Theories Relating to Child Abuse

The article is stimulating to know that others states take action quickly to shield children from further abuse in their homes. The Indiana's Child Protective Services (CPS), offers a service to prevent out-home placement, and assistance to rejoin children with their families in situations where the children can return home (Indiana, 2015). This service is good, if the parents are able to resume the responsibility of taking care of their children.

Bandura’s social learning theory and Bowlby’s attachment theory. Each of these theories has similarities and distinctions regarding the mechanisms that underlie the impact of child abuse. This essay will examine these competing theories to determine which mechanisms are most strongly supported for families at high risk for child abuse and/or neglect (Begle, Dumas & Hanson, 2010).

Many of the children who are placed into the care of Child Protective Services are situated into hellish foster homes with people who only care about the money they receive from the government for each child that is placed under their roof; and not for the welfare of the children. Numerous amounts of children that are caught up in the system, especially

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.

A nine year old in Oregon was removed from her home by child protective services in 2010 and placed into the care of Kamlo and Dwight Reed. Even though the state Department of Human Services allegedly knew that Dwight had been accused of sexually abusing a another foster child, the adoption still went through. After the Dwight couple abused the young girl sexually, physically, and emotionally, a a guardian who was court-appointed for the child filed a lawsuit against the department in 2016. If the agency had looked into the allegations, the child would have likely been saved from suffering through years of abuse by being placed into a different home. The social service workers receive a large amount of cases each year. According to the U.S. Children 's Bureau, children protection agencies received nearly 3.6 million reports of abuse or neglect concerning 6.6 million children; however, the agency only reported roughly 702,000 children who suffered from abuse, including 1,580 children who died. The number of cases reported is less than ¼ of the cases received. If the agency discovered some of the 1,580 cases quicker, adolescent deaths

The National Children 's Alliance reported that the number of unique cases of abused and neglected children in the United States stands at an annual rate of 700,000 and rising (as cited in ?U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,? 2016, p. ii). Sadly, this means that more than 1,900 new children become victims of abuse and neglect with each passing day. Neglect was the type of

Child Protective Services (CPS) is a complex system of assessments, investigations, and conclusions. CPS is the central agency in each communities child abuse and neglect service system. It is responsible for ensuring that preventative, investigative, and treatment services are available to children and families endangered by child abuse and neglect. As a result, CPS workers must perform a variety of functions when responding to situations of child maltreatment and play a variety of roles throughout their involvement with child protective clients. Reporting a suspective case of child maltreatment to the local CPS agency (or a family member’s own request for help with the problem) initiates

For some children, it begins at birth, when it is clear that a mother cannot take care of her newborn infant. Others may come to the consideration of child welfare when an official such as; a teacher, a social worker, a police officer, or a neighbor reports child protective services. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Child maltreatment in 2001, approximately 3 million referrals were made to child protective services, and more than 900,000 children were found to be victims of maltreatment. When child maltreatment is verified, caseworkers and courts must decide whether the child can safely remain home if the family is provided with in-home services, or whether the child should be placed into state care. In 2001, 290,000 children entered the foster care system. (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System)

For 30 years, advocates, program administrators, and politicians have joined to encourage even more reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Their efforts have been successful, with about three million cases of suspected child abuse having been reported in 1993. Large numbers of endangered children still go unreported, but a serious problem had developed: Upon investigation, as many as 65 percent or the reports now being made are determined to be "unsubstantiated", raising serious civil liberties concerns and placing a huge burden on investigative staffs.

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

Gill states, “Children younger than 1 year, the most vulnerable to maltreatment, represent the largest proportion of substantiated abuse. One-third of all children reported as abused in 2009 were younger than 4, and children between ages 4 and 7 represented one-fifth of cases” (2012, p. 30).

Each week Child Protective Services receives more than 50,000 allegations of child abuse. Two-thirds of the allegations have enough evidence to start investigations. The results of these investigations showed 2,450 children are abused everyday (Ianelli, 2006). In 1999, CPS, nearly four, confirmed an estimated 1,401 child abuse and neglect fatalities every day. (Child Abuse Statistics, nd).

It should be considered that at least three months before, a background check is administered before taking a child or children into their home. This can help prevent the chances of the child being abused by their newly provider. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System examines and includes sources of reports such as types of maltreatment; gender and age of victims; victimization rates, and other types of abuse brought onto children. “During FFY 2016 an estimated 676,000 children in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect. Nationally, 74.8 percent of victims experienced neglect and 18.2 percent were physically abused. For FFY 2016, an estimated 1,750 children died due to child abuse or neglect…” Reports show that there is a number of children who are abused whether physically or verbally from their caregiver; therefore, inspection of the foster parent should be evaluated on a strict level in the case to avoid giving children into the wrong hands of malicious

According to Pecora, Sanders, Wilson, English, Puckett & Rudlang-Perman (2014), “Every year in the USA, about 695,000 unique children are confirmed as victims of child maltreatment (US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau 2011) (p. 321). Such startling statistics suggest that child abuse is not just a public health issue; it is an epidemic. However, research reveals that prevention is possible through a collaborative effort made by parents, schools, the government, social services, and the

Although the extent of child abuse is difficult to measure, it is recognized as a major social problem, especially in industrialized nations. It occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and in urban and rural communities. It is, however, more common in some groups, especially those below the poverty line.