Child Abuse and Neglect"
What is child abuse and neglect?
When a parent, guardian or custodian inflicts or allows the infliction of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment.
- Physical abuse includes non-accidental physical injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns, cuts or other injuries.
- Sexual abuse occurs when sex acts are performed with children. Using children in pornography, prostitution or other types of sexual activity is also sexual abuse.
- Neglect occurs when children are not given necessary care for illness or injury. Neglect also includes leaving young children unsupervised or alone, locked in or out of the house, or without adequate clothing, food, or shelter. Allowing children to live in a very dirty house which could be a health hazard may also be considered neglect.
- Emotional abuse of a child is evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or improper aggressive behavior as diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist, and caused by the acts or omissions of the parent or caretaker.
- Exploitation means use of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian for material gain.
- Abandonment means the failure of the parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision, when such failure is intentional and continues for an indefinite period.
Identifying the Problem
Domestic violence affect children in many ways and developmental problems are almost always present. Domestic violence affects children:
- Emotionally
- Behaviorally
- Physically
- Socially
- Cognitively (faulty thinking)
General warning signs of child abuse and neglect can include:
- Lack of food/hungry/hoarding
- Inappropriate clothing
- Inadequate shelter
- Inadequate medical care
Before drawing conclusions of suspected family violence or abuse or abuse based on indicators, consider socioeconomic barriers which prevent parents from adequately caring for their child. These warning signs may not always indicate family violence.
More specific indicators of abuse can include:
- Unexplained welts, cuts and bruises that do not appear to be caused by child’s play
- Frequent or prolonged absences
- Irrational fears
- Extreme behaviors such as violence, isolation, excessive crying, or lack of emotion
- Excessive need for attention
- Fearlessness of adult authority
- Regressive behaviors such as bedwetting or thumsucking
- Learning problems
- Self-mutilation
- Cruelty to animals
Parents often give cues that violence exists in the home by:
- Denying a problem exists
- Being evasive when questioned
- Have similar injuries as their child
- Distrustful of staff, avoids eye contact and communication
Who must report?
Any person who reasonably believes that a minor is or has been the victim of physical injury, abuse, child abuse, a reportable offense or neglect that appears to have been inflicted on the minor by other than accidental means or that is not explained by the available medical history as being accidental in nature, or who reasonably believes that there has been a denial or deprivation of necessary medical treatment or surgical care or nourishment with the intent to cause or allow the death of an infant who is protected under A.R.S. § 36-2281, shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information to a peace office or to Child Protective Services in the Department of Economic Security, except if the report concerns a person who does not have care, custody or control of the minor, the report shall be made to a peace office only.
The following persons are required by law to report:
- Any physician, physician’s assistant, optometrist, dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, podiatrist, behavioral health professional, nurse, psychologist, counselor or social worker who develops the reasonable belief in the course of treating a patient.
- Any peace officer, member of the clergy, priest or Christian Science practitioner.
- The parent, stepparent or guardian of the minor.
- School personnel or domestic violence victim advocates who develop the reasonable belief in the course of their employment.
- Any other person who has responsibility for the care or treatment of the minor.
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.
A person acting with malice who either knowingly and intentionally makes a false report of child abuse and neglect or who coerces another person to make a false report is guilty of a crime. A person who knowingly and intentionally falsely accuses another of maliciously making a false report of child abuse and neglect is also guilty of a crime.
Sexual Abuse
Normal stages of sex play
0-4 Years Old
- Touches or rubs own genitals (random)
- Shows genitals
- Interested or asks about bathroom functions
- Interested and explores the differences between genitals
- Uses dirty language
- Plays house and doctor (imitative, modeling)
- May insert objects into genitals
5-8 Years Old
- Touches self (specific)
- Tells “dirty jokes”
- Plays doctor while exploring other children
- Kissing, holding hands
- Mimic dating
- Writing letters about “sex” terminology
9-12 Years Old
- Touches self and others’ genitals
- Mooning
- Exhibitionistic
- Kissing or dating
- Talks about sex with same-sex peer
- Interesting in own organs and functions
- Looks at pictures in books, writes letters and poems about sexual activity
- Dry humping
Sexual Play
Natural and healthy sexual exploration during childhood is an information gathering process. At a very young age children begin to explore their bodies by touching, poking, pulling and rubbing all their body parts, including their genitals.
When children are exploring their genitals, it should not be considered a sexual behavior. Children’s understanding of genital exploration is that “it feels good,” not that “I am doing something sexual.”
When children begin to explore, ask questions and/or experiment with their own bodies or with others, this is a sign to parents and/or caregivers that they are curious. Children will begin to explore their own bodies and will seek out opportunities with same-age peers to compare similarities and differences of body parts. This will happen with same sex peers and opposite sex peers. This curiosity about basic anatomy can also be satisfied by being read books about body parts.
Children will play house and act out sexual behaviors with dolls, pets, and stuffed animals. Children may use their toys to model kissing, holding hands, and sleeping together. When children are exposed to sexualized activity, such as seeing adults show affection, having intercourse, or observing sexual behaviors on TV, they become curious and may begin to experiment though their play. They may act out situations to which they’ve been exposed. Children will imitate what they have heard and observed but often do not understand the meaning behind their words.
As children begin to explore their bodies and experiment with their peers, they should not be shamed, blamed, or disciplined. Those that fail to recognize that exploratory behaviors are normal may respond to children’s behaviors by over-reacting.
Responding to a Disclosure
If a child discloses to you, you are in a very important position, because the child trusts you. It is important to remember that we are not “investigators”. Child Protective Services trains their investigators to ask specific questions that avoid leading the child’s disclosures. Your questions may interfere with their later investigation. It is always ok to listen and report. Although this may be difficult, the following suggestions may make it easier:
- Don’t pressure the child to talk
- Reassure that you believe them
- Control your own emotions
- Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling you
- Use restatement to clarify their disclosures and use their own lanquage
- Do not make promises you cannot keep
When to report?
A report should be made when any person, who reasonably believes that a child under 18 has been abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned. A report of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment is only a request for an investigation. The person making the report does not need to prove the abuse. Investigation and validation of child abuse reports are the responsibilities of child protective service workers. If additional incidents of abuse occur after the initial report has been made, make another report.
How is abuse reported?
A report can be made to the CPS Statewide Toll-Free Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-767-2445, (1-888-SOS-CHILD) or law enforcement office.
When reporting, the following information if known will be requested:
- Name, age, and gender of child and other family members
- Address, phone numbers, and/or directions to child’s home
- Parents’ place of employment
- Description of suspected abuse or neglect
- Current condition of the child
What happens to the report?
A CPS Specialist will investigate the report through interviews with all children in the home, parents, friends, relatives, and any other person who may have information about the child and family. After investigation, if CPS has reason to believe that a parent guardian or custodian abused or neglected a child and intends to confirm this, a letter will be sent to the person accused explaining how an appeal of this decision may be requested and how to get a copy of the CPS report.
What services are available through Child Protective Services?
Day Care, Parent Aide, Medical and Psychological Examinations and Evaluations, Shelter Care, Counseling, and other administrative and support services.
Remember: A report of suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment is a responsible attempt to protect a child.
How can we help?
What do you do when:
- A child is angry or acts out
- One child violently attacks another
- A parent is overly abusive to the child in front of you
- A child arrives at your center in an obvious state of neglect.
For more info and additional training on:
- creating a safe environment
- specific prevention and intervention strategies
… CALL OR E-MAIL US NOW!!!