Neglect
The National
Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
[NCCANCH] 2003, found neglect as failure to provide
for a child's basic needs. Neglect may be: (a) physical
(e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter,
or lack of appropriate supervision); (b) medical (e.g.,
failure to provide necessary medical or mental health
treatment); (c) Educational (e.g., failure to educate
a child or attend to special education needs); and (d)
emotional (e.g., failure to attend to a child's emotional
needs). Such situations do not always mean a child is
neglected. Sometimes cultural values, the standards
of care in a community and poverty may be contributing
factors indicating the family is in need of information
or assistance. When a family fails to use information
and resources and the child's health or safety is at
risk ~ child welfare intervention may be required NCCANCH
(2003).
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Physical
Abuse
According
to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family
Statistics (2002), the quality of a child’s life
is negatively impacted when the child witnesses violence,
is a victim of violence, or feels threatened by violence.
In keeping with the preceding statement, physical abuse
need not be directed toward a child or on a child and
yet a child may still realize fear and heightened anxiety.
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Sexual Abuse
Child sexual
abuse is sexual behavior by an adult or older child
and may include kissing, fondling, sexual intercourse,
oral sex, forced nudity, prostitution, photographing
or other behaviors with sexual connotations. Foltz (2003)
wrote:
“.
. . Sexual activities don’t have to hurt, and
sometimes they even feel good. Abusers will also try
to make you feel comfortable. They’ll buy you
things, take you places, even tell you you’re
special or say they love you. That can be very confusing.
You might think that if you feel comfortable it’s
not sexual abuse. But that’s not true. Abusers
try to make kids feel comfortable so they can trick
kids into sexual activity, or keep the sexual activity
ongoing. (p. 40)”
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Emotional
Abuse
The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 1995) found emotional abuse
of a child is one of the most common forms of child
abuse. Emotional abuse is also not easily categorized
and may encompass psychological abuse. Making fun of
a child, name calling, always finding fault and showing
a lack of respect may damage a child's self-esteem.
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