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What is Child Abuse or Neglect?
Why Does Child Abuse Happen?
Facts About Child Abuse
How Can I Help?
How do I Report Child Abuse or Neglect?

What is Child Abuse or Neglect?

Under the law, an abused or neglected child is any child under 18 whose parent, or any other person responsible for the care of the child:

  • causes, or threatens to cause, a physical or mental injury except for an accident.

  • fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or caring support.

  • abandons the child.

  • fails to provide the kind of supervision necessary for the child's age or level of development.

  • commits, or allows to be committed, any illegal sexual act involving the child -- including incest, rape, fondling, indecent exposure, prostitution -- or allows the child to be used in any sexually explicit visual material.

Child abuse is not usually just one physical attack or just one instance of failure to meet a child's most basic needs. Usually child abuse is a pattern of behavior that takes place over a period of time. The longer child abuse continues, the more serious it becomes, the more serious is the injury to the child and the more difficult it is to stop.

Abusive parents can be your friends, your neighbors, your relatives. They are usually ordinary people, caught in life situations beyond their control. It is a myth that child abuse occurs only among poor families. Child maltreatment affects all economic, racial, social, ethnic and religious groups.

Why Does Child Abuse Happen?

There is no easy answer to this question, because many
factors are involved. However, child abuse is most likely
to occur when parents are struggling with:

  • STRESS. . . Pressure from money problems, everyday frustrations, illness or heavy responsibilities.

  • A PAINFUL CHILDHOOD . . . Adults who were mistreated as children may, without meaning to, continue the pattern of abuse with their own children.

  • ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS . . . can blind a parent to a child's needs or may reduce inhibitions and tolerance levels so that parents may be more likely to lash out.

  • ISOLATION . . . Without friends or relatives nearby, parents can feel overwhelmed by the demands of raising a child.

  • INEXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN OR UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS . . . If parents don't know what to expect from children, they may expect too much. Besides lacking the parenting skills necessary to raise a child, the parents may have no models of successful family relationships from which to learn.

  • IMMATURITY . . . Very young, insecure parents often can't understand their child's behavior and needs.

  • UNMET EMOTIONAL NEEDS . . . Parents may expect children to take care of them and to satisfy their need for love, protection, and self-esteem.

Facts About Child Abuse

It is estimated that family violence is prevalent in 3 to 4 million American homes. If 2.5 children are living in each, that's at least 7.5 million children learning violence every year, either as a spectator or participant. Reports by battered mothers indicate that 87% of children witness the abuse, and one study found that at least half of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also physically abused their children.

How You Can Help

Positive influences can help a child from a violent home overcome the negative influences of living with violence.

  • BE A ROLE MODEL. Show children by your example that there is a better way to solve problems than by violence.

  • PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. Advocate for positive youth activities and mentoring programs.

  • PROMOTE NONVIOLENCE. Discourage children from fighting and teasing. Encourage cooperation and respect.

  • TEACH CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS. Help children learn to calm down and to use words -- not fists -- to resolve conflicts.

  • TEACH PERSONAL SAFETY RULES. Help children from violent homes make a safety plan and practice it.

How Do I Report Child Abuse or Neglect?

Deciding to report suspected child abuse can be a difficult process, but it is an important first step toward protecting a child who might be in danger. To report abuse, call the social services agency where the child lives or where the abuse occurred. Ask for Child Protective Services and give them the name, age, and address of the child and a description of what is happening. You are not required to give your name, but it helps.

For more information call your local Child Protective Service office, a division of your local Social Services agency.