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Home > Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide > Chapter 4: Protecting Children - Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect
Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide
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When children are nurtured, they can grow up to be happy and healthy adults. But when they lack an attachment to a caring adult, receive inconsistent nurturing, or experience harsh discipline, the long-lasting consequences can affect their health, well-being, and relationships with others. This section provides information to help service providers and others concerned about the health and well-being of children to understand child abuse and neglect, its effects, and what each of us can do to address it when it occurs. What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Child abuse and neglect often takes place in the home and comes from a person the child knows well—a parent, relative, babysitter, or friend of the family. There are four major types of child maltreatment. Although any of the forms may be found separately, they often occur together. Each State is responsible for establishing its own definitions of child abuse and neglect that meet Federal minimum standards. Most include the following:
Why Does Child Abuse Occur? Child abuse and neglect affect children of every age, race, and family income level. However, research has identified many factors relating to the child, family, community, and society that are associated with an increased risk of child abuse and neglect. Studies have also shown that when multiple risk factors are present, the risk is greater. Young mothers and fathers unprepared for the responsibilities of raising a child; overwhelmed single parents with little support; and families placed under stress by poverty, divorce, or a child's disability are all at greater risk. Some families are stressed by worries about employment, health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, or other problems, or are simply unaware of how to care for their children's basic needs. These circumstances, combined with the inherent challenges of raising children, can result in otherwise well-intentioned parents causing their children harm or neglecting their needs. How Many Children Are Abused and Neglected in the United States? In 2006, about 3.3 million reports were made to child protective services concerning the safety and well-being of approximately 6 million children.1 As a result of these reports, an estimated 905,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect. Of these, more than 60 percent (64.1%) were neglected, more than 15 percent (16.0%) were physically abused, less than 10 percent (8.8%) were sexually abused, and less than 10 percent (6.6%) were emotionally maltreated. Child deaths are the most tragic results of maltreatment. In 2006, an estimated 1,530 children died due to abuse or neglect. More than 40 percent (41.1%) of these deaths were attributed to neglect. What Are the Consequences? The impact of child maltreatment can be profound. Research shows that child maltreatment is associated with adverse health and mental health outcomes in children and families, and those negative effects can last a lifetime. The long-term effects can be physical, psychological, or behavioral. A history of child abuse or neglect has been associated with increased risk of:
In addition to the impact on the child and family, child abuse and neglect affects various systems—including medical and mental health, law enforcement, judicial, public social services, and nonprofit agencies—as they respond to the incident and support the victim. One analysis of the immediate and long-term economic impact of child abuse and neglect suggests that child maltreatment costs the Nation as much as $258 million each day, or approximately $94 billion each year. What Are the Warning Signs? The first step in helping or getting help for an abused or neglected child is to identify the symptoms of abuse. The table that follows lists some symptoms of the four major types of child maltreatment. The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should consider the possibility of maltreatment.
1 Statistics on this page are taken from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Child Maltreatment 2006. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Available: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm06 back
To view or order materials available from the 2009 Resource Guide, please visit our website at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/res_guide_2009/
We value your opinion!Please comment on this publication by taking our brief survey. Your answers are anonymous and will help us better meet your future information needs. Give Us Feedback on This Publication This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. |
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