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What is Child Abuse?

What is Child Abuse?. Monday, August 13, 2012. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE HERE TODAY!. YOU’RE CHOOSING … AWARENESS KNOWLEDGE ACTION. Taking Action.

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What is Child Abuse?

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  1. What is Child Abuse? Monday, August 13, 2012

  2. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE HERE TODAY! • YOU’RE CHOOSING … • AWARENESS • KNOWLEDGE • ACTION

  3. Taking Action • Every individual can contribute to ending child maltreatment. Children do not have to grow up in fear, pain, loneliness, confusion and shame.

  4. Facing It: Child abuse prevalence … USA • One in four girls is sexually abused before turning eighteen-years-old. • One in six boys is sexually abused before turning eighteen years-old. • More than 5 children die every day because of abuse/neglect.* *United States Government Accountability Office, 2011. Child maltreatment: strengthening national data on child fatalities could aid in prevention (GAO-11-599).

  5. Facing It: Child Abuse Prevalence…Virginia • Every 12 days a child dies from abuse or neglect. • 30 children died in state fiscal year 2011 in VA – 26 of them were under the age of 4. • In an average moment, there are 5,204 children in foster care. • Every 86 minutes a child is abused or neglected. • VA Department of Social Services 2011

  6. A Few Facts Worth Bearing in Mind… • Many perpetrators of abuse are also children: siblings, cousins, friends. • Most kids don’t tell. • Most abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows and is supposed to trust. • The majority of cases of child abuse and neglect involve children under the age of three.

  7. Child Maltreatment Statistics • Think of child abuse statistics as a triangle. The number that is reported is the lowest number possible – we know that the actual number of children being abused is much higher.

  8. Categories of Child Maltreatment • Physical Abuse – any act which, regardless of intent, results in a non-accidental physical injury or threat of injury. • Physical Neglect – the failure to provide for a child’s physical survival needs to the extent that there is harm or risk of harm to the child’s health or safety.

  9. Categories of Child Maltreatment • Sexual Abuse – acts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of minors. • Emotional/Mental Abuse - chronic pattern of behaviors such as verbal assaults and/or consistent failure to provide a child with appropriate support, attention, and affection.

  10. EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE • Cuts, fractures, bruises, burns, bites • Pattern bruises, such as fingertips • Fading bruises or healing cuts, burns and bites

  11. RED FLAGS: PHYSICAL ABUSE • Child uncomfortable with physical contact • Wary of adults • Aggressive • Withdrawn • Explanations of injuries not plausible • Frequent absences from school / appointments

  12. EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL NEGLECT • Lack of adequate food, clothing, shelter • Lack of adequate medical or dental care • Lack of adequate hygiene • Lack of supervision • Abandonment

  13. RED FLAGS: PHYSICAL NEGLECT • Consistent hunger • Inappropriate clothing • Unattended medical needs • Poor physical / dental hygiene • Consistent lack of supervision • Begs, steals or hoards food • Begs or steals money from others

  14. EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL ABUSE • Incest • Rape • Oral / genital contact • Fondling • Sexual propositions or enticements • Indecent exposure • Child pornography • Child prostitution

  15. RED FLAGS: SEXUAL ABUSE • Difficulty walking or sitting • Pain or itching in genital area • Injury to genital area(s) • Inappropriate sexual knowledge for child’s age • Withdrawal or over-attachment to others • Regressed or infantile behavior

  16. Next Steps • Continue to learn today about child maltreatment. • Share what you learn today with others. • Openly discuss this topic to help raise awareness. • Respond responsibly when you suspect child maltreatment.

  17. Thank you for being part of the solution! • Awareness + Knowledge = Action • Action = Safer Children • Safer Children = Healthier, More Successful Communities

  18. As dawn broke over the beach, the old man asked the young boy why he was flinging starfish into the sea. “They will die if left in the sun,” said the boy. “But the beach goes for miles and there are millions of them,” muttered the old man. “What difference is it going to make?” The young boy looked at the starfish and said, as he threw it to safety, “It makes a difference to this one.” Every Child Matters, Make a Difference in a Child’s Life TODAY!

  19. Resources • All PowerPoint presentations will be available at www.grscan.com. • Denise Noble (804) 257-7226 • dnoble@grscan.com

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