The Consequences And Risk Factors Of Child Abuse And Neglect

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,

The long term ramifications of child abuse and neglect are profound and may endure long after the maltreatment has occurred. Individuals that undergo such abuse either physically or mentally may affect various aspects of their development. The outcome of abuse and neglect can range from minor effects to fatal situations. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” Dill was emotionally damaged and neglected by his parents.

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.

401). An analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2008) revealed that in 2008 the rate of reported infant maltreatment was 51.81 per 1000 children with children below the age of one having the greatest likelihood of being the subject of maltreatment with frequencies lessening with age (Fallon, et al., 2013, p. 2). Child neglect has come to be described as the “neglect of neglect,” as it has been minimized by physical and sexual abuse and exploitation; therefore, neglect is often overlooked and under identified. Furthermore, child neglect is often difficult to identify due to cultural and spiritual differences. What is often negligent for one family may be considered usual to another (Cowen, 1999, pp. 401-403). Consequently, infant neglect often results in social, mental and physical delays, adult traumatization (Harper, Stalker, Palmer, & Gadbois, 2008), and failure to thrive (FTT); the result of inadequate nutrition resulting in poor physical development and, in extreme cases, psychosocial short stature; a disorder of the pituitary and hypothalamus which causes the child to not only be underdeveloped in weight but also in height due to major emotional and psychological trauma (Block & Krebs, 2005, pp. 1234-1235).

In order to help those in need, the forms of mistreatment must be first understood in order to make an accurate report. What are some of the different forms of child neglect?  In this presentation, the different forms of child neglect discussed are the educational neglect, medical neglect, and emotional neglect experiences. For starters, educational neglect transpires when the caregiver or parent does not enroll the child in school nor encourages the child to attend school. This type of neglect is happening amongst poor families who may prefer the child to work to assist in bringing more income into the home instead of attending school. Denying children of receiving a good education does not only hurt them, but their future

“Abuse and neglect of children occurs in all types of families regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or religious group” (Lingern, 2008). There is no single cause of child abuse. Instead it is the result of many forces, within the family, working towards the destruction of the child’s psyche. The most important thing to remember is that it is never the child’s fault. Three prevalent risk factors for those who abuse children are: parents who were abused as a child, parents that abuse drugs and alcohol, and parents with mental illnesses.

According to statistics there are “40 million children subjected to child abuse each year” (Cause and Effects). “Child abuse occurs when a parent or caretaker physically, emotionally, sexually, mistreats or neglects a child resulting in the physical, emotional, or sexual harm or exploitation, or imminent risk of harm or exploitation, or in extreme cases death of a child” (Child Safety). Child abuse is not only a sensitive subject but a complex one because of the long-term/ short-term effects and the difference between discipline and abuse.

Child neglect can include, but is not limited to, failing to meet a child’s emotional, physical, educational, and/or medical needs (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013). Neglect range in severity from a one-time occurrence of not securing a child in a car seat before operating a vehicle to continually failing to provide food, shelter, and security (DePanfilis, 2006). Alone, these

Many scholars have stated that child neglect is the most common form of maltreatment. Neglect is less obvious than physical or sexual abuse, and it may take years for outsiders to ever notice that a child is a victim. Neglect has many faces, forms, and appearances. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), of the approximately 681,000 children in the United States who were victims of abuse and neglect in 2011, 78.5 percent (531,000 children) suffered from neglect alone, including medical neglect (USDHHS, 2011). In the US, there are many children who are experiencing neglect from their parents or caregivers, and often times it goes unreported. In this paper I will discuss what is child neglect, what the many causes of neglect are, the different types of neglect, long-term effects, and how to recognize the signs of neglect: physical and behavioral indicators.

Children have the right to education, food, and have the ability to live. They have the right to be heard, and to tell when one hurts them. All children should be treated equally, no matter their age, religion, culture, gender, wealth, or color.

This piece of work will focus on child neglect and will give a clear and precise understanding of relevant legal issues, appropriate theories and safeguarding practise. Unlike physical or sexual abuse, in which specific abusive acts are directed towards a child, neglect is typically defined by the absence of provision for a child’s basic needs (Gough, 2005). During the past 20 years, the subject and nature of child neglect has been drawn to the notion that this may impact on a child’s development and mental wellbeing. Neglect has been called the ‘Cinderella’ of child welfare topics due to the relative lack of attention the subject has attracted (Tanner and Turney,2006).

There are over 800,000 children abused each year in the United States. When children are susceptible to abuse, they not only have to go through the trauma when it happens, but they also are likely to have still continue to battle the long-term consequences throughout adulthood. People who experienced physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect as children will probably develop psychological disorders as an adult.

The lack of supplies could lead to abused children, not very many people are aware of how sensitive as well as commonly overlooked. It could be as common as people not seeing little things in the child’s behavior or their actions. Sometimes it can even been seen in the parents it some cases. “Child abuse crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines.(neglect)” “In the United States child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment.(american humane)” “According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) of the approximately 890,000 children in the U.S. who were victims of abuse and neglect in 2005, 62.8 percent (564,757 children) suffered from neglect alone, including medical neglect (USDHHS,2007).(american

This article from Child Welfare Information Gateway provides the long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. A child can be impacted by child abuse and neglect in four ways, physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal consequences. These consequences are difficult to differentiate and often times seem like a rippling- effect. For example, a child who has suffered from physical abuse, such as damage to their brain, can show signs of psychological problems as well and vice versa.

Children have seen many things done in their presence, some impacted them positively, for example, love and compassion. While some impacted them negatively, for example, a violent misconduct. Some children had experience neglect and abuse of all kind from grown-ups that they are related to, or even a friend of their family. Some have been abuse by individual that they have never seen in their life until the day the person mistreated them. However, most of the times children are hurt by adults and they do not tell anyone because of fear or shame. This can cause the child to shut down and have emotional, psychological as well as behavioral issues. Therefore, it is always good for the child if they tell someone trustworthy and they get professional help as well as the individual that committed the crime is being punished (Child Advocacy Center, 2017). This is where the Forensic Interviewer come in.