Child Abuse and Neglect
MUST KNOW
1. There are three types of child abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional. 2. Failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, and normal living experiences for a child is considered neglect. 3. There are observable physical and behavioral indicators associated with abuse and neglect. 4. Interaction with children and families provides information that may further help the caregiver in recognizing possible cases of abuse and/or neglect. 5. There are child, family, and environmental factors that place children at risk for abuse and/or neglect 6. The effects of child abuse and neglect can be serious and permanent to a child's cognitive, physical, and emotional development 7. It takes understanding, patience, and skills to work with abused and neglected children 8. Every adult in Florida is required by law to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect. 9. All child care professionals must provide their names when reporting suspicions of child abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect; everyone else can make an anonymous report, if they prefer. 10. Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a third degree felony in the State of Florida 11.Florida law ensures that confidentiality will be maintained for child care workers reporting suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect. 12. There are local community resources that provide help for abused children, their families, and abusers. 13. The Department of Children and Families' child abuse website is a good source of information 14. The four ways abuse and neglect reports can be made to the Florida Abuse Hotline are: online, telephone, Florida Relay/TTY, and fax.
Myths
1. children lie about being abused (THEY KEEP IT A SECRET BECAUSE OF FEAR/DISBELIEF) 2. in most cases of sexual abuse it is a stranger (MOSTLY PEOPLE THEY KNOW) 3. It is hard to predict where sexual abuse may occur because there are no risk factors (LIVING IN HIGH AREAS OF CRIME, POVERTY, NO SUPPORT, HAVE A DISABILITY/DELAY, ARE FEMALE AND LIVE WITH ONE OR NO BIOLOGICAL PARENTS ARE RISK FACTORS) 4. all child sexual abuse is physical (EXPOSING TO PORN/CONVERSATIONS ALSO) 5. If a child discloses sexual abuse the best thing to do is get details for investigators (LISTEN, STAY CALM, TELL CHILD YOU ARE GLAD THEY TOLD YOU, CALL ABUSE HOTLINE/911)
Facts
1. many victims of child abuse do not display physical signs 2. abuse and neglect are seen among people of all ages, genders, ethnic groups, family structures, races, socioeconomic statuses, and sexual orientations 3. one of the signs that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse is the display of sexual behaviors that are not age appropriate 4. most children who have been abused face life-long mental health issues and many physical conditions have been linked to trauma
Do's
Ensure the child care program has a resource area for families, which includes community organizations or services that can provide assistance. Be observant and look for the signs of child abuse that might be seen in children and parents. Realize that abusive parents are in need of help and most often can be successfully treated, but only by medical and mental health professionals. Take action when you suspect or observe abuse or neglect, or the signs of possible abuse or neglect Report suspected child abuse, abandonment, and neglect to the Florida Abuse Hotline. Remember that the law states that if you report in good faith, you cannot be prosecuted. Know that you may be the one to save a child's life.
Don'ts
Remain ignorant about the situation. Lose your temper with an abusive parent; it only serves to put him or her on the defensive. Wait to suggest needed resources to families who are at risk. Make excuses for child abuse or ignore the warning signs. Assume that all abusive parents are bad people and cannot be changed. Be influenced by gossip or unverified information. Be afraid to become involved.
Verbal abuse
a form of emotional abuse that involves excessive yelling, shaming, belittling and/or teasing of a child
Section 39.201
all Floridians must report any child abuse, abandonment and/or neglect they suspect failure to report is 3rd degree felony in FL child care professionals must provide their NAMES when reporting suspicions of child abuse, abandonment and/or neglect
Child abuse
any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental or sexual abuse, injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired
Harm
anything to a child's health or welfare that can occur when any person 1. child physical, mental or emotional injury 2. sexual battery or acts against child 3. sexual exploitation of a child 4. abandons a child 5. neglect of a child 6. exposing a child to drugs/alcohol 7. isolating a child 8. violent behavior to a child 9. not protecting a child in trouble 10. allowing a child's sibling to die as a result of abuse, abandonment or neglect 11. saying the child is unavailable due to avoiding investigations
Medical Programs and Community Agencies
are places where staff members provide attention to victims of child abuse and neglect and provide counseling for the abused, the abuser, or family members
Indicators of trauma in children ages birth-5
attachment behavior towards caregiver sleep disturbances (nightmares) immobility does not explore regression in behavior failure to thrive thumb sucking, whining, loss of acquired speech prolonged uncontrolled crying hyper-vigilance biting, kicking, tantrums, unprovoked aggression
Physical signs of abuse/negelct
bruises and welts in various stages of healing missing hair/visible scalp handprints/fingerprints broken/fractured bones burns
Triggers
can cause flashbacks to a traumatic event in real time ex: smells, locations, physical attributes, etc. 211 (trauma informed specialists and services in your area)
3 categories that place children at risk for maltreatment
child risk factors parental and family risk factors social and environmental risk factors
The effects of child abuse and neglect can permanently affect childrens
cognitive development physical development emotional development
Emotional abuse consists of
conveying messages that a child is worthless, unwanted, or unloved terrorizing a child witnessing domestic violence demeaning, ridiculing or belittling a child not allowing the child to have friends name calling not letting child eat, drink, or use the bathroom
What to do if you are wrongly accused of child abuse/neglect
don't get defensive cooperate fully/factually get statements from colleagues about your character know the laws talk to a lawyer protective policies work with your directer/colleagues to handle the impact
Immunity
exemption from civil or criminal charges resulting from reporting in good faith
Neglect
failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, or needed supervision
Emotional neglect
failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision and normal living experiences for a child to the extent that the child is impaired in ability to function normally in performance and behavior
Parental/Family risk factors
felling of insecurity lack of trust low tolerance for frustration poor impulse control controlling depression, anxiety, mental illness childhood history of abuse social isolation/lack of support family structure (single parent lack of support) marital problems/divorce death/illness age abuse of drugs & alcohol lack of parenting/living skills financial problems/unemployment
Communities
have the responsibility to establish and maintain required resources and educate families and individuals on child abuse and neglect prevention
Behavioral signs of abuse/neglect
having nightmares flinch when a hand or object comes close sound depressed hurting themselves purposely bullying others
Law Enforcement and State Attorneys Offices
investigate cases of child abuse and neglect and have victim advocacy programs to provide information and support through the legal system
Familial trafficking
involving a person who is being force to engage in commercial sex or forced labor by family member or caregiver
Neglect consists of
leaving a child alone leaving a child in a place that is not safe lack of attention not providing food, clothing, or shelter, necessary medical attention, appropriate schooling, or protection from hazards failure to provide support, acceptance, attention, warmth, supervision, normal living experiences withholding things that may affect a child's daily function failure to thrive (emotional abuse/neglect)
Impact of trauma, abuse and neglect
negative experiences like trauma and abuse are extremely detrimental in early year extreme anxiety depression inability to form healthy relationships memory loss short attention span easily distracted poor self-esteem sleeping/eating disorders
Renegade/survival sex
no 3rd party, no pimp, exchange of a sexual act for anything tangible
Abused/neglected children behaviors
not trust other people often reject warmth, hugs, and affection at first may be delayed in developmental areas they have poor self-images parents of abuses children may see you as a threat their behavior is one of the two extremes 1. difficult to manage, destructive, irritable OR 2. shy and anxious to please
Protective factors which report lower incidents of child abuse and neglect
nurturing and attachement knowledge on parenting/child youth development parental resilience social connections concrete supports for parents
Labor trafficking
occurs in different situation such as domestic servitude, construction, landscaping, sex industry, factories, service industries, bars, restaurants, etc.
4 ways to make a report
online telephone 180096ABUSE florida TTY relay 711 fax (can also be used prior to making a phone call)
Important qualities to have as a caretaker
patience skills understanding willingness ability to communicate feeling of your own worth positive parenting/teaching skills
Three types of child abuse
physical sexual emotional
Shaken baby syndrome
physical abuse caused by shaking an infant and causing injury or death can cause severe injury because they have weak neck muscles, growing brains and thin skulls can cause: permanent brain damage paralysis blindness seizures developmental delays broken bones death
Child risk factors
premature birth/birth defect chronic/serious illness physical, cognitive or emotional disability temperament (slow/difficult to warm up to others) aggression/behavior problems ADD childhood trauma a personal characteristic identified by a parent as undesirable
Legal Agencies
provide divorce, domestic violence injunction, or Guardian ad Litem services
The Department of Children and Families
provides a spectrum of services to preserve and protect the well-being of children and families
Physical abuse consists of
scalding a child with hot water slapping, hitting, shaking, or shoving beating with a belt, shoe, or other object pulling a child's hair burning a child with a lighter, matches, cigarettes, iron or hot objects breaking a child's bones restraint or imprisonment painful punishments such as kneeling or standing for long period of times
Sexual abuse
sexual contact or interaction between a child and an adult or older child, indecent exposure, fondling, touching sexual organs, forcible rape, sodomy,, exploitation, and showing pornography
Institutional abuse or neglect
situations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect that happens in a private school , public school, child care center, residential home, institution, facility, or agency where the alleged perpetrator is an employee or any other person such institution responsible for the child's care
Child protective services (CPS)
social service agency to receive/investigate abuse reports and provide rehab services fro children and family with maltreatment
Social/Environmental risk factors
stressful life or community events (hurricanes) low socioeconomic status/poverty homelessness lack of access to medical care, insurance, child care, social services dangerous/violent neighborhood community violence cultural acceptance of abuse
How to cope with a crying baby/child
taking deep slow breaths taking a break asking for help counting to 10
Individuals
teach children about child abuse and neglect issues. You must be alert for signs of child abuse or neglect in children you know, give emotional support to victims of child abuse and neglect, and support programs that work to prevent child maltreatment
Physical abuse
the mistreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child's welfare that results in injury or harm to the child
Gang trafficking
the trafficking is a source of generating money for the gang and a member is involved in trafficking of the victim gang is considered an association of 3 or more individuals thats purpose is to engage in criminal activity
Human trafficking
the use of any person under the age of 18 for sexual purposes in exchange for the promise of money, goods or services by a non-caregiver if the trafficking victim is under 18 still considered human trafficking victims are psychological and emotionally manipulated that they are driven to return back to their trafficker
Pimp trafficking
there is a 3rd party brokering the exchange fro a sexual act for a tangible item
Floridas abuse hotline
toll free 800-962-2873
Sexual abuse consists of
using a child in porn having intercourse or oral sex with a child having sex in front of a child fondling a child's genitals having a child touch another persons genitals showing x-rated material to a child
Inadequate supervsion
when a child is left alone in a situation beyond their physical and emotional development or left in care of someone who is incapable of adequate supervision
Lack of adequate clothing/good hygine
when a child suffers or is likely to suffer from physical or emotional health conditions resulting from inadequate clothing/improper hygiene and uncleanness
Lack of dental//medical care
when a medical or dental condition is left untreated possibly resulting in serious or long term harm to the child
Lack of providing access to education
when education is not enforced by the parents thereby contributing to the childs absence from school leading to the lack of education and leading to truancy
Lack of adequate nutrition
when the caretaker has regularly failed to provide or make available adequate food to the child which can cause malnutrition over a long period of time
Lack of love and attention (failure to thrive)
when the parents deny satisfying or fulfilling relationships avoiding most interactions as a method of avoiding rejection and failure. the lack of support, emotional care, or love can cause the infant or child's weight to fall below the 5th percentile for age
