Transcript Child Abuse Perry C. Hanavan • A Family Guide for Substance Abuse.

Child Abuse
Perry C. Hanavan
• A Family Guide for Substance Abuse
Child Abuse
• The physical or mental injury, sexual
abuse, 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
indicated that the child’s health or welfare
is harmed or threatened thereby (Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of
1974)
Types of Abuse
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Sexual
Physical
Emotional
Neglect
Reporting Abuse
• Laws in each state require school
personnel and child care staff to report
• No states require proof of abuse prior to
reporting
• Must report suspicions of maltreatment
• Teachers and others who report in good
faith are immune from legal action
Schools & Defense Against Abuse
1. Serve as a referral agency to child protection
agencies—reporting suspected abuse as
required by law
2. Serve as an educational institution offering
parent education, family-life education, and
home visitations to adults and students
3. Serve as a support system for families and as a
collaborator with other agencies in providing a
total protection system
Who Reports Abuse
• 70% of children abused probably come in
contact with schools or child care centers
• In 2002, more than one-half (57 percent) of all
reports made to CPS agencies came from
professionals who came in contact with the child.
• Teachers (16 percent of all reports);
• legal, law enforcement, and criminal justice
personnel (16 percent);
• social services workers (13 percent); and
• medical personnel (8 percent) were the most
frequent sources of reports.
Abuse Stats
• Each week, child protective services (CPS)
agencies throughout the United States receive
more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse
or neglect.
• In 2002, 2.6 million reports concerning the welfare
of approximately 4.5 million children were made.
• Neglect (60 percent) meaning a caretaker failed to
provide for the child's basic needs.
• physical abuse (nearly 20 percent)
• sexual abuse (10 percent)
• Emotional abuse (7 percent) which includes
criticizing, rejecting, or refusing to nurture a child.
• Nearly four children die every day as a result of
child abuse or neglect (1,400 in 2002).
National Center on Child Abuse
and Neglect
• NCCAN was created in
1974 by public law
• NCCAN disseminates
information via the
Clearinghouse on Child
Abuse and Neglect
• http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov
Victims
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51% White
25% African Americans
15% Hispanic
2% American Indian/Alaskan
Natives
• 1% Asian/Pacific Islanders
Victims
• Reduces with age
– 15.7 per 1000 birth to three years of age
– 5.7 per 1000 16 to 16 years of age
• Gender
– Physical and emotional abuse similar for
males and females
– Sexual abuse, four times as many females
Who Abuses Children?
• 84% abused by parents
• Mothers responsible for:
– 32% of physical abuse
– 47% of neglect
• Fathers responsible for:
– 22% of sexual abuse
• Non-relatives responsible for:
– 29% of sexual abuse
Factors in Child Abuse
• Parents with potential to abuse
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Usually had deprived childhoods
Lacked consistent loving nurturing environment when young
Have a poor self-image
Spouses passive and perhaps unable to provide emotional
support needed
– Family may have isolated themselves and have little support
from others and the community
– Have poor expectations of children as they do not understand
child development
• Parents who regard a children as different
– Includes children with disabilities
• Stress situations that brings on a crisis
– Usually precipitating factor prior to abusive act that sets the
stage for parent to lose control
Neglect
• Child neglect occurs when there is failure to care
for the child’s basic needs
• Most frequently reported abuse
• Emotional neglect: refusal to provide
psychological help when child is in need or
allowing child to be exposed to abuse by others
• Physical neglect: may include medical neglect,
abandonment, or preventing runaway to return
home (these result in child’s inability to develop
fully)
• Educational neglect: occurs when parents
permit truancy, fail to ensure child attends
school, or meet special education needs
Signs of Abuse