Research Paper in Values Education IV

Topic: Child Abuse Danica S. Cristobal IV-Einstein

Abstract
Child abuse does not discriminate against a child because of age, sex, race, religion, or socioeconomic background. Any child can fall victim to this sometimes a silent problem. I will discuss the major types of child abuse in the following paragraphs. Every child is vulnerable to abuse. Parents today face the possibility that someone they know or dont know may hurt or take advantage of their child. Research indicates that as many as one out of every four children will be the victims of some kind of abuse. Very young children as well as older teenagers are victimized. Almost all of these children will be abused by someone they know and trust; for example a relative, family friend or a caretaker. Maltreatment of children is not a new phenomenon. Child abuse dates back to biblical times. During recent years the public eye has become more focused on child maltreatment. There are many factors to child maltreatment. There are four general categories of child maltreatment now recognized; physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abues, neglect and emotional maltreatment. Each category covers a large range of behavior. Some causes of child abuse are the use of drugs, or alcohol abuse or an abuser was also abused when they were younger. Another problem is that when an abused child grows up they could join the next generations of child abusers. Child abuse can be prevented in a number of ways such as counseling for the adults as well as the children. Another way is for the school to educate the children about child abuse. Teachers should help children understand what to do if someone abuses them. Tactics like telling an adult they trust and coming forward when they see abuse could prevent continued abuse. In my opinion everyone should try to prevent child abuse any way they can. Child abuse should never start because it can ruin a child's life forever, and causes serious injures to the child, whether this be physical or emotional.

Introduction
The consequences of child abuse and neglect differ by the age of the child. During childhood some of the major consequences of maltreatment include problematic school performance and lowered attention to social cues. Researchers have found that children whose parents are "psychologically unavailable" function poorly across a wide range of psychological, cognitive and developmental areas (Egeland and Sroufe, 1981). Physical aggression, antisocial behavior and juvenile delinquency are among the most consistently documented consequences of abuse in adolescence and adulthood (Aber et al., 1990). Evidence is more suggestive that maltreatment increases the risk of alcohol and drug problems (National Research Council, 1993). Ystgaard, Hestetun, Loeb and Mehlum (2004) report that physical and sexual abuse are significantly and independently associated with repeated suicide attempts. In other words, physical and sexual abuse increase the risk of suicide attempts, even when controlling for other adverse events and situations children experience. Research on the consequences of sexual abuse finds that inappropriate sexual behavior, such as frequent and overt sexual stimulation and inappropriate sexual overtures to other children, are commonly found among victims of sexual abuse (Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993). Roberts and his colleagues (Roberts, O'Connor, Dunn, Golding et. al., 2004) conducted a longitudinal study of 8,292 families and found that sexual abuse experienced before age 13 was associated with poorer psychological well-being, teenage pregnancy and adjustment problems in the victim's own children. Widom (1995) has found that people who were sexually abused during childhood are at higher risk of arrest for committing crimes as adults, including sex crimes, compared to people who did not suffer sexual abuse. However, this risk is no greater than the risk of arrest for victims of other childhood maltreatment, with one exception: Victims of sexual abuse are more likely to be arrested for prostitution than other victims of maltreatment.

Child neglect is by far the most common form of maltreatment. While the more dramatic forms of maltreatment--physical abuse and sexual abuse--receive considerable attention in terms of the impact on children, there is far less research, and even concern, for the impact of the chronic form of maltreatment: child neglect. Hildyard and Wolfe (2002) reviewed the research on the impact of child neglect and find considerable support for the conclusion that child neglect produces significant developmental problems for child victims. Neglect has a deleterious effect on children's cognitive, socioemotional and behavioral development. The earlier in life a child is neglected, the more comprised the child's development. The impact of neglect is somewhat unique, producing more severe cognitive and academic deficits, social withdrawal and limited peer interactions. Victims of neglect tend to internalize the impact of that neglect as opposed to externalizing through aggressive and violent behavior (Hildyard and Wolfe, 2002). As severe and significant as the consequences of child abuse and neglect are, it is also important to point out that the majority of children who are abused and neglected do not show signs of extreme disturbance. Despite having been physically, psychologically or sexually abused, many children have effective coping abilities and thus are able to deal with their problems better than other maltreated children. There are a number of protective factors that insulate children from the effects of maltreatment. These include: high intelligence and good scholastic attainment; temperament; cognitive appraisal of events--how the child views the maltreatment; having a healthy relationship with a significant person; and the type of interventions, including placement outside of the home (National Research Council, 1993). Children who witness domestic violence are a unique population warranting research and clinical attention. Witnessing is at the intersection of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence. Researchers and clinicians report that children who witness acts of domestic violence experience negative behavioral and developmental outcomes, independent of any direct abuse or neglect that they may also experience from their caretakers. Estimates from the two National Family Violence Surveys are that between 1.5 million and 3.3 million children three to 17 years of age are exposed to domestic violence each year (Gelles and Straus, 1988; Straus, Gelles and Steinmetz, 1980).

Review of Related Literature

Teaching a Child the Difference between Good Touches and Bad Touches
Good touch, bad touch (GTBT) is gradually learnt through a childs day to day activities but we can accelerate this learnt behavior by making a concerted effort to teach children the difference between good touch and bad touch at an early age. We live in a society where touching is common. We live in a society where people tend to overreact at times too. In addition, threats or secrets often go hand in hand with bad touches. All of these serve to confuse the child. Parents must take the time to explain to their children what good touch and bad touch is and what danger signals to look for. Firstly, make sure you give the child a list of trusted adults. This may be your preacher, their teacher, a neighbor, a relative, or someone else you feel the child may trust if they have questions or need assistance. These adults should be the go to people if the child feels someone may have touched them badly. Periodically ask them to recite to you their list of trusted adults. Point out that this does not mean those adults are allowed to touch badly though, only that the child may tell those adults if they feel someone is wrong. Parents should point out that how well the child knows a person can affect what is deemed good touch and bad touch. You have to be very careful with this lesson though. Most abused children are abused by someone they know and in fact, the abuse usually starts with good touches that slowly, over time, migrate to inappropriate touches. But a child should know that what may be a good touch from a parent, would be a bad touch from a stranger. Strangers should rarely touch a child they do not know, even if its a simple hug or pat on the head period. Your child should understand this.

Parents should explain that a bad person may begin with good touches and slowly work towards bad touches over a period of time. Known as grooming, the abuser may take days, months, or years to acclimate the child to innocent touching before they move into the abuse phase. The child should know that they must consciously think about touches and how to interpret them. Explain to the child that bad touches go both ways. It may not always be an adult trying to touch the child but may indeed be a adult trying to get the child to touch them. Let them know that an adult should never have to ask a child to touch them, especially if they ask the child to touch their private parts. Explain to the child that a dead giveaway of a bad touch is if the adult asks them not to tell anyone about the touch. They should know that a lot of the time, an adult that touches a child badly will either threaten the child (or threaten someone else) or ask that the child keep the touch a secret. Any time an adult asks them to keep something a secret, the child should tell their list of trusted people and ask for assistance. Parents should also explain that there is no single factor that makes a touch good or bad. The child must learn to analyze several factors to make the determination. For example, you teach a child that touching is how people show each other they that love and care for them. On the other hand, a child abuser will deceive the child by telling them that they love them and are touching them to show them that they care. If there is any doubt whatsoever, they should ask another adult that they trust for guidance. Explain to your child that good touch is how people show that they love and care for someone. They can probably tell if a touch is good by how they feel about it. If it makes them happy and smile then its likely to be a good touch. Give them examples of good touch such as: When the teacher pats you on the shoulder while telling you that you did a good job. When your mommy tells you good morning and gives you a hug and a kiss. When Daddy hugs and kisses you goodnight. When grandma and grandpa come over and everyone hugs and kisses.

Explain to your child that bad touches are when people hit, kick, or touch your private parts. You can explain that private parts are any body part that is covered by a bathing suit (the safe body rule). If the touch makes them nervous, scared, or just feels funny, then its probably a bad touch. Teach them that a touch is bad if: It hurts It makes them feel scared or nervous or ashamed If the person forces them to touch If the person asks them to not tell anyone about it If the person threatens them or someone else if they tell someone else about the touch

Explain to your child that their body belongs to them and they have a right to protect it. Its ok to tell an adult no if the adult tries to touch them on their private parts. In addition, they should know that it is very important to tell an adult if they feel someone has touched them badly. Give them a list of people that they can trust and tell them that they should tell each of these people if they feel someone has touched them bad or if they even question whether or not someone has touched them bad. It may still be difficult or confusing for the child, especially considering the trickery that child abusers use to deceive the child. Telling the difference between good touch and bad touch may be difficult and may take practice or role playing. Give them plenty of examples and ask them to tell you if the touch is good or bad. Role playing examples Grandpa comes over for a visit and you meet him at the door. He smiles, bends down, and gives you a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Is this good touch or bad touch? You are good friends with a neighbor. The neighbor seems much like a parent at times and always hugs and kisses you when you come over. One day you tell the neighbor that your stomach is hurting. The neighbor touches you between the legs and asks if it hurts there. Is it good touch or bad touch? You are alone in the store and a man walks up and asks where your mother is. You explain that she is shopping and you are going to go find her. He then squats down and gives you a big hug and kisses you on the cheek. Is this good touch or bad touch?

Philippines has some of the worst cases of child abuse

The Philippines is one of over 120 countries where the worst forms of child labor continue to exist, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and often denying children the chance to attend school and learn the skills they need to become productive adults, said a US Department of Labor report. The exploitation of an undisclosed number of Filipino children in prostitution, pornography and sex tourism industries, as well as agriculture, domestic work, drug trafficking and child soldiering, is a significant problem in the country, said the report, which is posted on the Web site of the US Embassy in Manila. The report, titled Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, was forwarded last December 15 by US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to US Vice President Joseph Biden and to the US Senate and House of Representatives. In the 753-page report, which contained profiles of at least 125 countries, seven pages were devoted to the child labor situation in the Philippines. Three other Asian countriesIndonesia, Thailand and Cambodiawere also featured in the report. There was no mention of child labor in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. According to the US labor department, Filipino children, primarily girls, are trafficked from rural to urban areas for forced domestic service and commercial sex exploitation. There are no reports of children in the government Armed Forces in the Philippines, but child soldiering is a problem among anti-government and terrorist organizations. The secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front has made commitments to stop the recruitment and use of children as child soldiers, but the current status of children in its ranks is unclear, said the agency. It said both the Abu Sayyaf Group and New Peoples Army, both terrorist organizations, continue to recruit and use child soldiers. The report also disclosed that many Filipino children are exploited in agriculture, where they often work long hours, perform physically arduous tasks, use dangerous tools, and face a high risk of occupational injury. Children work in the production of bananas, coconuts, corn, rice, rubber, sugarcane, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables. Children are also commonly employed as domestic servants, or kasambahays. Many child domestics work long hours and their isolation in homes makes them susceptible to sexual harassment and physical abuse. Domestic workers are sometimes subjected to forced labor, the report said. Here, children are also involved in compressor mining to extract gold, which requires them to dive into pools of mud using an oxygen tube, it added. Deep-sea fishing is another pursuit in which children participate in two different dangerous activities. They dive from platforms to cast and retrieve nets in deep waters and they drag nets alongside boats, which can result in falls, drowning and injuries from the nets such as burns and entanglement, said the report. Some Filipino children also work in home-based manufacturing industries that range from making fireworks to fashion accessories. This work can be harmful because children, particularly migrants, work longer hours than allowed with no supervision. Rural to urban migration has swollen the ranks of the urban poor, adding to the number of children who may be found living, working, scavenging, and begging on the streets and exposed to multiple dangers, including criminal elements and severe weather, the report said. The report noted that the Philippine government has strengthened its legal and policy framework to combat the worst forms of child labor by creating anti-child pornography legislation and granting labor inspectors the authority to close businesses violating child labor laws. It cited the establishment of the multi-agency National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) which is tasked to coordinate efforts to combat child labor here. Headed by the Department of Labor and Employment, NCLC also groups the departments of education, health, justice, and social welfare and development. But significant gaps remain in child labor law enforcement efforts (while) existing social protection programs are not sufficient to prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labor, it said. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking coordinates and oversees government efforts to combat child trafficking. However, the body did not receive any funding from the national government in 2009 and 2010, but did get funding from the Office of the President and PAGCOR, the report said.

The Philippine National Police is the main anti-child trafficking enforcement agency, but it has no centralized hotline to report trafficking cases, added the report. Children are trafficked for both sex and labor in the Philippines, but convictions have been limited to cases of sex trafficking, it pointed out. In 2002, the Philippines became the first country in Southeast Asia and fourth in the world to launch a time-bound program and commit to a 75-percent reduction of the worst forms of child labor. While the government made efforts to reach vulnerable children and combat child labor, existing resources and social programs are insufficient to reach the large number of children engaged in or at risk of the worst forms of child labor in the country, said the US agency. For the period 2002-2013, Washington has set aside $22.4 million (about P992.3 million) to help Manila combat child labor. Solis said US aid helps families to improve their livelihoods and places children into valuable educational programs, keeping them out of dangerous and degrading work environments. We believe we can make an enormous difference in the lives of tens of millions of children (worldwide) for whom there is no time to lose, she added. In 2008, the International Labor Organization said more than half of the 215 million-plus child laborers worldwide were doing hazardous work. ILO member-states, including the Philippines, have set a global action plan to eliminate the worst forms of child labor by 2016.

Methods/Procedures
History One of the biggest ironies of a childs life is that the family, what should be a childs primary source for love, support, and security, can also be the most abusive group that a child belongs to. Society assumes that parents act in their childs best interest. Therefore, parents have the right to care for and protect their own children. When parents cannot meet their childs needs or protect the child from harm, society has the responsibility to protect the health and safety of the child. Laws that protect animals from unjust cruelty were in effect and enforced long before any cases against child abuse were argued. Just imagine being a nine-year-old girl who is beaten on a daily basis. This happened to a little girl who lived in New York in 1874, her name was Mary Ellen. She was burned and cut with scissors. She resided with her foster mother who would leave her in a closet while away from the house. Mary Connolly, her foster mother, had abused her for seven years. Mary Ellen lived in an apartment building with her foster mother. Mary Ellens landlady made many attempts to help Mary Ellen but none were successful. The person who finally came to here aid was Etta Wheeler a Methodist caseworker. The police said that they could do nothing without proof of assault. Although there were laws to protect any person from assault and battery, there was no precedent for intervening inside a child's home. The frustrated Wheeler turned to Henry Bergh, founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She reasoned that children were members of the animal kingdom and could therefore be protected under the laws governing the mistreatment of animals. Bergh rejected this strategy, but became involved in the case. A petition was presented to the New York Supreme Court on behalf of Mary Ellen that proved she was being held illegally by the Connollys, who were neither her legal guardians nor her natural parents. Witnesses testified about the abuse suffered by Mary Ellen and the leather whip that was kept near her at all times. As the child stood and spoke in court, all could see the terrible scar across her face as she calmly related how her foster mother had slashed her face with scissors. Burn scars from an iron were visible on her arms. Her foster mother was sentenced to prison for one year. Mary Ellen's case had a large impact around the nation and resulted in the foundation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC) in 1874. The SPCC was the first organization to focus on the legal protection of children's rights in the United States. In its first year, the SPCC

investigated 300 cases of child abuse. It also introduced legislation "to prevent and punish wrongs to children" that occurred in the home.

Types of Abuse:

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can also take the form of verbal abuse and mental abuse. This includes acts, or the failure to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause serious behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders in the child. As well as parents/caretakers using extreme or bizarre forms of punishment. There are several different types of emotional abuse, rejecting, ignoring, terrorizing, isolating, and corrupting. Emotional abuse accounts for eight percent of all child abuse.

Neglect

Neglect is a failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Neglect could be physical, educational, or emotional. Physical neglect could include not providing food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision, or proper weather protection. Educational neglect is the failure to provide schooling or special educational needs, for example, not helping them on homework or teaching them how to read. Emotional neglect includes the lack of any emotional support and love.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the intentional infliction of physical injury upon a child. This may include: burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming a child. Physical abuse may be best defined as any non-accidental physical injury by a person who has care, custody, or control of a child. Accidental harm does not qualify as child abuse. There are many signs of physical abuse. Bruises found on the backs of the arms, legs, lower back, the butt, and genitals are suspicious bruises and should be questioned. Patterned bruising is also a sign of abuse. Normal bruises usually appear in various shapes and sizes, while some bruises that are patterned may indicate strong signs of abuse. These are bruises that have definite boundaries and sharp or curved edges. Burns can also be signs of abuse. Fractures are another sign of physical abuse.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any inappropriate sexual behavior with a child, such as: fondling a child's genitals, making the child fondles the adult's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, and sexual exploitation. These acts can be committed by a baby sitter, parents, daycare provider, or someone related to the child. Child molesters can also be friends, neighbors, or even strangers.

Child Protective Services (CPS) a Broken and Flawed System

The Child Protective Services (CPS) system is broken and when CPS fails, children pay often with their lives. Over 1,000 children die of neglect or torture each year. While under the care of CPS, studies have shown that children are 600% more likely to die a violent death. In 2007, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) reported 1,760 child fatalities attributed to child abuse. Of those, more than half had prior Child Protective Services involvement before their deaths. Why are our state sponsored child protective services failing to protect our children? According to Representative Richard Morrissette (Democrat, Oklahoma City), Our system is broken. The Department of Human Services is a mess. Its terrible for kids. We still have children dying. We still have children being moved around. The more we ignore the reality of this, our children are going to pay.

Zahra Baker Case Study

In 2005, Zahra Clare Baker was diagnosed with cancer. Her battle with cancer included required chemo therapies which caused her to lose hearing on both ears and required removal of one of her legs. Five years later, her single father, Adam Baker, moved the family from Australia to North Carolina, United States in order to be with Elisa Baker, a woman he met on the Internet. Within months,

neighbors and family members were calling social services with allegations of child abuse. CPS arrived at the home to investigate and question neighbors in order to determine if there was any truth behind the allegations. I watched her beat her and tried to stop her, said former neighbor Karen Young, who filed a complaint against Elisa Baker for threatening to harm her daughter. Neighbor Kayla Rotenberry confirmed the allegations. She said she saw Elisa Baker hit Zahara and noted she had bruises on her face and body. Even family members supported the claims of abuse. Zahra was locked in her room, allowed five minutes out a day to eat, that was it, said Brittany Bentley. She was beat almost every time I was over there for just the smallest things. Elisa would get mad, she would take it out on Zahra, things the kid didnt deserve. Zahra just had a horrible home life. After repeated reports of abuse and confirmations from neighbors and family members, the worst scenario occurred. On October 13, 2010, police dogs searched amongst tree trimming equipment, a wood chipper, and piles of mulch for Zahras body. Elisa Baker reported her missing and produced a ransom note that she handed over to the police. The note read You like being in control. Now who is in control. We have your daughter and demanded a ransom of 1 million dollars. The police promptly determined the ransom note was fake, an investigation ensued, and Elisa Baker was arrested. I just think this was something for a long time that we knew was going to happen, everybody that was close to the family, Brittany Bentley said. Bentley said she would have Zahra over for weekends and the girl would get mad when it was time to return home, a common signal of a child that is being abused Neighbors and family members were stunned. After all, CPS had been called in to investigate several times during the months before her disappearance.

Kayla Allen Case Study

Kayla Allen, of Onslow County, North Carolina, was regularly abused by her parents. Numerous reports were filed with Onslow County Child Protective Services and police even had photograph evidence of bruises on her face and body. Finally, in desperation, her grandmother kidnapped her to remove her from the abusive household. The grandmother was tracked down, arrested and Kayla returned to her parents by authorities. 14 months later, her mother, Carolyn Furtell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kayla Allen. Shortly thereafter, the grandmother, laden with guilt over her broken promise to Kayla that nobody would ever hurt her again, committed suicide.

Jonathan Coffman Case Study

Jonathan Coffman lived with his mentally unstable mother. Child Protective Services had been notified at least once about the unsafe living conditions Jonathan was placed in. His mother, Sherry Coffman, did not have the mental fortitude to understand that a unheated home could be dangerous to a small child. Despite the CPS investigation into the safety of the home, five year old Jonathan, curled into a ball, froze to death in his bedroom. Justice Maura Corrigan said, The phenomenon of children dying in state care is one that deserves special scrutiny. We know that there are many more deaths than make the newspapers. The total number of children who die annually while under state care is unknown. While multiple agencies track their numbers, no central tracking agency exists and tracking methods differ between agencies. That many children die while under the care of our social services system is without question but we dont even know exactly how many die each year.

Quick to remove children

Child Protective Services is a state run social services operation which receives funding from federal resources. The reasons for the failure of the system are widely discussed and debated. Some charge that CPS is too quick to remove children from their homes, a policy known as when in doubt, pull them out. And once a child is removed from the home, some state programs work to ensure the child is not placed in another family members home (assuming the apple does not fall far from the tree, a policy that some question as flawed). In addition, many argue that the impact of a forced removal hits poorer families harder than well-to-do homes because lower income families do not have the financial resources to obtain legal assistance and fight the system that they may deem unfair or biased.

The flawed incentive system

Incentives within the child protective services program are often counterproductive. States receive federal monies for children held in the system. The more kids in the system, the more money the social services agency earns from housing and caring for the state owned child. Rather than striving to move the abused childe into a private home with potential adoptive parents, the state

sponsored financial assistance often creates a preference to place children in institutional care or with families whos sole income is derived from caring for foster children. It is widely understood that congregate type child care is not as effective or beneficial to the child as placement with a permanent family. Regardless, there are virtually no incentives in place to encourage the movement of the child out of institutional care.

The process for determining abuse

The process for determining whether the abuse report was valid or inconsequential may also be flawed. When a report is received by CPS, policies define the steps required to determine whether or not the child is in danger. The report is first screened to determine whether or not it meets state policy criteria for defining a potential incidence of maltreatment. Next, the name of the perpetrator is recorded in a central registry. In this determination, there is not gray area or in-between. The child is either safe or at risk. If the situation is determined to be safe, there are no policies requiring regular follow-ups to ensure the determination was accurate and correct. Although intended to ensure the safety and well being of the child, rigid policies often contain gaps.

The flawed aging out process

Many think the aging out process is flawed too. For many foster children, the age of 18 is an important milestone. For some, reaching the age of 18 means they will be aged out of the system. Regardless of whether the child is in school or not, at age 18 the funding stops on the day the child turns 18. For many, they are immediately kicked out of the foster home. Homelessness amongst aged our foster children is a problem for both boys and girls exiting the system.

Accountability and Fear

All too often, a child that is currently under the protection of Child Protective Services dies or is sexually assaulted. In these cases, CPS is rarely held accountable. Laws intended to protect the victims privacy can be manipulated and used to protect CPS workers even if negligence on the part of the social services organization can be proven. In addition, family members often hesitate to challenge CPS for fear of retribution. Mary Green, who had her 10 year old granddaughter forcibly removed from her home explained, If a worker becomes angry with you, theyll get back at you. Theyll get back by taking what they can from you. Families involved in a CPS investigation often feel that they are at the mercy of the child protective services agency.

Potential solutions
The potential solutions vary just as greatly as the many proposed flaws. Changing standards about what constitutes abuse have created a broad range of reportable circumstances, too broad to be handled by a single agency. Similarly, the functions and range of tasks provided by CPS are too broad. The agencies act as both the assessors and investigators meaning the agency that is slotted to provide services in order to remediate the problem has the dual task of investigating and punishing the perpetrators. A clearer delineation of the relationship between CPS and local police authorities and the tasks each is supposed to be responsible for is needed. In addition, decentralizing or dividing child services tasks amongst various organizations may offer a solution. Furthermore, there is a grave need for financial resources. In tough economic times, the first costs to be cut are always social services programs. This forces a greater workload on fewer people, educated and degreed people who are often already underpaid. If monies cannot be expanded and allocated to these social service programs, then the creation of community centered or volunteer staffed service delivery systems may be required. And finally, the child protective laws themselves may require change. Incentive programs should be created to ensure the objective is to place children with adoptive families rather than institutional care centers. Secrecy should be avoided and laws intended to protect victims reworked to ensure CPS and other protective agencies cannot hide their mistakes through laws that were intended to protect the victim. Child protective services must acknowledge their mistakes and be held accountable in order to make needed corrections.

Result
The Many Signs of Physical, Emotional, Sexual Child Abuse or Neglect
The earlier child abuse is discovered, the better the chance the child will recover and lead a normal life. Its very important that it be caught early on. Fortunately, there are many warning signs that a child is being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused. With a little bit of observation and thoughtful evaluation, you can analyze the childs situation and spot the warning signs that point towards a child in an abusive situation. Child abuse is often categorized as either emotional, physical, sexual abuse, or neglect. Each type of abuse results in different signs that you can key on to determine whether the child is being abused. In any case, suspected child abuse should be reported to the authorities so the situation can be further investigated.

Signs that may indicate a child is being emotionally abused

Emotional abuse entails the parent or caregiver abusing the child through belittling, coldness, corrupting, harassing, ignoring, isolating or terrorizing the child. It entails much more than mere verbal abuse. It is an attack on the childs emotional and social development and is a threat to healthy human development. The following are warning signs that a child may be emotionally abused: The child may be fearful of doing something wrong. The child may suffer headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause. You may notice sudden changes in the childs self-confidence. The child is essentially beat down until they are no longer confident in their own abilities. The child may show extremes in behavior. For instance, they may be extremely compliant or extremely demanding or they may be extremely passive or extremely aggressive. The child may act excessively adult (e.g. taking care of other children or taking care of the parent) or extremely infantile (e.g. rocking, thumb sucking, or temper tantrums). The child may have several instances where they have attempted to run away. The child may have attempted suicide. The parent may constantly belittle or berate the child. This causes the child to see themselves in a way consistent with what the caregiver tells them and limits the childs potential. There may seem to be no attachment between the child and the parent. The parent may appear unconcerned with the child. The parent may refuse to consider offers of help of some of the childs problems. The parent may overtly and outwardly reject the child in front of other people.

In addition, you may observe strangeness in the relationship between the parent and the child.

Signs that a child is physically abused

Physical child abuse involves the parent striking, hitting, kicking, or in any other manner physically injuring the child. Although the act of physical abuse itself may rarely be seen, there are plenty of warning signs that a child is being physically abused. The child may have frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, cuts, bites, broken bones, or black eyes. They child may have fading bruises or other marks noticeable after a child returns from a absence from school. The child may appear watchful, on alert, or always looking for something to happen to them. They may be particularly wary of other adults.

They may seem frightened of their parents and loudly protest when its time to go home. They may have visible injuries that form a distinct pattern such as a belt or hand imprint. The child my shy away from touch or flinch violently at sudden movements. The child may wear inappropriate clothing intended to cover up injuries. For instance, they may wear a long-sheaved shirt on a hot day.

The parent may provide clues that they are physically abusing the child too. The parent my offer unconventional, conflicting, or unconvincing explanations for the childs injuries. They may describe the child in negative ways such as bad, or evil. You may see them dish out very harsh discipline of the child. The abuser may have a history of being abused themselves.

Signs that a child is being sexually abused

Sexual abuse victims provide many signs. For information on sexual abuse signs may be found here. The child may have trouble walking or sitting. The child may display unusual knowledge of sexual acts inappropriate for their age. The child may make a great effort to avoid a specific person or place. The child may suffer physical symptoms such as a sexually transmitted disease, urinal infection, genital pain or bleeding. The child may go to great lengths to avoid taking their clothes off in front of other children. The child may have fearful behavior such as bad dreams, depression, or other unusual fears. The child may show fear of sleeping alone. The child may have crying spells, be hyperactive, show excessive nervousness, have memory problems, or talk about violent fantasies. Parents who sexually abuse children can provide plenty of warning signs to. The caregiver may be unduly protective of the child or severely limit the childs contact with other children their age. The parent may be secretive or isolated. The parent may demonstrate jealousy or controlling behavior with other children in the household.

In addition to what people normally think of with regards to child sexual abuse, you must be cognitive of online sexual abuse which has become quite common with the advent of the Internet and social networking. Online sexual abuse can easily turn into physical sexual abuse. Warning signs of online sexual abuse include: The child spends large amounts of time online, particularly at night. You find pornography on the childs computer. The child receives phone calls from men that you do not know. You might find the child making phone calls, especially long distance calls, to phone numbers that you do not recognize. The child may receive gifts or packages from someone that you do not know. Your child quickly turns off the computer monitor when you walk into the room. The child may become withdrawn from the family. The child may use an online account that belongs to someone else or has inaccurate information (such as a fake name or older age).

Signs of neglect
Neglect is also a form of child abuse and in severe cases, may result in death of the child. Regardless of the parents social stature, neglect can be corrected with supplemental, often free, resources. Signs of child neglect include: The child may wear clothes that are ill fitting or inappropriate for the weather. For instance, the child may wear shorts during winter. The childs hygiene may be consistently bad. For instance, their hair may always be unwashed and unkempt or they may have severe body odor. You may notice untreated wounds or illness.

The child may be frequently unsupervised or left alone in unsafe environments. The child may be frequently late or missing from school. The child may fail to gain weight. This is particularly noticeable with infants. The child may have a voracious appetite at all times. You may catch the child stealing food. The child may openly tell you that no one is home to offer care or assistance. The parent may appear indifferent or uncaring towards the child. The parent may seem apathetic, uncaring, or depressed. The parent abuses or uses alcohol or drugs.

Parents who neglect their children may also demonstrate recognizable behaviors.

In general, any time a child shows sudden changes in behavior or performance in school, theres a indication that they may be abused. Children that seem unduly fearful, watchful as if something bad is about to happen, or seem to not want to go home typically have a good reason for those fears. A parent who shows little concern for their child or blames the child for problems are quite likely abusive to the child. If a parent sees a child as worthless or entirely bad, chances are high that they are abusing the child too. And the relationship between the child and the parent is a dead giveaway that something is amiss. Parents and children who rarely look at each other or who openly state that they do not like each other are in a relationship that is almost certainly abusive.

Sexual Abuse Statistics

Only recently, and only in some countries and cultures, has the abuse of children come to be seen as a major societal problem and a main cause of the abused persons suffering and personal problems. Sexual abuse can produce a long term devastating impact on the victim. Abuse may lead to loss of trust, decreases in self esteem, development of shame, guilt and depression, substance abuse, suicide, promiscuity or prostitution, unfounded fear, and other behavioral issues. In most cases, the victim never tells anyone about the abuse and the resulting behavioral issues are simply accepted or ignored. Since child sexual abuse is largely taboo, many do not understand or comprehend the severity nor commonality of the problem. In the United States, child physical, mental, and sexual abuse has reached epidemic proportions.

Below are several statistics related to child sexual abuse. These statistics are disturbing. The statistics are shocking.
1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under. An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today. 84 percent of prison inmates were abused as children. 30-40% of victims are abused by a family member. Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust. Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8. Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are children under 12. Most children dont tell even if they have been asked

Children are often abused by those they trust the most.

Sexual abuse happens to more than just teenagers.

Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused. Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE. Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse. Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred. Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate % of the time. Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children and families immediately. They also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.

Abuse can lead to health and behavioral issues

The way a victims family responds to abuse plays an important role in how the incident affects the victim. Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who tell and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems often lasting into adulthood. Children who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to experience physical health problems (e.g., headaches). Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD, more sadness, and more school problems than non-victims. Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience major depressive disorder as adults. Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as adolescents. Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood, are more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury, and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.

Sexual abuse even leads to drug problems.

Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems. 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use. Young girls who are sexually abused are 3 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or alcohol and drug abuse in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually abused. Among male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. Males who have been sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others.

Sexual abuse can lead to sexual problems.

Children who have been victims of sexual abuse exhibit long-term and more frequent behavioral problems, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviors. Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18. An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years. Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous. More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused. Adolescents who suffer violent victimization are at risk for being victims or perpetrators of felony assault, domestic violence, and property offense as adults. Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children. Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters. Most perpetrators dont molest only one child if they are not reported and stopped. Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims. An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.

The crime statistics are sickening.

Conclussions and Discussions

All about child abuse
First off you must understand that if youre a kid, you shouldnt be abused. Nobody should be hitting you, touching you in the wrong places, or making you feel bad. Most adults know better than to do that. If the grown up does it anyway then they have a problem that needs to be fixed before they hurt you any more or hurt somebody else. Its a bad place to be in but there are things you can do to fix it. Below is a general overview of the child abuse problem. About one third of all kids are abused. That means if you look around you and count six people that are close by, about two of those people have been abused or are being abused. You are not alone. If you are abused, you have to do something about it. Kids that dont do something about the abuse may grow up and have other problems sometimes lots of other problems. The good news is that kids that do tell someone about the abuse, and get help for it, turn out just fine. Things you may have heard that are not true Its tough to tell a child abuser by what they look like. Most people think adults that abuse are always men. Thats not true. Sometimes women abuse kids too. Its also sometimes thought that grown up that abuse kids are always strangers. Thats not true either. Most of the time the grown up that is abusing a kid is someone the kid knows, a aunt or uncle, a mother or father, a neighbor, or a brother or sister. And finally, some kids believe that the adult that is hurting the kid is always hated by the kid. Thats not true either. Many times the grown up that is hurting the kid is someone the kid loves very much. For instance, a mom or dad. Regardless, what they are doing is wrong and they need help (and so do you).

Is child abuse common?

As we said above, many times the grown up that is abusing the kid is someone the kid knows like a father or step father. The effects of their abuse are shattering and may cause you a lifetime of hurt and pain. Studies have shown that 1 out of 4 girls are abused and 1 out of 6 boys are abused. Thats a lot of kids being hurt.

What is sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse doesnt always involve sex. If you dont know what sex is then this is a little tougher to explain. Basically, sex is what grownups do to have kids. And as you may know, sex should be between grownups, not between grownups and kids. But there are other ways a grownup can sexually abuse a kid. Here are some examples of sexual abuse. If you can think of other examples, post your comment below and well add them to this list. A person shows you pictures of naked kids or naked grownups or anyone naked doing things that just dont seem right to you. A person touches you between the legs. Only in really rare cases should a doctor or parent touch you there and generally its only when youve been hurt and they are trying to see if you are ok. A person asks (or makes you) touch them between the legs. This should never happen. A person asks you to take off your clothes so they can look at you. Sometimes they might want to take pictures which is really, really bad.

How to tell someone that you are being abused

This might be hard to make yourself do but you HAVE to do it. You must tell someone if you are being abused. Call 911 on your phone and tell the police. Or you can call 1-800-422-4453, the National Child Abuse Hotline and someone there will help you (they are really nice people). You can also tell a teacher at school and they will help. How to tell a kid is being abused There are some signs that a kid is being abused. You might notice these in some of your friends or you might be having some of these same problems yourself. The kid that is being abused usually does these things. Does not trust adults Has sleep problems and cannot sleep at night or has bad dreams Comes to school with strange bruises or cuts. Sometimes they will wear long sleeves even when it is hot outside to cover up the bruises. Is very scared of being touched. They might flinch or duck when you make a fast move. May have trouble walking or sitting down. Sometimes being sexually abused can make you hurt. And there are many other signs such as mental problems, that are harder to spot.

References
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parenting and adjustment of offspring." Child Abuse & Neglect 28 (2004): 525-545. Doubleday/Anchor, 1980. brief. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, 1995. abuse and repeated suicide behavior?" Child Abuse & Neglect 28 (2004): 863-875.