If you suspect child abuse call 911
Click on a topic below to learn more.
What is Child Abuse?
What is Physical Abuse?
What is Sexual Abuse?
What is Emotional Abuse?
Effects of Child Abuse
Effects of Sexual Abuse
Signs of Child Abuse
Statistics ( National and Delaware)
Why Children Do Not Disclose Abuse
Responding to Child Abuse
Responding to a Disclosure
Abuse in public places
Delaware's Mandated Reporting Laws
What is Child Abuse?
- A failure to provide for a child's basic needs.
- Physical - Food, shelter, supervision
- Medical - Necessary medical or mental health needs.
- Emotional - inattention to a child's emotional needs, failure to provide pyychological care, or allowing the child to use alcohol or other drugs.
What is Physical Abuse?
- Non-accidental physical injury
- Minor bruises to severe fractures or death - as a result of:
- punching
- beating
- kicking
- biting
- shaking
- throwing
- stabbing
- choking
- hitting
- burning
What is Sexual Abuse?
The sexual explotation of a child for the sexual gratification of an adult.
Activities by a parent or caretaker such as fondling a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and explotation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
What is Emotional Abuse?
A pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant sriticism, threats or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance.
Effects of Child Abuse:
- Issues with trust
- Poor social skills
- Aggression
- Withdrawn / Isolated
- Poor problem solving skills
- Stealing
- Lying
- Drug and alcohol abuse / use
- Depression
- Poor academic performace
- Low levels of empathy
- Post traumatic Stress Disorder
- Criminal Behavior
Effects of Sexual Abuse
- Age inappropriate sexual knowledge
- Sexually acting out
- Sexualized behaviors
- Promiscuous
- Self-injurious behaviors
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Veneral disease
- Difficulty developing and maintaining relationships
Signs of Child Abuse
Signs of Neglect:
Consistently hungry
Inappropriate dress for weather
Poor hygiene
Consistently unsupervised
Stealing food
Extended stays away from home
Consistently tired
Inappropriately adult/infatile
Signs of Physical Abuse:
Questionable burns, bruises, broken bones, black eyes
Avoids changing clothes
Seems afraid of caregiver
Aggression
Signs of Sexual Abuse:
Child under 5 years of age has veneral disease
Genital bruising or bleeding
Sudden regression behaviors
Changes in behaviors, wanting to be alone, not being with friends
Age inappropriate sexual knowledge
Sexually acting out
Excessive masturbation
Withdrawn
Promiscuity
Substance use/abuse
Signs of Emotional Abuse:
- Poor self-esteem
- Aggression
- Withdrawn / lost
- Self-destructive
- Displays habit disorders
- Head banging
- Thumb sucking
- Rocking
Statistics
National Statistics
- Once every minute a child is abused
- There were 906,000 substantiated cases of abuse in 2004
- 50% of child abuse occurs before a child is 6 years old.
- 4 children die each day from child abuse
- 80% of victims were abused by a parent
- In 2004 58% of perpetrators were women
- 61% of substantiated cases of abuse are neglect
- 19% of substantiated cases of physical abuse
- 10% of substantiated cases are sexual abuse
Delaware Statistics
- There were 1004 substantiated cases of abuse
- 46% of substantiated cases of abuse are neglect
- 38% of substantiated cases are physical abuse
- 11% of substantiated cases are sexual abuse
- In any given day there are 700 children in foster care
Why Children Do Not Disclose Abuse
We'd like to believe that if a child is being hurt he or she would tell someone. Unfortunately many children do not tell and may even lie about their injuries from abuse for the following reasons:
- The perpretrator is someone they love, a parent, step-parent or other relative.
- They are ashamed and believe the abuse is their fault.
- They do not trust adults
- They are afraid no one will believe them.
- They are not aware that what they are experiencing is abuse.
- They are afraid they will get in trouble.
- They are afraid they will get someone they love in trouble.
- They are afraid telling will cause teh family to be broken up.
- They are trying to protect their parents
- They are threatened not to tell.
Responding To Child Abuse
The best way to help abused children is to prevent abuse from ever happening. But whenever abuse is suspected, reporting is crucial and in most cases the law.
- Reporting abuse could save a life
- Abusive families need help - reporting can give families opportunities for counseling and support.
- The cycle of abuse can be stopped - victims of abuse who recieve counseling are less likely to become abusers.
Remember you are not making an accusation but reporting a concern. It is not your job to investigate, only to report suspicion.
If you suspect child abuse call the reporting hotline at 1-800-292-9582.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger call 911
Responding To a Disclosure
When a child discloses abuse it can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with; however you response is crucial! Try to keep the following in mind if a child discloses abuse to you.
- Remain calm
- Use a "poker" face
- Listen
- Do NOT ask leading questions
- ask "What Happened?" not "Who did that to you"
- ask "What Happened?" not "Did your dad or mom to that to you?"
- Do not make promises
- Believe the child and be supportive
- Assure the child that the abuse is not his/her fault.
- Tell the child he/she is doing the right thing.
Abuse in Public Places
If you see a child being hurt in a public place do what you can to help:
- Divert the adult's attention
- Start a conversation with the adult
- "My child has gotten upset like that too"
- "Children can really wear you out, can't they?"
- Talk to the child
- Praise the parent or child
- Find something positive to say about the child or the parent
- "That's a nice coat, where did you get it"?
- "She has beautiful brown eyes"
- Offer to help.
- Avoid negative looks or comments
- Negative looks or comments often increase the adult's anger and may make things worse.
Delaware's Mandated Reporting Law:
Subsection 903
"Any physician and other person in the healing arts including any person licensed to render services in medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, and internm resident, nurse, school employee, social worker, psychologist, medical examiner or any other person who knows or reasonably suspects child abuse or neglect shall make a report in accordance with 904 of this title"
Subsection 904
" Any report required to be made under this chapter shall be made to the Division of Family Services of the Department of Services for Children. Youth and Thier Families. An immediate oral report shall be made by telephone or otherwise. Reports and the contents therof including a written report, if requested, shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Division of Family Services..."
Subsection 908
"Anyone participating in good faith in the making of a report pursuant to this chapter shall have immunity from liability, civil, or criminal, that might otherwise exist and such immunity shall extend to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from such report."
Subsection 909
"Whoever knowing and willingly violates the chapter shall be fined not more than $1000 or shall be imprisoned not more than 15 days for both"
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