Child abuse is harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare which can occur through non-accidental physical or mental injury; sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse; sexual exploitation or attempted sexual exploitation.
The following are a few of the physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect. Please note that this is not an exclusive list, but more a list of the most common signs and sysmptoms. For more information, please contact Childhelp USA® National Child abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453).
Physical Abuse Any non-accidental physical injury or pattern of injuries inflicted or caused by an adult, parent, guardian or other person.
*Indicators are particularly telling if they are: Repeated and consistent over time Long lasting (as one injury heals, a newer injury appears or is discovered in a more recent state of healing.) Location (unusual place such as face, back,etc)
*Red Flags Unexplained bruises,Unexplained lacerations,Unexplained burns,or Behavioral indications in the child.
Sexual Abuse Exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult or person older than the child.
*Examples of sexual abuse:Sexual Intercourse,Fondling,Indecent exposure/exhibitionism ,Use of children in pornography,Exposing children to pornographic material,Deliberately exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse,Masturbation in front of a child
*What to look for?
YOUNGER CHILDREN Compulsive masturbation,Bed-wetting, soiling,Excessive curiosity about sex,Altered sleep patterns,Learning problems,Separation anxiety,Overly compulsive behavior,Developing fears and phobias,Sexual acting out with peers,Becoming nonverbal,Developing tension symptoms -- stomach aches, skin disorders,Becoming seductive
PREPUBERTY AND TEENAGE Stealing,Running away,Starting fires,Excessive bathing, Being withdrawn and passive,Girls pulling up skirts,Sexual inference in school artwork,Teaching others how to masturbate,Becoming aggressive toward peers,Succumbing to periods of deep depression,Failing grades,Alcohol or drug abuse
OLDER CHILDREN Suicide attempts,Early marriage,Running away ,STD’s,Pregnancy,Substance abuse,Getting in trouble with legal system
* Physical Indicators
Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia,Complains of pain or itching in genitalia,Difficulty in sitting or walking,Torn, stained or bloody underclothing,Sexually transmitted diseases,Pregnancy,especially in early adolescence
* Behavioral Indictors Bizarre or unusual sexual behaviors,Knowledge of sexual behaviors inappropriate for child’s age,Excessive masturbation,Lack of self esteem, depression, self respect,Child may seem very mature for age,Child may talk about secrets
Physical Neglect: Failing to meet a child’s minimum needs for food clothing, shelter, education, affection, medical care, dental care, etc… (Head lice in and of itself is not defined as neglect by the Alabama Department of Human Resources unless the head lice is left untreated.) Physical indicators of neglect,Behavioral indicators of the child
Emotional Neglect & Abuse A pattern of behavior that takes place over an extended period of time, characterized by intimidation, belittling and otherwise damaging interaction that affects a child’s healthy emotional development. Physical indicators of emotional abuse and neglect,Behavioral indicators of the child
Did you Know?
1-4 Girls and 1-6 Boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. -darkness to light, 2004
Each day in the United States, more than 3 children die as a result of child abuse in the home. -U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Maltreatment 2001
The temporal pattern of sexual assault show that unlike adults, young juveniles are at highest risk of sexual assault in the hours when meals are served and after school. -Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement, 7/00, NCJ 182990, U.S. Department of Justice
1 in 3 victims of physical abuse is an infant less than a year old. -The Carnegie Corporation of New York
The typical offender is male, begins molesting by age 15, engages in a variety of deviant behavior, and molests an average of 117 youngsters, most of whom do not report the offense. -Dr. Gene Abel in a National Institute of Mental Health Study.
What is Child Neglect?
Negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child including the failure to provide adequate food, medical treatment, clothing, or shelter. Exception: A parent or guardian legitimately practicing his religious beliefs and does not provide medical treatment for a child. This does not preclude a court from ordering the medical services to be provided where the child’s health requires it.
How to Report To report suspected abuse in Alabama, call:
Department of Children's Services Report by County Russell County – (334) 214-5780
Surrounding Alabama Counties: Barbour County (334) 775-2000 Bullock County (334) 738-2740 Lee County – (334) 749-8164 Macon County (334) 725-2100
After hours, contact county Department of Human Services or local law enforcement. In an emergency, dial 911.
If you are not sure what to do, call the Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453)
Abuse must be reported within the state in which it occurs. When seeking to report abuse, it is important to remember these points:If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, you should call your local Department of Human Resourse (DHR) or Child Protective Services (CPS) agency or the DHR/CPS agency in the State in which the abuse occurred. As you identify the appropriate agency for making a report, remember the following:
-Not every State has a toll free hotline, or the hotline may not operate on a 24 hour basis. If a toll free (800 or 888) number is available, it may be accessible only from within that State. -Federal agencies have no authority to intervene in individual child abuse and neglect cases. Each State has jurisdiction over these matters, and has specific laws and procedures for reporting and investigating. In some States, all citizens are mandated reporters by State law and must report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
If you need to report suspected abuse in a State other than your own, please call: Childhelp® USA National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453) TDD: 1-800-2-A-CHILD
