Child Abuse Prevention Services


	An Overview of Child Abuse and Neglect
	Child abuse and neglect knows no geographic or socio-economic boundaries; it can occur at any time in any community, and it can take many forms. The child who is beaten, starved or left home alone all day, the child who is bullied at school and the child who is targeted by an Internet predator are all victims of abuse. While the human costs of such abuse can never truly be measured, the economic costs are staggering: a national study estimates dealing with the devastation of child abuse and neglect places a burden of more than $1,400 on every American family - and that figure doesn't take into account the impact of bullying or the impact of Internet-related abuse. The best way to reduce the effects of child abuse and neglect is to prevent child abuse and neglect - and education is the key to prevention. Definitions of Child Abuse and Maltreatment Federal law defines child abuse and neglect as any recent act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to a child. Child abuse and maltreatment fall into four major categories: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Any one of these can be found separately, but they often occur together. Neglect The failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Can include: Physical neglect, such as the lack of appropriate supervision or the failure to provide necessary food, shelter or medical care. Educational neglect, such as the failure to educate a child or attend to his/her special education needs. Emotional neglect, such as the inattention to a child's emotional needs or the exposure of a child to domestic violence. Excessive corporal punishment also is legally considered a form of neglect. Physical Abuse Physical injury, ranging from bruises to severe fractures or death, that results from punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, hitting, burning or otherwise harming a child. Injuries that result from such behavior are considered abuse regardless of intent. Sexual Abuse Includes the use of a child for sexual gratification and activities such as the fondling of a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. Emotional Abuse A sustained, repetitive pattern of behavior that demonstrably impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth. This can include constant criticism, threats, rejection or confinement, as well as withholding love, support or guidance. Bullying In every classroom, 2 to 3 children spend their day afraid of being bullied; this fear prompts 160,000 kids in the United States to stay home from school each day. Bullying can take many forms including physical, verbal and emotional abuse, social exclusion, intimidation, racial/ethnic slurs, sexual harassment and cyber-bulling. It can occur in such places as on a school bus, in isolated areas in the school, during a walk home, at after-school activities, and online. There are definite signs that parents should be aware of to determine whether their child is a target of a school bully. Sudden and uncharacteristic changes in behavior can indicate a child is being harassed or victimized. If parents suspect something is going on, bullying may be a possibility that needs investigation. Specific behaviors include: Declining grades Frequent complaints of illness Becoming withdrawn or depressed Showing unexplained bruises, or damage to clothes Beginning to bully others Becoming aggressive, irritable or quick tempered Having few or no friends Making excuses for not wanting to go to school Nightmares or trouble sleeping Acting out in the classroom HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Bullying usually starts in the first few weeks of school, and left unchecked can quickly escalate. The good news is there are proven methods and bully-proofing strategies parents can learn and practice with their children to help them better deal with difficult situations, and feel safer in school. What parents say to a child depends largely on their age, but always start by listening. Stay calm and empathize. Keep it in perspective, and don’t under or over react. Say nothing to escalate their fears. Develop a Personal Safety Plan With Your Child. Assure your child that you take their concerns seriously and will work with them to help them develop a plan so they can feel safe in school and get home safely. The plan should: Identify adults in school they can turn to for help Determine where the bullying took place and list alternative locations they can go to such as the guidance counselor’s office (some schools may already provide options to recess). Identify their friends and encourage them to travel in groups (there is strength in numbers) Keep the lines open with the school, and your child. Practice Self-Protective Strategies With Your Child. For many schoolchildren, the lessons learned through CAPS’ classroom prevention programs become their first line of defense against bullying. Our presenters guide students towards positive, healthy interactions, and frank communication about teasing and bullying. CAPS’ Steer Clear of Bullies program teaches grade 3 and 4 students the acronym “CLEAR”—the steps they can take if approached by a bully: Calm down Leave Enlist the help of others Assert yourself Report incidents *Helping to Steer Clear of Bullies* is an adult education prevention program that provides detailed instruction on bully prevention strategies that parents can role play and practice with their children. Call CAPS if your parent group would like more details about the program. *Bullying: What Parents Need to Know, is a free brochure available to parents and caregivers. Send a written request and a self-addressed, stamped, #10 envelope to: CAPS, PO Box 176, Roslyn, NY 11576. Sexual Harassment* In many ways, sexual harassment - defined as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature - is itself a form of bullying. It is, at heart, an abuse of power carrying sexual overtones, and unfortunately, it is not limited to the adult world. CAPS addresses the issue of sexual harassment among young people. Date/Acquaintance Rape Rape in any form is a crime - what sets date/acquaintance rape apart is that the victims know their abusers, either as friends or in a dating relationship. CAPS addresses date/acquaintance rape because young people often are victims of this form of sexual abuse. Internet Safety Children can become victims of sexual abuse, harassment and/or exploitation via the Internet without ever meeting their abusers. This fact, combined with the issues raised by cyber-bullying, is why addressing Internet Safety is an increasingly important part of efforts to prevent child abuse. Child Abuse by the Numbers Regardless of the type of abuse, every abused child is a human tragedy - and the numbers are staggering. General Nationwide, nearly 900,000 children are found to have been abused or neglected each year - that's more than 100 children every hour of every day. On Long Island alone, more than 4,000 children are found to have been abused or neglected each year - more than 10 children a day. Nationwide, one in four girls and one in seven boys will be victims of sexual abuse by the age of 18. On Long Island alone, more than 800 incidents of child sexual abuse are reported each year. Nationwide, more than 1,400 children die each year due to child abuse and neglect - roughly one child every six-and-one-half hours. Bullying Nationwide, one in 10 students in grades six through 10 report being bullied "sometimes" or "weekly." In the average classroom of 20 students or more, two to three students spend every day in fear of being bullied, harassed or worse. On Long Island, CAPS keeps track of the prevalence of bullying behavior with its annual survey of middle school-age students - for results from our latest survey, click here. Internet Safety A national study suggests half of all children with Internet access either have been or know someone who has been the victim of cyber-bullying - or have been cyber-bullies themselves. One in five children already has received an online sexual solicitation. Cases of child sexual exploitation via the Internet have increased more than 2,000 percent since 1996. How to Recognize Abuse Every child gets cuts or bruises once in a while - that's why it can be hard to recognize the signs that a child is being abused. While a series of bruises, broken bones or other injuries can be a clue that a child is being abused or neglected, other signs can be tougher to pick up. These can include: Nightmares or trouble sleeping A decline in school performance A poor self-image Trouble trusting or loving others Aggressiveness Intense anger or rage Acting out in the classroom Inappropriate sexual behavior Self-destructive behavior Withdrawal, passiveness or depression Difficulty forming new relationships Drug or alcohol abuse Avoidance of home Fear of certain adults None of these symptoms automatically signals that a child is being abused or neglected - for instance, children who are witnessing marital discord or other problems at home could exhibit similar symptoms. However, these are warning signs that suggest some questions need to be asked - and they should not be ignored. If you see or suspect a case of child abuse or neglect - or if you are being abused yourself - help is available: How to Report Abuse In New York State: To report a case of child abuse or neglect, call the New York State Central Register, 800-342-3720. This hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Outside of New York State: To report a case of child abuse or neglect call the National Child Abuse Hotline, 800-4-A-CHILD, or for a listing of individual state child abuse hotlines, click here. To report a case of online child sexual exploitation, harassment or solicitation, call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 800-843-5678, or contact them at www.cybertipline.com. Preventing Abuse The best way to reduce the damage of child abuse and neglect is to prevent child abuse and neglect - and education is the key to prevention. Since 1982, CAPS and its corps of committed volunteers, each professionally and extensively trained in various areas of child abuse and neglect, have reached more than 650,000 Long Islanders with its Prevention Through Education programs. Each of these programs has been enriched and broadened over time to reflect the changing needs of the community and the changing scope of the abuse and neglect issue. To learn more, click here. Resource Links Note: to report a case of child abuse or neglect, click here. The following links and resources are provided for your information. The inclusion of these links and resources does not imply endorsement by CAPS; CAPS makes no endorsement, express or implied, of any links to or from its site, nor is it responsible for the content or activities of any linked sites or referenced organizations. We do not control such sites and organizations and we are not responsible for their performance. The use of other sites is strictly at your own risk and includes any risks associated with destructive viruses. Any questions about the referenced sites and organizations should be directed to the administrator(s) of those sites and/or organizations. American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) Organization of pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. 847-434-4000 American Humane Association (http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer) Works to prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively, and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society. 303-792-9900 Bureau of Justice Statistics (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/) The United States' primary source for criminal justice statistics. 202-307-0765 Child Abuse Prevention Network (http://child-abuse.com) A service of LifeNET (Life Network Engineering Technologies, Inc.), an organization using Internet technology to solve critical human problems, the Network provides unique and powerful tools for professionals to support the identification, investigation, treatment, adjudication, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. ChildHelp USA (www.childhelpusa.org) Hotline offering crisis intervention, information, literature and referrals. 800-4-A-CHILD Child Welfare League of America (http://www.cwla.org) An association of more than 900 public and private nonprofit agencies that assist more than 3.5 million abused and neglected children and their families each year with a range of services. 202-638-2952 Children's Defense Fund (http://www.childrensdefense.org) Providing a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. 800-CDF-1200 202-628-8787 Cybertipline (www.cybertipline.com) A project of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (use same link as below) that handles leads from individuals reporting the sexual exploitation of children. 800-THE-LOST KidsHealth (www.kidshealth.org) Provides doctor-approved health information about children through adolescence, with separate areas for kids, teens and parents. Kids Help Online (www.kidshelp.org) A public service project which aims to provide a central location where people can find resources for children and teenagers. 888-352-5161 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.ncmec.org) Exists to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. 800-THE-LOST National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm) Established in 1974 by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to collect, organize, and disseminate information on all aspects of child maltreatment. 800-394-3366 703-385-3206 National Domestic Violence Hotline (http://www.ndvh.org/) Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 800-799-SAFE National Runaway Hotline Providing information and referrals for shelter, clothing, medical and legal services and transportation home for runaways. 800-231-6946 National Runaway Switchboard (http://www.nrscrisisline.org/index.asp) Working to keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Business: 773-880-9860 Crisis line: 800-RUNAWAY National Sexual Assault Hotline Operated by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. (use link below) 800-656-HOPE Parents Anonymous (www.parentsanonymous.org) The nation's oldest child abuse prevention organization. 909-621-6184 Parents for Megan's Law (http://www.parentsformeganslaw.com) National community and victim's rights organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of childhood sexual abuse through the provision of education, advocacy, counseling, policy and legislative support services. 888-ASK-PFML 631-689-2672 Prevent Child Abuse America (www.preventchildabuse.org) Works to prevent the abuse and neglect of U.S. children by promoting and implementing prevention efforts at the national and local level. 312-663-3520 Prevent Child Abuse New York (www.preventchildabuseny.org) The New York State Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. 800-CHILDREN 518-445-1273 Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (www.rainn.org) The nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. 202-544-1034 Stop Bullying Now (http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp?area=main) A program of the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (use link below) 301-443-3376 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.dhhs.gov) The United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. 877-696-6775 202-619-0257
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