Each of us has the moral obligation to report suspected cases of child abuse. National statistics indicate that five children die daily as a result of child abuse (Childhelp, 2015). Reporting suspected child abuse can prevent the abused child from continuing the horrific cycle of abuse toward their own children (Smith & Segal, 2015). There are four forms of child abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse (Smith & Segal, 2015).
Christine “Chris” Witty, a gold medal winning speed skater, molested by a family friend at the age of four, “it’s important to talk about it. You raise awareness. But you can also prevent it (child abuse) by not letting it be a secret” (Newberry, 2008, para. 3). Researchers have shown that child abuse may be caused by a complex combination of personal, social, and cultural factors (Family Resource Center, 2015). Measures should be taken to protect children because they are the future. Child abuse is a serious problem that no one wants to admit it exists or do not know how to stop it, if they are aware it exists. Although people are afraid to get involved, suspected cases of child abuse need to be reported immediately because reporting child abuse can save a life.
Physical abuse and sexual molestation are the most common forms of child maltreatment (Pillado, Kim, & Dierkhising, 2010). Physical abuse is non-accidental trauma or physical injury caused by punching, beating, kicking, burning, or otherwise harming a child (Smith & Segal, 2015). Physical abuse is the most visible form of child maltreatment and there are several warning signs (Smith & Segal, 2015). The most common warning sign of physical abuse is continual injuries or unknown bruises, contusions, or lace...
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Kids First Child Abuse Treatment Center. (2009). 7 Ways to prevent child abuse. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://www.kidsfirstinc.org/preventing-abuse
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2010). Understanding child maltreatment. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/CM-factsheet-a.pdf
Newberry, P. (2008, September 15). Olympian goes public with sexual abuse. USA Today. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-9-15
Pillado, O., Kim, T., & Dierkhising, C. B. (2010). Fact sheet: Child maltreatment. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://stopyouthviolence.ucr.edu/factsheets/FACTSHEET%20ChildMaltreatmentSpring2010.pdf
Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2015). Child abuse and neglect. Web. 23 May 2015.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_
Sedlak, A. (1990) Technical Amendments to the Study Findings--National Incidence and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect: 1988. Rockville, MD: Westat, Inc. Wiese, D. and Daro, D. (1995) Current Trends in Child Abuse Reporting and Fatalities: The Results of the 1994 Annual Fifty State Survey.
Child abuse in general is quite complex and at the same time one of the most challenging social issue facing people all around the USA. Child abuse cases have been recorded in all the states of the USA. The cases occur in all areas be it cities, small towns, suburbs, and even in rural areas. The vice also happens in all types of families regardless of the ethnic origin of the family or the even family income (UNICEF, 2015). It is thus important that effort is put into reducing cases of child abuse.
"What Is Child Abuse." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse. Childhelp® 1959–2014, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. .
Child abuse in the United States is a growing epidemic. Every year the number of reported cases, and missing children go up. This is caused mostly by lack of education about the different types of child abuse, and the signs that go along with it. Communities need to provide more resources to better educate the public about the types of abuse, and the signs that go along with it. Child abuse and neglect can be lessened by more resources, more education and to reach out to others.
Child Abuse is an extremely significant conflict around the world; it is the physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child. There are 4 main types of victimization against children. Those containing physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. Physical abuse is when a parent or guardian wounds their child in the form of injuring them or in any other manner causing them agony. Emotional abuse also recognized as mental abuse is when they mentally upset a child’s feelings that may generate trauma. Sexual abuse can probably be characterized as someone forcing a child in an act of unwanted sexual relationships. Neglect is the form of not providing a child with their basic physical and emotional necessities. Most people are forming organizations to prevent from future child abuse occurring but most people are also not getting involved in such dangerous crimes. Usually more than 90% of abusers tend to be people children know, love, or trust, according to Bright Futures 4 Kids.
Physical abuse is the intentional infliction of physical injury to a child. Legal definition of child abuse can very from state to state, but it is widely accepted that any intentional injury to a child that results in a need to seek out medical attention are considered to be physical abuse. Forms of physical abuse can range from small cuts and bruises to more severe cases of broken ones and internal injuries. Nonetheless, there have been complications in defining the line between punishment and physical abuse. Many states explicitly note that “spanking when administered in an reasonable manner” does not constitute abuse. Thus, physical punishment remains subject to interpretation in the context of it's
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3.3 million referrals for alleged maltreatment were made in 2013. Out of the 3.3 million referrals, 899,000 children were officially documented as being maltreated(Child Abuse & Neglect 2015). Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child. Child abuse is recognized in several forms; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Children who experience any form of abuse will tend to withdraw themselves from their peers and sometimes from other family members who are not aware of what is taking place. Child abuse occurs not just in the homes of these children, but can also occur in schools, churches and after school programs. Anywhere a child is present there is a chance that abuse can occur. This paper will review the forms of child abuse, the effects of child abuse, reasons child abuse occurs and possible therapies to bring healing in the parties involved.
Iannelli, Vincent, M.D. Facts about Child Abuse. N.p. 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Feb 2014.
Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children. There can be no single factor identified as the cause of child abuse. However it appears to be influenced by the parents' histories, psychological resources, and economic status.
There are different types of child abuse. One type is physical abuse. It involves the parent inflicting injuries to the child’s body. These injuries can include: bruises, burns, broken bones, head injuries and even injuries to internal organs (General Information about Child Abuse). As a result of physical abuse, children may be scared and shy when people approach them and try to touch them. Another sign that abused children might show can be them wearing long clothing in order to cover and hide their injuries (General Information about Child Abuse). They do this in order to prevent outside factors from asking them questions. The main sign of this kind of physical abuse that the parents or caregivers can show are anger problems or the excessive need for control.
These numbers demand the public’s attention. The pain of just one child should be more than enough to cause a person to jump up and help, much less the pain of more than six thousand children. The U.S. Department of Justice calls children the “perfect victim” for six major reasons. Firstly, since children are typically not emotionally or physically mature, they will try to avoid talking about the abuse. The second reason that they provide is that often times the child does not want to betray the person who is abusing them due to the fact that, many times, the abuser is someone close to them or even related to them. Thirdly, many times there is not enough medical evidence or reliable eye witness accounts for the police to persecute a sexual predator. Unfortunately, the child’s testimony is easy for most any defense attorney to strike down. Two more reas...
Lewis, D. O., Mallouh, C., & Webb, V Child Maltreatment: Theory and Research on the Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. (1989) Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.
Smith, M., & Segal, J. (n.d.). Child Abuse & Neglect. : Recognizing, Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse. Retrieved January 14 2014, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
Zieve, David, Juhn, Greg, and Eltz, David R. "Child Abuse-Sexual." New York Times. N.p., 13 Oct. 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.
More importantly, “60 percent of children who are sexually abused do not disclose and most are acquaintances but as many as 47 percent are family or extended family” (The Scope of, 2016). The prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine because it is often not reported; experts agree that the incidence is far greater than what is reported to authorities (Child Sexual Abuse, 2012). Startling statistics represent the depth of the issue. Globally, prevalence rates show that a range of 7-36% of women and 3-29% of men experience sexual abuse in childhood (The Scope of, 2016). “The U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau report child maltreatment 2010 found that 9.2% of victimized children were sexually assaulted” (Child Sexual Abuse,