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Physical Abuse Of Child Abuse

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According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) physical child abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver commits an intentional act that results in physical injury to a child or adolescent, such as red marks, cuts, welts, bruises, muscle sprains, or broken bones. Physical abuse can occur when physical punishment goes too far or a parent acts out in anger. Even corporal punishment that do not result in physical injury are considered physical abuse and are outlawed in some states. Children of all ages, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds are at risk for physical abuse. Children ages 4–7 and 12–15 are at the greatest risk of being physically abused. Very young children are most susceptible to receiving serious injuries because they are more vulnerable and depend on others to care for them (NCTSN, 2009). An estimated 1 in 4 children living in the United States experience some form of maltreatment. In 2014, more than 6.6 million children and their families were reported to Child Protective Services for allegations of child maltreatment (Ho, Gross, & Bettencourt, 2017). In most states, the harm must have been inflicted by non-accidental means. This includes intentional acts, actions that were careless (such as, allowing a known sexual offender or known abuser to be with a child alone), and acts of negligence (such as, leaving a child under a certain age at home alone). Some of the examples listed as child abuse may not be viewed as abuse to certain

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