately infant behavior

SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE

PHYSICAL INDICATORS:

• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
• Pain or itching in genital area
• Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vaginal or anal areas
• Venereal disease, especially in pre-teen’s
• Pregnancy

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS:

• Unwilling to change for gym or participate in PE
• Withdrawn, fantasy or infantile behavior
• Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge
• Poor peer-to-peer relationships
• Delinquent or run away
• Reports sexual assault by caregiver

Information Courtesy of the Department of Children and Families, NJ | 2014

CALL 911 IF YOU OR A CHILD ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER

NEED HELP?

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, trust your instincts and report it. If you see something, say something. Step up. Speak up. Stop it. Report it! You may save a child’s life, or from being inflicted with further harm.

If you or a child are in immediate danger, or if you are thinking of hurting yourself, your infant, or someone else, immediately call 911, your doctor, or reach out for outside help.

If you are looking for help with child abuse, sexual abuse, missing children, child exploitation,  parenting, being a first-time mom, teen pregnancy, fostering, adoption, crying baby, Shaken Baby Syndrome, human trafficking, or bullying, please use the hotline phone numbers on the right or the resources listed below.

HOTLINE & HELP PHONE NUMBERS:

In the U.S.: National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
In the U.S.: National Center Missing & Exploited Children 1-800-543-5678
In the U.S.: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
In the U.S.: National Parent Helpline® 1-855-4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)
In the U.S.: 24 hour Parent Helpline: 1-888-435-7553
In the U.S.: Adoption/Pregnancy: 1-800-ADOPT-11 (1-800-236-7811)
In the U.S.: Crying Baby Hotline: 1-866-243-2229
In the U.S.: Fussy Baby Warmline: 1-888-431-BABY
In the U.S.: Teen Dating Violence & Abuse: 1-866-331-9474
In the U.S.: National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
In the U.S.: National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
In the U.K.: Parentline: 0808 800 2222 or Lifeline: 0114 272 6575
In Australia: Parentline: 1300 30 1300
In Canada: Parent Helpline: 1-800-668-6868

Signing out...

Dr. Destiny Santiago aka Big Sister On Point