Selecting Child Care Providers - Chapter Four - Child Abuse Part 1

Facts of child abuse:

Although statistics of child abuse related deaths will vary from agency to agency due to non-reporting of the abuse and inconsistent documented incidents, resulting in inaccurate data and clear identification of child deaths linked to child abuse.

It continues to be a wide spread problem through out economic, social, racial, ethnic and religious boundaries with a case being reported approximately every ten seconds or three million reported cases every year, with girls being sexually abused three times more often than boys.

Children are hurt or abused by a parent, guardian, relative, family friend, babysitter, or other childcare provider who are familiar and most often trusted by the child.

More than three children die everyday, as a direct result of child abuse stemming from their own homes. Of these deaths, more than three-quarters of child victims were under the age of five and thirty eight percent were under the age of one.

Many forms of abuse most often occur with some regularity and even increase in severity and frequency over a period time. Over ninety percent of children under the age of twelve who are sexually abused know their attacker, and one of every seven victims of reported sexual abuse are under the age of six.

Children four years old and younger die from child abuse and neglect more often than from accidental falls, drowning, chocking on food, suffocation, fires in the home, or motor vehicle accidents.

Victims of child abuse often grow up repeating their learned violent behavior and have a greater risk of abusing their own children and continuing the cycle of abuse.

Child Abuse

Child abuse is defined as any form of abuse that inhibits or restricts the child’s mental and physical abilities which denies the child’s right to grow and maximize their potential in a healthy environment for which there is no “reasonable” explanation and includes non-accidental physical injury, neglect, sexual molestation, and emotional abuse.

Abuse includes:

Physical injury that is inflicted on a child other than accidental means by another person.

Cruelty or unjustifiable punishment of a child.

Cruel or inhuman punishment or injury.

General and severe neglect.

Sexual abuse, including assault and exploitation.

Abuse of all of the above reflects out-of-home care such as foster homes, administrator or employee of a school, residential home, or other agencies.

Indications of Child Abuse

When The Child…

Shows a sudden change in behavior or performance in school.

Has not received medical or emotional help for problems brought to the parents’ attention.

Has learning difficulties that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes.

Is always watchful, fearful, or apprehensive.

Lacks adult supervision.

Is overly compliant to instructions in fear of retaliation.

Arrives at school early, stays late, and does not want to go home.

When The Parent…

Shows little or no concern for their child, and rarely responds to school’s request for information, conferences, or home visits.

Denies the existence of problems with the child, or blames the child for such problems.

Allows or even requests the caregiver to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves.

Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome.

Demands perfection, or a level of physical or academic performance that is unrealistic for the child or that the child cannot achieve.

Looks primarily to the child for attention, satisfaction and care of emotional needs.

The Child and Parent…

Rarely touch or look at each other.

Consider their relationship as being entirely negative.

State to others or to one another that they do not like each other.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is defined as any act which results in non-accidental injury, including excessive and unjustified corporal punishment inflicted by, or allowed to be inflicted by, responsible persons. Corporal punishment is the infliction of cruel or inhumane physical injury resulting in trauma.

Indications of Physical Abuse

When The Child…

Has bruises, burns, abrasions, lacerations, swelling, broken bones or black eyes not caused by accidental means.

Has faded bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school.

Has belt buckle, cord, hanger, paddle marks, hand prints, bite marks, or pinches present.

States injury was caused by abuse and or reports the injury as being inflicted by a parent or another caregiver.

Has an injury unusual for a specific age group.

Has a history of previous and or re-occurring injuries.

Has unexplainable or conflicting explanations for reasons of injury.

Seems frightened of parents, protests or cries when it is time to go home from school.

Shrinks at the approach of adults.

Is excessively passive, compliant, or fearful.

When The Parent or Other Caregiver…

Attempts to hide the child’s injuries.

Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury.

Uses harsh physical discipline with the child.

Describes the child in negative ways.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is defined as a wilful and or uncontrollable repetition or infliction of mental suffering to a child which often includes yelling, blaming, belittling, name-calling, prolonged ignoring, refusing to attend to the child's emotional needs.

Indications of Emotional Abuse Include

When a Child…

Shows extremes in behavior - overly compliant or demanding; extremely passive or aggressive.

Is isolated or withdrawn and or argues, fights or gets into trouble to let out their anger.

Is inappropriately “adult” (i.e. parenting other children).

Is inappropriately infantile (i.e. frequently rocking or head-banging).

Behind or delayed in physical or emotional development.

Shows difficulty making and keeping friends.

Has attempted or contemplating suicide.

Reports lack of attachment to their parent.

When The Parent or Other Caregiver…

Constantly blame, belittle, or berates the child.

Overtly rejects the child.

Is unconcerned about the child and or refuses offers of help for the child’s problems.

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