Child Abuse and Neglect: Implications for Speech, Language, and Communication Development
Child maltreatment is a prominent issue in the United States. It is comprised of four fundamental categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse and neglect. The federal government has a basic definition of child maltreatment which includes minimal criteria stating that child abuse and neglect is “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 (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, 2010).” The definition issued by the federal government
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However, physical discipline, including spanking, performed on a child by a parent, guardian or custodian in a reasonable manner shall not be deemed abuse under this section. A neglected child is considered to be a child whose parent, guardian or custodian or any person responsible for his care or support, neglects or refuses, when able so to do, to provide for him proper and necessary care or support, or education as required by law, or medical, surgical, or other care necessary for his well-being; however, a parent who withholds medical treatment from any child who in good faith is under treatment by spiritual means alone through prayer in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination by a duly accredited practitioner thereof shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to be neglectful under any provision of this chapter; or who is otherwise without proper care, custody, supervision or support; or who, for any reason, lacks the special care made necessary for him by reason of his mental condition, whether …show more content…
The longer the duration or increased severity of abuse and neglect determines consequences on the child’s developing neurocognitive and psychological systems (Nelson, 2010, p. 199). The Fourth National Incidence Study of Abuse and Neglect, when compared to previous year’s data, reports that child maltreatment has generally declined. In addition, it was reported that child maltreatment was evident in 1.25 million children with neglect (61%) being more prominent than abuse (44%). Child maltreatment rates were more prevalent in the following: African Americans than Caucasians and Hispanics, children who have an unemployed parent, children who live in a low socioeconomic household, children whose parents have a live-in partner (unmarried), children who live in a larger family household, and children who live in rural areas (Sedlak, 2010, pp.
“ The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) … defines child abuse and neglect as, at 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."” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Administration for Children & Families, "Definitions of Child Abuse
Child maltreatment is physical or sexual or emotional abuse. the most common is negligence. This neglect would be in the form of a failure to provide basic needs which includes physical or emotional neglect; absence of intervention; emotional abuse; and mental mistreatment. Physical neglect is when a child doesn't receive proper food, education, clothing, food, sufficient shelter. Emotional is when a child doesn't receive attention or affection they need. Lack of intervention: lack of dental care
Child abuse and neglect is a big problem in the United States. Child abuse is sexual, physical, emotional, and even verbal maltreatment towards the children. When food, clothing, and shelter is not provided this is termed neglect. Many children in the United States are abused and neglected by parents, grandparents, guardians, and friends of the family. Many children suffer abuse such as beating, starved,
Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, through action or failure to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. According to The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, at a minimum, child abuse and neglect is defined as, "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 (Children 's Bureau, 2010)." The law recognizes a child as being any person who is under the age of 18. The law is broken into 2 sections, and each section treats the idea of child maltreatment in different ways. Criminally, those who abuse children are able to be arrested and prosecuted in court. Civil statutes say that people who suspect a child of being abused are mandated to identify and report it.
Children can be victims of different types of maltreatment such as neglect, medical abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse (Maschi, Bradley, & Ward, 2009). “On average, nationally, there is a report of child maltreatment every 5 seconds, and child maltreatment is substantiated every
The issue of child neglect is one of the most current forms of child maltreatment especially in the United States. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, child neglect is referred to as a kind of maltreatment which relates to the failure of a caregiver to offer the needed, age-appropriate care, despite the fact that the parent may be financially stable to do so (Conte 13). Neglect in many instances is described by an ongoing pattern that relates to lack of care and is observed by individuals in close contact with a child.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, emotional, and educational needs or to protect a child (ages 0-12) from harm or potential harm is defined as maltreatment (2015). Any words or action by a caregiver or parent that causes harm, potential harm, or threatens harm whether deliberate or intentional against a child takes the definition a step further (2015).
Child maltreatment has been a serious public health problem not just in the United States but globally. Maltreatment is defined as neglect which means failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, educational, or psychological needs. Physical abuse such as causing physical harm, sexual abuse, abuse that includes fondling a child’s genitals or breasts, and psychological abuse, such as verbal put-downs and other behavior that terrorizes, threatens, rejects or isolates the child. “According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), in 2007 approximately 794,000 children (10.6 per 1,000 children of all ages) were identified as victims of child abuse or neglect. Approximately one-half (46.1%) of all victims were non-Hispanic white, 21.7% were African American, and 20.8% were Hispanic. One-third (31.9%) were under the age of 4 years.” (Gross, 2010)
To conclude, the final form of abuse is neglect. Neglect is defined by the U.S. Department of Health as failure to provide, by those responsible for care, custody, and control of the child, failure to provide the proper or necessary support, education required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for the child’s well-being. Neglect is the leading cause of child abuse and covers a broad range of acts that are seen as child maltreatment. Neglect can be in the form of physical, emotional/ psychological, medical or education. Many of these seem to overlap other forms of abuse but can be distinguished when clearly defined. Neglect is the failure to provide, causing it to be more indirect than physical or sexual abuse.
There are many things in our society today that unfortunately go overlooked. One such thing that is overlooked is the number of children who are being abused. Unfortunately these children are going through life not knowing whether or not their parents will loose their temper and perhaps kill them. There are many types of child abuse, such as physical, sexual, and emotional. Physical abuse is physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting, burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child. Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent or caretaker such as fondling a child's genitals,
Child maltreatment: “Federal law defines child abuse and neglect as any recent act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to a child” (“Child Abuse and Maltreatment,”
Child abuse. Two words that should never have to be seen side by side. However, child abuse and neglect is a problem that affects millions of children each year in the United States. Every day, many children’s well-being and safety are harmed by the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect that parents and caregivers inflict upon them. Unfortunately, to wish otherwise would be the same as to wish for a perfect world. We must do the best that we can as a society with the power of the law on our side to help the innocent young victims of child abuse. We have a responsibility as human beings to do all that we can for these children. There are numerous definitions of what constitutes child abuse and neglect and they vary across time and the way our society grows. There are many ways to protect a child, but one of the best ways is to know and understand your state statute on child abuse and neglect. Each state is different in their guidelines, however, I am going to explain one state’s advantage and disadvantages that it may portray.
Let us first define what it means for a child to be maltreated. Child maltreatment includes neglect and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. (Christopher A. Mallet, 2012). Nearly 5 million calls were made to child welfare agencies throughout the United States in 2000 to report child abuse, and approximately 2 million of the children referred to in these calls were judged to be victims of child maltreatment (U.S Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2003.) Maltreatment may have a substantial impact on the current and future education of children and has been linked to lower cognitive functioning and academic achievement in children and adolescents (Eckenrode, Laird & Doris, 1993; Rowe and Eckenrode,
Child abuse and neglect have immediate and long-term consequences. In addition to negatively impacting the child, child abuse and neglect impacts the family, the school community, and even future generations. The ability to survive and be successful in the face of child abuse and neglect depends on a variety of factors, including the extent and type of abuse or neglect, whether it was continual or infrequent, the age of the child when abuse was initiated, the child’s relationship to the abuser, and how the abuse or neglect was responded to. Outcomes are also dependent on the child’s personality traits, inner strength, and the support the child receives from those around them. It is important to acknowledge that some children will not develop behavioral problems, so it cannot be assumed that a
The issue of child abuse and neglect is serious, controversial, and is escalating in today’s society. Many people are not aware, but child abuse is rampant in our society. Many child abuse and neglect cases go unreported because a person may not know the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect or perhaps the person or person may feel that this is an private issue and needs to be handle with in the home and no outsiders should be involved. Without the proper awareness of child abuse and neglect and the involvement of everyone this issue will continue to raise our eyebrows.