Child Abuse

Acts of commission

(child abuse) 1. words or overt actions that cause harm, potential harm, or threat of harm 2. Acts of commission are deliberate and intentional; however, harm to a child might not be the intended consequence. Intention only applies to caregiver acts—not the consequences of those acts. For example, a caregiver might intend to hit a child as punishment (i.e., hitting the child is not accidental or unintentional), but not intend to cause the child to have a concussion. The following types of maltreatment involve acts of commission: Physical abuse Sexual abuse Psychological abuse

Acts of Omission

(child neglect) failure to provide needs or to protect from harm or potential harm, Acts of omission are the failure to provide for a child's basic physical, emotional, or educational needs or to protect a child from harm or potential harm. Like acts of commission, harm to a child might not be the intended consequence. The following types of maltreatment involve acts of omission: Physical neglect Emotional neglect Medical and dental neglect Educational neglect Inadequate supervision Exposure to violent environments

WHO ARE MANDATORY REPORTERS?

- A foster parent. - An adult family member who is a person responsible for the child's welfare and provides services to a child in a family living home, community home for individuals with an intellectual disability or host home for children which is required to be licensed. - An individual — paid or unpaid — who, on the basis of the individual's role as an integral part of a regularly scheduled program, activity, or service, is a person responsible for the child's welfare or has direct contact with children (e.g., a sports coach). - An employee of a social services agency who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. - A peace officer or law enforcement official. - An emergency medical services provider certified by the Department of Health. - An employee of a public library who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. - An individual supervised or managed by a person listed above, who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. - An independent contractor who has direct contact with children. - An attorney affiliated with an agency, institution, organization or other entity, including a school or regularly established religious organization that is responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children. - A person licensed or certified to practice in any health-related field under the jurisdiction of the Department of State. - A medical examiner, coroner, or funeral director. - An employee of a health care facility or provider licensed by the Department of Health who is engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of individuals. - A school employee. - An employee of a child care service who has direct contact with children in the course of employment. - A clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization.

What does the National Center on CHild Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) within the department of health, education, and welfare aim to do?

1. Administer grant programs 2. Identify issues and areas needing special focus for new research and demonstration project activities 3. Serve as the focal point for the collection of information, improvement of programs, dissemination of materials, and information on best practices to States and localities 4. Created the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information

where you can find data of insedence of child abuse and neglect?

1. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS); the official reporting system for cases of child abuse and neglect referred to state child protective services. , 2. Uniform Crime Reproting system (UCR): administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 3. National Crime VIcitmizaiton Survery (NCVS): administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to a large representative sample of U.S. citizens aged 12 and older

(CAPTA) Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 KEY PROVISIONS

1. Provided assistance to states to develop child abuse and neglect identification and prevention programs 2. Authorized limited government research into child abuse prevention and treatment 3. Created the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to: 4. Established Basic State Grants and Demonstration Grants for training personnel and to support innovative programs aimed at preventing and treating child maltreatment

Prevention strategies for child abuse

1. School based educaitonal programs for young children, 2. utlizing home visting nurses, 3. preventing child sexual abuse by targeting pre-offenders before first offense

Dr. Hamilton cites the following as roadblocks to more effective prosecution of child abusers

1. The insurance industry which at this time is protecting it's financial liability and is interesting in limiting the statute of limitations. However, Dr. Hamilton reports that insurance companies could be the most influential force for change by using it's discretion in provide risk protection for large institutions such as colleges and universities; e.g., refusing to provide liability coverage if institutions do not do proper screening of coaches or priests, or retain a coach or priest who is suspected of child abuse. 2. The catholic church which is lobbying to protect itself from the liability of abusive priests

why is a consistent definition important? (definitions were developed by CDC)

1. a consistent definition is needed to monitor the incidence of child abuse and neglect and to examine trends over time. 2. a clear and consistent definition helps determine the magnitude of child abuse and neglect and allows comparison of the problem across jurisdictions

ace questions categorized into teo categories

1. abuse: emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. 2. household challanges: intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental abuse, parental seperation or diveorce, and incarcerated household member

all ace questions refer to the respondents first ___ years of life

18

when did interest in child welfare peak?

1800s but waned during the 1920s

when was the resurgence of public awarness? and why?

1960; publicity surrounding "the battered child sydrome"

reasonable suspicion

A reasonable suspicion is valid or warranted when a reasonable person may infer from specific facts an activity is occurring or has occurred

DR. MARCI HAMILTON (ceo and academic director of CHILD USA)

Dr. Hamilton informs that among the best way to challenge the pandamic of child abuse is to: 1. eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal and civil laws 2. increase - expand mandatory reporting laws and attach a significant penalty for failure to report 3. increase testing for all sexual assault examination kits 4. invalidate all non-disclosure rules in civil cases to improve transparency and elucidate the public as to the problem of sexual abuse 5. Change the defamation alws to reduce the risk to victims who may report 6. Improve whistleblower legislation

where was the orginal ACE study conducted

Kaiser Permanete from 1995 to 1997 (two waves of data collection)

THE NATIONAL DATA ARCHIVE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT (NDACAN)

a resource developed in 1988, it promotes scholarly exchange amoung researchers in child maltreatment field, NDACAN acquires microdata from leading researchers and national data collection efforts and makes these datasets available to the research community for secondary analysis. NDACAN supports information-sharing through its Child Maltreatment Research List Serve and its Updata e-newsletter and provides data analysis opportunities to researchers through conference workshops and its annual Summer Research Institute.

what did the ace study find?

a strong relationship between exposure to abuse or household dysfunction during childhood and multiple risk factors of death in adults

Child abuse and neglect definitions

any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver (ex: clergy, coach, teacher) that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child

Professionals who come into contact with children

are mandatory reporters and are required to report when they have reasonable suspicion to suspect that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of their agency, institution or organization is an abused child.

resilience

documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to treat and prevent Toxic Stress. ACEs is now understood to be one of the leading causes of everything from heart disease and cancer to substance abuse and depression. ACEs has shown extremely stressful experiences in childhood can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behavior.

what did these two landmarks do?

driven legislative changes: most important one being manditory reporting, thorough background checks, and changes in the statue of limitations

The Chold Advocacy Center (CAC)

established in 1985 to better respond to cases of child maltreatment and address problems associated with an unilaterial law enforcement approach to child victims

David Finkelhor

his study is called The Prevention of Childhood Sexual Abuse, n this study Finkelhor examines two primary strategies to reduce child abuse, offender management and school-based educational programs. The findings in this study have had significant impacts on policy and how we think about child abuse prevention.

where was the first child protective agency in the world developed

in new york city (the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was developed in December 1874)

Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study

is a landmark in the investigation of child abuse, children exposed to violence and stress, and the long term outcomes of these adverse experiences

National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS)

is a study conducted every decade by the Department of Health and Human Services on a nationally representative sample that captures both cases of abuse and neglect reported to child protective services and unreported cases identified by professionals working with children.

McMartin preschool trial

lasted 3 years and remains the most expewnsive trial in US history and all defendants were exonerated; no one charged because it was histeria

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)

passed in 1974, provided federal funding to states to develop child abuse and neglect prevention programs

ChildLine

provides information, counseling, and referral services for families and children to ensure the safety and well-being of children. CALL THIS NUMBER WHEN REPORTING

when do you report?

reasonable suspicion

main impact of CAC

reduces the stress and trauma imposed on child victims during the criminal investigation process

what CAC does

seeks to improve the response and prosecution of child maltreatment: 1. employs experts in child interviews, all interactions with children are audsio/video recorded, and CAC is integrated with the medical community, law enforcement, social services, and the courts

Landmark events

sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy in Catholic CHurch and the Pennsylvania State University Jerry Sandusky Scandal

mandated reporters must submit what info when reporting vs other members of the community who choose to report

submit their name and contact information when making a report. Other members of the community who report can choose to remain anonymous.

The Battered Child Syndrome

term used by Dr. Kempe in his paper called The Battered CHild sydrome, term to characterize a clinical condition in young children who have recieved serious physical abuse

mary ellen wilson

the abuse of mary was detected by neighbors who sought formal social intervention. At the time there was no legal way to interveine in her case so the matter was referred to the Socitety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The case was soon brought to the New York State Supreme Court. She was removed from her home, her mom was charged, and her case led to the creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1874

Commonwealth v. Olivio

the pennsylvania supreme court decided commonwealth v. oliva upholding a new pennsylvania evidentiary statue permitting exper testimony to explain victim behavoir in prosecution of crimes of sexual violence: this is a step towards minimizing victim blaming and rape culture in the courtoom

at least ____ children die in the United States as a result of parental mistreatment

three

origins of formal concerns for the welfare of children

was in 1870 with mary ellen wilson