![ode[2]sokka's avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/53/30/79101064233053_flip.png?t=1226939073_6.00_11)
F.A.Q.'s About Child Abuse
What exactly is Child Abuse?
Many places definie child abuse causing or permitting any harmful or offensive contact on a child's body; and, any communication or transaction of any kind which humiliates, shames, or frightens the child. Some child development experts go a bit further, and define child abuse as any act or omission, which fails to nurture or in the upbringing of the children.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines child abuse and neglect as: “at a minimum, any recent 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, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” A child of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background can fall victim to child abuse and neglect.
Can you be a bit more speciffic?
Basically, Child Abuse is any act preformed- or that was necessary but wasn't preformed- by anyone who should be caring for the child- be it a parent, grandparent, babysitter, older sibling, someone close to them, or someone the child doesn't know at all- that harms them physically, mentally, emotionally, or even sexually.
Can you define each type for me?
According to this site, each of the types of abuse can be defined as follows:
Many places definie child abuse causing or permitting any harmful or offensive contact on a child's body; and, any communication or transaction of any kind which humiliates, shames, or frightens the child. Some child development experts go a bit further, and define child abuse as any act or omission, which fails to nurture or in the upbringing of the children.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines child abuse and neglect as: “at a minimum, any recent 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, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” A child of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background can fall victim to child abuse and neglect.
Can you be a bit more speciffic?
Basically, Child Abuse is any act preformed- or that was necessary but wasn't preformed- by anyone who should be caring for the child- be it a parent, grandparent, babysitter, older sibling, someone close to them, or someone the child doesn't know at all- that harms them physically, mentally, emotionally, or even sexually.
Can you define each type for me?
According to this site, each of the types of abuse can be defined as follows:
Physical Abuse:
The inflicting of physical injury upon a child. This may include, burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming a child. The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child, the injury is not an accident. It may, however, been the result of over-discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age.
The inflicting of physical injury upon a child. This may include, burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming a child. The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child, the injury is not an accident. It may, however, been the result of over-discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age.
Emotional Abuse:
(also known as: verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological maltreatment) Includes acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. This can include parents/caretakers using extreme and/or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet or dark room or being tied to a chair for long periods of time or threatening or terrorizing a child. Less severe acts, but no less damaging are belittling or rejecting treatment, using derogatory terms to describe the child, habitual scapegoating or blaming.
(also known as: verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological maltreatment) Includes acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. This can include parents/caretakers using extreme and/or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet or dark room or being tied to a chair for long periods of time or threatening or terrorizing a child. Less severe acts, but no less damaging are belittling or rejecting treatment, using derogatory terms to describe the child, habitual scapegoating or blaming.
Sexual Abuse:
The inappropriate sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider) or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts.
The inappropriate sexual behavior with a child. It includes fondling a child’s genitals, making the child fondle the adult’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of a child (for example a baby-sitter, a parent, or a daycare provider) or related to the child. If a stranger commits these acts, it would be considered sexual assault and handled solely be the police and criminal courts.
Neglect:
The failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heat or coats). It may include abandonment. Educational neglect includes failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs, allowing excessive truancies. Psychological neglect includes the lack of any emotional support and love, never attending to the child, spousal abuse, drug and alcohol abuse including allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol use.
The failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection (heat or coats). It may include abandonment. Educational neglect includes failure to provide appropriate schooling or special educational needs, allowing excessive truancies. Psychological neglect includes the lack of any emotional support and love, never attending to the child, spousal abuse, drug and alcohol abuse including allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol use.
Other Forms of abuse:
Commercial or other exploitation of a child refers to use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others. This includes, but is not limited to, child labour and child prostitution. These activities are to the detriment of the child’s physical or mental health, education, or spiritual, moral or social-emotional development
Commercial or other exploitation of a child refers to use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others. This includes, but is not limited to, child labour and child prostitution. These activities are to the detriment of the child’s physical or mental health, education, or spiritual, moral or social-emotional development
Okay, so child abuse happens. Doesn't the government handle it?
While the American Federal Government does have a system in place, it is a flawed system. Many children fall through the cracks and don't get the help they need before it's too late.
Abuse and neglect may only be reported at the state or local level, not to the U.S. government. Most states have a toll-free hotline staffed by trained call screeners. When contacted, they will either open the case for investigation or log the report. Depending on available resources and the department's legal mandate, one report may not be sufficient to open a case, but a detailed report about a potentially serious case, or multiple reports (by different reporters), may suffice. At that point, someone from a legally designated agency will investigate the report. The investigators may determine there is no evidence of maltreatment, that there is evidence enough to offer support to the family in the home, or that there is evidence enough to remove the child from the home.
Some professionals who work with children are mandatory reporters. Each U.S. state and territory designates individuals, typically by occupational group, who are mandated by law to report child maltreatment. Such individuals often include health care workers, school personnel, child care providers, social workers, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals.
In any state, an adult in charge of a child who has actual knowledge of child abuse (for example, who sees a stranger, a friend, or a family member abusing the child), and fails to report the abuse, can be charged with one or more crimes. However, prosecutions under "mandated reporter" statutes remain uncommon.
While the American Federal Government does have a system in place, it is a flawed system. Many children fall through the cracks and don't get the help they need before it's too late.
Abuse and neglect may only be reported at the state or local level, not to the U.S. government. Most states have a toll-free hotline staffed by trained call screeners. When contacted, they will either open the case for investigation or log the report. Depending on available resources and the department's legal mandate, one report may not be sufficient to open a case, but a detailed report about a potentially serious case, or multiple reports (by different reporters), may suffice. At that point, someone from a legally designated agency will investigate the report. The investigators may determine there is no evidence of maltreatment, that there is evidence enough to offer support to the family in the home, or that there is evidence enough to remove the child from the home.
Some professionals who work with children are mandatory reporters. Each U.S. state and territory designates individuals, typically by occupational group, who are mandated by law to report child maltreatment. Such individuals often include health care workers, school personnel, child care providers, social workers, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals.
In any state, an adult in charge of a child who has actual knowledge of child abuse (for example, who sees a stranger, a friend, or a family member abusing the child), and fails to report the abuse, can be charged with one or more crimes. However, prosecutions under "mandated reporter" statutes remain uncommon.
