Abuse

Examples of neglect of elderly

Failure by a caregiver or other responsible person to protect an elder from harm, or the failure to meet needs for essential medical care, nutrition, hydration, hygiene, clothing, basic activities of daily living or shelter, which results in a serious risk of compromised health and safety

Sexual abuse of the elderly

Forced or unwanted sexual interaction. These acts also qualify as sexual abuse if they are committed against a person who is not competent to give informed approval

What reports are accepted by the Florida hotline?

Foster Care Referral Child-on-Child Sexual Abuse Caregiver Unavailable Parent in Need of Assistance

What is abuse according to the state of Florida?

Means any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired.

Who is required to report abuse in Florida?

Medical Staff Mental health professionals Clergy Law Enforcement School Personnel Post Secondary Institutions Facility Staff Judge/Court Personnel

Sexual abuse of children includes

Non-contact abuse Making a child view a sex act Making a child view or show sex organs Inappropriate sexual talk Contact abuse Fondling and oral sex Penetration Making children perform a sex act Exploitation Child prostitution and child pornography

What is neglect according to the state of Florida?

Occurs when a child is deprived of, or is allowed to be deprived of, necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment or a child is permitted to live in an environment when such deprivation or environment causes the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired or to be in danger of being significantly impaired.

Sexual abuse is considered

Occurs when an adult uses a child for sexual purposes or involves a child in sexual acts. It also includes when a child who is older or more powerful uses another child for sexual gratification or excitement.

What are the major types of pediatric abuse

Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional Abuse Neglect

What is Florida's DCF's mission?

Protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency

Physical signs of sexual abuse in a child

- Difficulty sitting, walking, bowel problems - Torn, stained, bloody undergarments - Bleeding, bruises, pain, swelling, itching of genital area - Frequent urinary tract infections or yeast infections - Any sexually transmitted disease or related symptoms

Behavioral signs of emotional abuse

- Habits like sucking, biting, rocking - Learning disabilities and developmental delays - Overly compliant or defensive - Extreme emotions, aggression, withdrawal - Anxieties, phobias, sleep disorders - Destructive or anti-social behaviors (violence, cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating, lying) - Behavior that is inappropriate for age (too adult, too infantile) - Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

What is considered emotional neglect?

- Ignoring a child's need for attention, affection and emotional support - Exposing a child to extreme or frequent violence, especially domestic violence - Permitting a child to use drugs, use alcohol, or engage in crime - Keeping a child isolated from friends and loved ones

What are examples of medical neglect?

- Not taking child to hospital or appropriate medical professional for serious illness or injury - Keeping a child from getting needed treatment - Not providing preventative medical and dental care - Failing to follow medical recommendations for a child

Signs of sexual abuse in parent or caregiver

- Parent fails to supervise child - Unstable adult presence - Jealous/possessive parent - Sexual relationships troubled or dysfunctional - Parent relies on child for emotional support

Signs of emotional abuse in parent or caregiver

- Routinely ignores, criticizes, yells at or blames child - Plays favorites with one sibling over another - Poor anger management or emotional self-regulation - Stormy relationships with other adults, disrespect for authority - History of violence or abuse - Untreated mental illness, alcoholism or substance abuse

Abuse of a person with a disability includes

- Tells them that they are "not allowed" to have a pain flare up - Steals or withholds their Social Security Disability check - Tells them that they are a bad parent or could never be a parent because they have a disability - Uses gaslighting to invalidate their disability (for example: "You're faking it" or "It's all in your head") - Uses their disability to shame or humiliate them - Refuses to help them use the bathroom or complete necessary life tasks when they had previously agreed to - Withholds or threatens to withhold medication; purposefully over-medicates them or mixes medications in a dangerous/non-prescribed way - Instigates sexual activity when they know their partner is not capable of consenting - Withholds, damages or breaks assistive devices - Does not allow them to see a doctor - Threatens to "out" their disability to others (for example, someone who is HIV-positive may not wish to disclose their status, and their abusive partner will use their status to control them) Threatens to harm or harms their service animal - Uses a disability as an excuse for the abuse; tells them that they "deserve" abuse because of their disability

What is abandonment according to the state of Florida?

"Abandoned" or "abandonment" means a situation in which the parent or legal custodian of a child or, in the absence of a parent or legal custodian, the caregiver, while being able, makes no provision for the child's support and has failed to establish or maintain a substantial and positive relationship with the child.

Behavior signs of physical abuse

- Aggression toward peers, pets, other animals - Seems afraid of parents or other adults - Fear, withdrawal, depression, anxiety - Wears long sleeves out of season - Violent themes in fantasy, art, etc. - Nightmares, insomnia - Reports injury, severe discipline - Immaturity, acting out, emotional and behavior extremes - Self-destructive behavior or attitudes

What are examples of educational neglect?

- Allowing a child to miss too much school - Not enrolling a child in school (or not providing comparable home-based education) - Keeping a child from needed special education services

What are signs of physical abuse in a child?

- Any injury to a child who is not crawling yet - Visible and severe injuries - Injuries at different stages of healing - Injuries on different surfaces of the body - Unexplained or explained in a way that doesn't make sense - Distinctive shape - Frequency, timing and history of injuries (frequent, after weekends, vacations, school absences)

What are signs of physical abuse in a caregiver or parent?

- Can't or won't explain injury of child, or explains it in a way that doesn't make sense - Displays aggression to child or is overly anxious about child's behavior - Indicates child is not trustworthy, a liar, evil, a troublemaker - Delays or prevents medical care for child - Takes child to different doctors or hospitals - Keeps child from school, church, clubs - Has history of violence and/or abuse

Physical signs of emotional abuse in a child

- Delays in development - Wetting bed, clothes - Speech disorders - Health problems like ulcers, skin disorders - Obesity and weight fluctuation

What is considered physical neglect?

- Deserting a child or refusing to take custody of a child who is under your care - Repeatedly leaving a child in another's custody for days or weeks at a time - Failing to provide enough healthy food and drink - Failing to provide clothes that are appropriate to the weather - Failing to ensure adequate personal hygiene - Not supervising a child appropriately - Leaving the child with an inappropriate caregiver - Exposing a child to unsafe/unsanitary environments or situations

Why Is a Consistent Definition Important for elder abuse?

A consistent definition is needed to monitor the incidence of elder abuse and examine trends over time. Consistency helps to determine the magnitude of elder abuse and enables comparisons of the problem across locations. This ultimately informs prevention and intervention efforts. A set of universally accepted definitions does not exist.

Penalties related to not reporting child abuse

A person who is required to report and knowingly and willfully fails to do so or prevents another person from doing so, is guilty of a felony of third degree A person who knowingly and willfully makes a false report of child abuse or advises another to make a false report, is guilty of a felony of the felony of second degree

What is the Romeo and Juliet law?

Consent-18-"Romeo and Juliet law" Age 16-17 and under age 23

Emotional abuse can include

Rejecting or ignoring Shaming or humiliating Terrorizing Isolating Corrupting

Financial abuse or exploitation of the elderly

The illegal, unauthorized, or improper use of an older individual's resources by a caregiver or other person in a trusting relationship, for the benefit of someone other than the older individual.

What is determined for sheltering of a child to occur?

The investigator determines the child victim cannot safely remain in the home, removes the child victim from the home and files a petition with the court

Signs of child neglect in a caregiver

There is no "typical neglectful parent." Nevertheless, certain indicators may suggest a parent or caregiver needs help to nurture and protect the child or children in their care: - Displays indifference or lack of care toward the child - Depression, apathy, drug/alcohol abuse and other mental health issues - Denies problems with child or blames the child for problems - Views child negatively - Relies on child for own care and well-being

Emotional or psychological abuse of the elderly

Verbal or nonverbal behavior that results in the infliction of anguish, mental pain, fear, or distress.

What is needed for an abuse report to be accepted?

Victim Alleged Perpetrator Means to locate in Florida Significant level of harm

What is child neglect?

When a parent or caregiver does not give the care, supervision, affection and support needed for a child's health, safety and well-being.

What is considered emotional abuse?

When a parent or caregiver harms a child's mental and social development, or causes severe emotional harm. While a single incident may be abuse, most often emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that causes damage over time.

Signs of child neglect in a child

While a single indicator may not be cause for alarm, children who are neglected often show that they need help: - Clothing that is the wrong size, in disrepair, dirty, or not right for the weather - Often hungry, stockpiles food, seeks food, may even show signs of malnutrition (like distended belly, protruding bones) - Very low body weight, height for age - Often tired, sleepy, listless - Hygiene problems, body odor - Talks about caring for younger siblings, not having a caregiver at home - Untreated medical and dental problems, incomplete immunizations - Truancy, frequently incomplete homework, frequent changes of school

What is the penalty for any Florida College System institution, state university, or nonpublic college, university, or school who fails to report abuse?

fines of $1 million for each such failure

What is spiritual abuse?

spiritual abuse revolves around a person's spirituality or religion. This type of abuse includes attacking another's belief system, denying access to a house of worship or forced participation in a cult.