Early Indications For Child Abuse

Abuse usually occurs due to poverty, lack of education, marital problems, changing of environments, family violence, and lack of support from family members, loneliness, social isolation, unemployment and many other factors which also relates to non-accidental incidents by caregivers, parents, older adolescents or other adults that is not within the norms of conduct and whom necessitates a considerable risk of inflicting physical or emotional harm to a child. Incidents like this can be un-intentional but other people also intentionally abuse their child which includes commission and omission. Instead of coming home to a safe environment, 40,844 children are abused. Evidentially child abuse is a very serious contemporary issue which has acquired many legal and non-legal

In every nation in the world, children become victims of cruelty, abuse inflicted by their own parents and the adults entrusted with their care. For a victim, this abuse is capable of creating an unending cycle of injury, both physical and psychological. Unless the cycle is disrupted early on in a victim’s life, it can impede upon his or her likeliness to succeed and raise his or her own children. Due to the fact that it is nearly impossible for victims of child abuse to come to terms with abuse unless they are supported and trusted by not only their family but the other people around them as well; a system of support, encouragement, and prevention must be created in every level of society to prevent

Within the United States, child maltreatment is becoming more and more commonly reported as there is over 3 million reports each year. Due to the constant increase of child maltreatment reports, society has become more aware of the issue, which has led to awareness campaigns. (Payne, 87). Even with societies’ knowledge of such abuse there are still serval child maltreatment cases that are not reported. The children that are victims of maltreatment pertains any sort of harm to the child whether it is by injury, neglect, physical, emotional, or even sexual abuse by someone who holds a major role in the child’s life, a parent or guardian figure (“What is Child Abuse”).

Did you know that 3.2 million children in the U.S. were subjects of abuse or neglect investigations in 2007? (Childhelp) Child abuse refers to “an act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in the death, serious physical or emotional harm”

In conclusion, it is beyond any agency, facility or government to keep child abuse from happening in today’s society in which children are suffering and perhaps dying from child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect are problems that can be alarming and can cause an amazing psychological and economic direst to the child and the abuser. By identifying early on child abuse can be treated to prevent long term occurrences of abuse. Also through treatment a child(ren) can be taken from that environment and placed into a haven to regain trust and continue to receive on-going support. It is every child’s need to be loved, protected and care for in a way that prevents him/her from maltreatment and harm as well as bringing those who mistreat them to justice. When these children are abused and neglected steps must be taken to ensure their safety.

“A systematic study of child abuse in the U.S. began in 1962 due to repeated bone fractures in children” (“Child”). At home, some parents and guardians used beatings as means of disciplining children (“Abuse”). Children didn’t have any legal rights and parents generally were free the raise their children as they saw fit, even if that meant physically abusing or neglecting the welfare of their children (“Abuse”). The child Abuse Treatment Act started in 1974 due to investigations of different types of child abuse such as, parent, sexual and even medical neglect (“Child”).

Child abuse is one of the most severe problems most societies are facing. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and which is often represented by an injury or a series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature. Child abuse is defined as any act that endangers a child’s development and causes psychological consequences for the victim. Child abuse is the sexual, physical or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child. As I proceed, I would be focusing on five main points; the effects of child abuse, the consequences of late interventions, providing a solution (Early Interventions) to child abuse, emotion abuse, and the law of child abuse.

Child abuse does not discriminate against a child because of age, sex, religion, or socioeconomic background. Every child is vulnerable to abuse. Parents today face the possibility that someone they know or a stranger may hurt or take advantage of their children. Research indicates that as many as one out of every four children will be the victims of some kind of abuse (National Child Abuse Statistics). Furthermore, one of the biggest ironies of child abuse is that the family, a child’s primary source of care, love, and security, can also be their most taunting experience. This was the case of 17 month old baby, Peter Connelly. Throughout his short life span, he suffered from neglect and physical abuse that ultimately caused

INTRODUCTION: “Child Abuse occurs when a parent or a care taker physically, emotionally, or sexually mistreats or neglects a child resulting in the physical, emotional, or sexual harm or imminent risk of harm or exploitation, or in extreme cases the death of a child,” child abuse is a big deal because in today’s society many children face abuse, there are many effects and reasons as to why a child may be abuse.

The topic of child abuse is one of the hardest topics to write about. It is imperative to have a profound understanding of this topic and its consequences specially when working in the field of human services. Professionally and personally, I have encountered situations where child abuse is present. This reality has touched my life in many ways and these experiences continue shaping me as a human being and as social service provider. I will try to cover in this paper the subject of child abuse, its definitions, and the scope of the problem and the proper prevention of it.

It takes incredible strength to not be broken while being abused by someone who should love you, especially as a child with a young mind, young ideals, and an innocent heart. This experience is demeaning to many victims, which can cause the child to live with the tragedy for the rest of their lives. Victims of child maltreatment are generally at a greater risk for physical, emotional, work, and relationship problems in childhood and adulthood, affecting their wellbeing, happiness, and self-esteem in the long term. In some cases, like the 1580 children who died in 2014 as a result of abuse and neglect, stated by US state agencies, child abuse can have much more severe consequences on the victim. To spot this traumatizing and demeaning process that some children are forced through, there are certain signs that children develop from a childhood of abuse.

“Child maltreatment is defined as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial or other exploitation of children that results in actual or potential harm to a child’s health, survival, development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power” (Norman, Byambaa, De, Butchart, Scott, Vos e1001349) As the authors of The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis reinforce, child abuse is an extremely harmful act. The consequence of said abuse is unavoidable nor is there any justification for any form of abuse and the ignorance of such a prevalent issue is despicable.

Child abuse is not just clouting a child, there are several types of child abuse. Sexual abuse is when another person forces another to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat. (Dictionary Definitions. 14 May, 2014. http://dictionary.reference.com/ ). Sexual abuse can happen between adults, as well as a child and an adult. When a child is sexually abused, the way the child acts out differs from other types of abuse. If abused at a young age, the kid will grow up not knowing boundaries such as what’s appropriate. The adolescence will inappropriately touch themselves, and or others, as well as wet themselves. Being sexually abused as a child can lead to premature intercourse without protection.

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.

The Center of Disease Control states that about 1,670 children died from child abuse and neglect in 2015 (“Violence Prevention.”). Child abuse is defined as mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian (“Child Abuse.”). It includes physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, emotional/mental abuse, and substance abuse. Physical abuse is when the person intentionally causes physical injury to the child while neglect is when the parent or guardian fail to provide basic needs for the child. In addition, abandonment is when a parent leaves a child alone where they are harmed or fail to contact their child. Moreover, sexual abuse is when a parent fondles, rapes or indecent exposure of the child. Next there is emotional/mental abuse which is when a parent criticizes, threats, or rejects the child while showing them no love or support. Lastly, some states classify substance abuse as child abuse and that’s when the child is exposed to drugs/alcohol, make drugs near children or prenatal exposure. While completing my research I interviewed a child abuse victim named Halley, whose last name will remain unknown to ensure anonymity. Child abuse is harmful to a child, because it affects them physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or their individuality.