Child Maltreatment Among Children With Disabilities

In the United States child maltreatment is a common universal problem that can effect children of all ages (Fang, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012). Additionally, it is responsible for the main cause of mortalities among children who are the age of five years and younger with majority of the injuries inflicted by an adult caregiver (Schnitzer & Ewigman, 2005). Prior to the twentieth century, there were a number of non-governmental organizations committed to providing support to child abuse victims. However, due to the lack of resources by the organizations and state regulations, numerous children did not receive support and remained defenseless, hence “modern prosecutions for child abuse were virtually nonexistent” (Nelson, 2012, p. 191). Meanwhile, this put a lot of pressure on the federal government to get involved and help ensure that children who were victims of abuse would receive the proper aid and treatment. As a result, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is recognized as the first nationally passed bill regarding maltreatment and neglect of children. The purpose of CAPTA is to provide knowledge of child abuse awareness and administer state funding to programs available on a federal level. The objective of this paper is to discuss the impact of maltreatment on children, how maltreatment is a public health

If we protect children from harm they are more likely to grow up into confident members of society. Children with a disability are three times more likely to experience abuse and neglect and it’s up to us as practitioners to recognise the signs and symptoms to protect all children.

Child abuse is epidemic in many countries as well as the United States. It is estimated that every thirteen seconds a child is abused in some manner: physically, sexually, emotionally or by neglect (Friedman). Each year, there are over 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States involving more than 6 million children. Child abuse can be reduced with proper education of the parents and with greater public awareness.

The demographics of this population are broad and broken down into the categories of “victims” and “perpetrators”, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau, commonly known as the ACF (2012). The ACF reported that children in their first year of life experienced the highest rates of maltreatment, with a ratio of 24.4 per 1,000 children in that age bracket, in the United States (2012). This shows that the youngest children are the most vulnerable in the target population that CAPTA serves to protect. While children in their first year are the most vulnerable, it is also reported that children under the age of three make-up nearly 25% of the population of child maltreatment and abuse in the United States, and not only were these children more at risk of being abused, but also more at risk of fatality as a result of abuse. The ACF reported that in 2014, 71% of all child abuse and neglect fatalities were children under the age of three (2012). Age is an important factor in the demographics of mistreated children; however, there are other factors that can increase the likelihood of maltreatment, such as gender and race. Child abuse rates between boys and girls tend to be similar, yet

Every day children around the world are being abused by their parents, trusted adult, caregiver and peers. Children are constantly suffering when there are things that everyone as a community can do help them. Psychologists, social workers and the victims to childhood abuse have studied and worked together to establish precautionary measures to execute child abuse all together.

Child maltreatment has serious implications for social work, because of the difficulties in intervening or preventing the occurrence of child maltreatment. Social work’s primary missions involve improving human well-being and human potential and assisting the vulnerable populations. In cases of child maltreatment, social worker’s need to be able to effectively recognize and respond to incidents of child maltreatment; as well as, effectively identify the causes of child maltreatment in order to treat and prevent it.

Maltreatment of Children With Disabilities is not a topic that is intensely covered in textbook, however it is a serious public health issue. Child maltreatment is a disturbing social problem in American culture. There are currently four categories of child maltreatment that include: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment. The term “disability” is used broadly and includes physical, mental, and emotional deficiencies. According to the textbook, results have shown that the rate of child maltreatment was

The maltreatment of children occurs at extraordinarily increasing proportions and is becoming a significant health risk to the children it is happening to. One of the major public health concerns should be identifying the risk factors associated with the maltreatment of these children and the just how much resistance these children really have against this abuse. Regardless of how much elasticity the general public in a whole may think these children have against maltreatment, they are still at a major risk of having diminished or compromised psychological and physical health later in life as an adult and are also are at extreme risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children who were not subject to maltreatment are still

Child maltreatment is a sensitive subject to many. Child maltreatment is basically known as any type of abuse affecting the child. It is only defined as follows: the child is left with potential harm of health, developmental and survival processes, or behavioral dignity in relationships and trust (Norman 2). The issue of child abuse has negatively affected numerous home lives. This situation will affect each child differently, and children could be left with permanent and long-term damage (Norman 2). Children who have experienced abuse continue to hurt by experiencing long term physical, societal, psychological, and behavioral effects to deal with for years to come and quite possibly the rest of their lives.

Child and domestic abuse is a serious matter which needs to have additional focus, especially in this day and age. Abuse is most often causes harm to others. Abuse may either be verbal, emotional, or physical or times all three. In today’s society there are many different types of abuse including, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and neglect. All these types of abuse can affect people in multiple different ways, creating anywhere from short term to long term notable effects in the person suffering from abuse. Each and every day in the United States and all over the world thousands to tens of thousands of people are being abused by their partners, friend’s, parents, and other family members.

With child abuse and neglect being so prevalent globally, it is important to recognize why these types of maltreatment occur and is a relevant topic for all to explore. Many are interested in how child abuse and neglect affect the individuals who are victims as well as the use and efficacy of treatment procedures. Child abuse has serious physical and psycho-social consequences which adversely affect the health and overall well-being of a child. There are long-term consequences of experiencing these forms of maltreatment. Awareness and understanding needs to be brought to this devastatingly common crisis and the advancement of child abuse and neglect prevention needs to be encouraged.

This paper will present definitions of the terms: developmental disabilities and child abuse, followed by a description of prevalent risk factors that increase the likelihood of child abuse of CWDs. Issues related to forensic assessments and intervention strategies utilizing an ecological framework will precede the discussion that will present limitations found in the literature, in addition to, provide suggestions for future

Children all around the world are being abused or neglected everyday, and yet our society continues to ignore these children and their problems. According to the National Child Help Foundation, “A report of a child abuse is made every ten seconds” (Child Abuse). We ignore these things because, many times we are too worried about something materialistic, or even because we are stuck believing that someone else will solve the problem. Therefore, we allow children to be mentally, physically, and emotionally scarred starting in their development stage. “In one study, 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder (Child Abuse).” If children are attacked within their

     In 2012, an estimated 1,642 children died due to child abuse and neglect, which is 4.5 children every day (Fromm). Approximately 4 out of every 5 are under 5-years-old and children under 1 account for 2 out of 5 of all fatalities. Children under 5 are more likely to die from child abuse due to lack of ability to cope with abuse. Children’s bodies are more fragile and it is easier for an individual to physically harm a small child rather than older children who can somewhat fight back.

Although child abuse has soon become a more discussed issue, it is nothing new in today’s society. Dating back to ancient times, physical child abuse has always attributed to lives of people around the world. Approaching and understanding child mistreatment has changed as societies have modernized and progressed; whereas one thing remains an unalterable issue, child abuse happens constantly and continuously worldwide.