Understanding Child Abuse

1
Understanding Child Abuse Neglect

• Prepared by
• The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
  4-H Youth Development
• Lisa Lauxman and Bob Peterson
• Design Layout Teresa M. Noon

2
The University of Arizona Extension Youth
Protection PolicyKey Points

• Any youth participant in an Arizona Cooperative
  Extension educational program is entitled to a
  safe environment.
• Employees and volunteers are entitled to
  information related to the laws pertaining to
  child abuse and neglect and sexual offenses.
• Employees and volunteers will receive training in
  order to take steps to ensure that neither they
  nor children are in situations that place them at
  risk under various Arizona Statues related to
  child and sexual abuse.
• The Child Protection Act of 1993 requires States
  to enact legislations requiring background checks
  of all employees and volunteers working with
  youth

3
The University of Arizona Extension Youth
Protection Policy

• Arizona Revised Statues require any person who
  has reasonable cause to believe that a child is
  being abused or neglected may report to Child
  Protective Services (CPS).
• The following persons are required by law to
  report Any physician, hospital intern or
  resident, surgeon, dentist, osteopath,
  chiropractors, podiatrist, county medical
  examiner, nurse, psychologist, school personnel,
  social worker, peace officer, parent, counselor
  or any other person having responsibility for the
  care and treatment of children.
• A person making a report or providing information
  about a child is immune from civil or criminal
  liability unless such person has been charged
  with, or is suspected of, the abuse or neglect in
  question.

4
The Effects of Abuse

• The long-term affects of child abuse or neglect
  can be devastating. They can include substance
  abuse, psychological problems, and suicide.
  Reporting suspected abuse or neglect can help to
  stop the destructive process and start the
  healing process.
• Any mandatory reporter who suspects that a child
  is suffering from any type of abuse or neglect,
  is legally required to report that suspicion to
  appropriate authorities.

5
Note of Caution

• Research shows that there are a number of
  symptoms exhibited by children that may indicate
  abuse or neglect.
• The presence of a single indicator does not
  automatically mean that abuse or neglect has
  occurred. However, it does warrant your
  attention.

6
What is Child Abuse?

• Is rarely a single physical attack, but rather a
  pattern of abuse that repeats over time.
• Occurs when a parent or other person willfully
  or maliciously injures or causes a child to be
  injured, tortured or maimed, or when unreasonable
  force is used upon a child.
• Abuse and neglect can be physical, emotional
  and sexual.

7
Characteristics of Child Abuse and Neglect

• Abused and neglected children are found in
  families at all...
• Economic levels
• Racial and ethnic backgrounds
• Geographic locations.
• People are more likely to behave in ways that
  can hurt children or lead to child abuse and
  neglect when they neglect to take good care of
  themselves.

8
Risk factors leading to abuse

• The stress of poverty or unemployment
• A lack of social support to help parents do a
  good job of parenting
• Conflict and/or violence between spouses
• A child (or children) who has special needs, is
  hard to comfort of challenging to rear

• Abuse alcohol or other substances
• Are highly vulnerable to the stress of caring for
  children
• Have low self-esteem and feel isolated
• Use more physical punishment than positive
  guidance

9
Physical abuse

• Definition
• is any non-accidental injury to a child under the
  age of 18 by a parent or caretaker.
• Non-accidental injuries
• beatings, shaking, burns, human bites,
  strangulation or immersion in scalding water,
  with resulting bruises and welts, broken bones,
  scars or internal injuries

• Physical Indicators
• Unexplained fractures/dislocations
• Unexplained bruises and welts
• Unexplained burns
• Other unexplained injuries may include
  lacerations, abrasions, human bite marks or pinch
  marks, loss of hair or bald patches, retinal
  hemorrhage, or abdominal injuries

10
Physical AbuseBehavioral Indicators

• Requests or feels deserving of punishment
• Afraid to go home and/or requests to stay in
  school, day care, etc.
• Overly shy, tends to avoid physical contacts with
  adults, especially parents.
• Displays behavioral extremes (withdrawal or
  aggressiveness).
• Suggests that other children should be punished
  in a harsh manner
• Cries excessively and/or sits and stares.
• Reports injury by parents
• Gives unbelievable explanations for injuries.

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What is Emotional Abuse?Two Levels

• Emotional Neglect
• Emotional neglect is the consistent failure of a
  parent or caretaker to provide a child with
  appropriate support, attention and affection.

• Emotional Abuse
• Emotional abuse is the chronic pattern of
  behaviors, such as belittling, humiliating and
  ridiculing a child.

12
Emotional AbusePhysical Behavioral Indicators

• Eating disorder
• Sleep disturbances, nightmares
• Speech disorders, stuttering
• Failure to thrive
• Developmental lags
• Asthma, severe allergies or ulcers

• Habit disorders, such as biting, rocking,
  head-banging, thumb-sucking in an older child
• Poor peer relationships
• Behavioral extremes, overly compliant or
  demanding, withdrawn or aggressive
• Self-destructive behavior, remaining oblivious to
  hazards and risks
• Chronic academic underachievement

13
What is Child Neglect?

• Neglect is the chronic failure of a parent or
  caretaker to provide a child under 18 with
  adequate food, clothing, medical care, protection
  and supervision.

14
Child NeglectPhysical Behavioral Indicators

• Height and weight significantly below age levels
• Inappropriate clothing for weather
• Child abandoned or left with inadequate
  supervision
• Untreated illness or injury
• Lack of safe, sanitary shelter
• Lack of necessary medical and dental care

• Begging or stealing food
• Falling asleep in school, lethargic
• Poor school attendance, frequent tardiness
• Chronic hunger
• Dull, apathetic appearance
• Running away from home
• Repeated acts of vandalism
• Reports no caretakers in the home
• Assumes adult responsibilities

15
What is Child Sexual Abuse?

• Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child
  or adolescent for the sexual gratification of
  another person. It includes behaviors such as
  intercourse, sodomy, oral-genital stimulation,
  verbal stimulation, exhibitionism, voyeurism,
  fondling, and involving a child in prostitution
  or the production or pornography.
• Incest is sexual abuse that occurs within a
  family. The abuses may be a parent, step-parent,
  grandparent, sibling, cousin or other family
  member.

16
Child Sexual AbusePhysical Indicators

• Somatic complaints, including pain and irritation
  of the genitals
• Sexually transmitted disease
• Pregnancy in young adolescents
• Frequent unexplained sore throats, yeast, or
  urinary tract infections
• Behavioral Indicators
• Excessive masturbation in young children
• Sexual knowledge or behavior beyond that expected
  for the childs developmental level
• Depression, suicidal gestures
• Chronic running away
• Frequent psychosomatic complaints, such as
  headaches, backaches, or stomachaches
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Avoidance of undressing or wearing extra layers
  of clothes
• Sudden avoidance of certain familiar adults or
  places
• Decline in school performance

17
The Characteristics of Child Sexual Abuses

• More non-biological care takers ( like step or
  adoptive parents, baby-sitters, boyfriends or
  girlfriends) sexually abuse than do birth parents
  or relatives
• More males than females sexually abuse
• Children are sexually abused more often by people
  they know than by strangers

18
Responding To A Disclosure

• It is important to respond in a calm, supportive
  and appropriate manner. Build trust and insure
  confidentiality
• Children will find it difficult to tell someone
  about abuse or neglect that is occurring to them.
  Many times children will wait a long time before
  disclosing.
• If the person reacts with disgust or doesnt
  believe them, they will stop disclosing the
  events.

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How to Respond

• Be on the same eye level as the child be tactful
  and have no barriers between you and the child
• Assess the childs safety needs and the urgency
  of the situation
• Find out what the child wants from you
• Validate the childs feelings
• Believe the child and be supportive
• Assure the child that you care, you are still
  their friend and they are not to blame

20
How to Respond

• Let the child know what you will do
• Be calm, dont react with disgust, etc.
• Tell the child you are glad that they told you
• Tell the child you will try to get them some help
• Tell the child you will have to tell someone
  whose job it is to help kids with these kinds of
  problems
• Dont interrogate or interview the child
• Do not project or assume anything let the child
  tell his own story leave out your own
  assumptions

21
How to Report

• Follow this process to avoid further abuse to
  the child and to legally protect yourself
• Document any incident or discussion that leads
  you to suspect the abuse.
• Utilize form Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
  Report and be sure to include the date, time,
  and description of the incident.
• File the confidential report with your county
  office, where it will be placed in a locked
  file.

22
More on How To Report

• Do not investigate it may jeopardize the childs
  safety as well as any legal action pending as a
  result of the abuse (Nelson and Clark, 1986).
• Try to keep emotion out of it and give factual
  information about what you have observed or heard
• Remember your goal is to help the child to be
  safe as well as be safe yourself.
• Think clearly and objectively about making a
  report

• It is essential that concerns about child abuse
  or neglect be treated with strict
  confidentiality.
• You may need to discuss your concerns with
  another person however, this can and should be
  done without using the family or individual
  names. Also, hold the conversation where other
  will not be able to hear your discussion.

23
Support in Reporting

• Your Extension office is there to support you.
  An Extension faculty member will be present if
  you request support in reporting.
• You must report if you have reason to believe
  that child abuse and/or neglect is occurring.
• Verbal reports are acceptable.
• Cooperative Extension keeps your written report
  to protect you and Cooperative Extension.

24
Behavioral Guidelines

• Work cooperatively with youth, families, other
  volunteers, Cooperative Extension faculty and
  staff and others in a courteous, respectful
  manner demonstrating behaviors appropriate to a
  positive role model for youth. Any type of
  harassment or hazing cannot be tolerated. Keep
  the best interests of youth and families as a
  priority.
• Represent the University of Arizona Cooperative
  Extension 4-H Youth Development program with
  pride and dignity. Obey the laws of the
  locality, state, and nation.

25
More Behavioral Guidelines

• Comply with equal opportunity and
  anti-discrimination laws. Make all reasonable
  effort to assure that 4-H Youth Development
  programs are accessible to youth without regard
  to race, color, national origin, sex, religion,
  sexual orientation or disability.
• Recognize that verbal and/or physical abuse
  and/or neglect of youth is unacceptable in 4-H
  Youth Development programs refrain from physical
  or verbal abuse. Incidents of reported,
  suspected or observed abuse should be reported
  immediately to law enforcement or Child
  Protective Services.

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More Behavioral Guidelines

• Treat animals humanely and teach 4-H youth to
  provide appropriate animal care.
• Operate motor vehicles (including machines or
  equipment) in a safe and reliable manner when
  working with 4-H youth, and only with a valid
  operator's license and the legally required
  insurance coverage
• Abide by the same rules as the youth regarding
  no use of alcohol, tobacco products and drugs at
  a 4-H Youth Development function nor allow youth
  participants under supervision to do so.

27
Creating Safety Zones Protecting Yourself and
Children

• Responsible adults automatically limit their
  physical exchanges with children, showing respect
  for children and at the same time maintaining
  warm, healthy affectionate relationships.
• Be aware of childrens personal boundaries and
  respect them.

• Adults should avoid being alone with one child.
• In group situations, it is advisable to always
  have at least two adults present.
• Never hit or strike a childeven in play.

28
More Safety Zones

• Help protect everyonehave the children use the
  buddy system--- they dont go anywhere without
  their buddy.
• Hugs are okay if they are appropriate and if both
  people are comfortable with them. Take clues from
  body language of the child and simply ask Is it
  okay for me to hug you?

• Encourage parents to join in your activities and
  to drop in when they can.
• There is nothing magical nor mysterious about
  interacting with children the best thing to do
  is use common sense.

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Scenario A

• In an after school program, a 10 year old girl,
  Daphne, has chosen all sad pictures for her
  contributions to a group picture. She tells you
  that shes sad because her mom kicked her dad out
  of the house over the weekend and he wont be
  living with her any more. She also tells you that
  dad gave her three 100 bills and hell give her
  more if she comes and sees him on the weekends.
  He tells her not to tell her mom. Daphne also
  tells you she has to baby sit her twin five year
  old sisters. Her mom works as a waitress from 1
  PM till 1 PM. You can tell that the family has
  few resources based on the childrens clothing.
  Her sisters are also in the program and their
  behavior is that of 3 year olds not five year
  olds. Youve not met Daphnes parents, but can
  obtain info about them from the registration
  papers.

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Scenario B

• You work with school age children in a summer
  recreational/educational program. A new child,
  Nathan, joins the program. He is 8 years old and
  dresses in winter clothing despite being summer.
  He has a very strong body odor. His hair is not
  combed and is unkempt. He seems to be a happy
  child but doesnt join in many activities. You
  notice him stuffing his pockets after the free
  breakfast. After 4 weeks of sporadic attendance,
  you dont see him for 3 weeks. Youve not met
  Nathans parents, but can obtain info about them
  ( address, phs, etc) from his registration
  papers.

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Scenario C

• You are caring for a 2 year old, Nathan. He has
  round, crusty sores in between his fingers that
  you havent seen before. When you ask Nathan
  about them, he says Hurt. When you ask Nathans
  mother, she tells you that he caught his fingers
  in the door and they got
• pinched.

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Scenario D

• You work with pre-schoolers and Presidents Day
  is a holiday when the center is closed. You post
  notes reminding parents two weeks before the
  holiday and have spoken with each of the parents
  to remind them. On the holiday, you stop by the
  center and find one of the 4 year old children,
  Sue, sitting by the door. Its nearly noon and
  Sue tells you that shes been there since morning
  and that Dad will pick her up before dinner time.
  

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Scenario Responses

• SCENARIO A
• Professionals Comments
• Need to check the facts in a discreet manner
  with a call to the mother. If true or not
  severely embellished, ask if she can find an
  alternative babysitting situation No child is
  to be left alone unsupervised under age 12
  thats the law. If mother cant improve
  situation via church, after school program,
  neighbors, then let her know you will have to
  call CPS. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE
  MONEY...let CPS do that!
• SCENARIO B
• Professionals Comments
• Start with a call to the family to check if the
  child is O.K. Let them know that other children
  are asking about him. DO NOT CHALLENGE. You
  dont have a relationship and there is not
  reason for him to come back. Then, call CPS and
  report neglect seems evident. This has
  probably been reported before.

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Scenario Responses (cont.)

• SCENARIO C
• Professionals Comments
• First, pinched fingers from doors dont get
  round sores between the fingers. May be a burn
  from something. Child could be hurting self by
  rubbing fingers. Check with staff to see if any
  previous sores or injuries have been noted
  that appeared questionable. Call CPS. Child
  care workers must report suspicious injuries,
  neglect.
• SCENARIO D
• Professionals Comments
• Call the police... that situation could be
  classified as abandonment as well as neglect. DO
  NOT TAKE HER HOME WITH YOU. You can call parents
  at work to let them know you have contacted the
  police.