Help StopHelp Stop

Child AbuseChild AbuseWhat You Need to What You Need to

Know . . .Know . . .

The ProblemThe ProblemGeorgia 2003Georgia 2003

• 92,612 total reports92,612 total reports• 27,911 real incidences27,911 real incidences• Every 30 minutes a Every 30 minutes a

childchildis a confirmed victimis a confirmed victim

• 70 fatalities70 fatalities• 66% of child deaths 66% of child deaths

related to abuse or related to abuse or neglect were neglect were determined to be determined to be preventablepreventable

• 83% of abusers are the 83% of abusers are the parents of the childparents of the child

Nation 2002Nation 2002• 2.6 million total reports2.6 million total reports• 896,000 real incidences896,000 real incidences• Over ½ of all victims are Over ½ of all victims are

under the age of sevenunder the age of seven• Over 75% of child Over 75% of child

fatalities as a result of fatalities as a result of child abuse and neglect child abuse and neglect are children under the are children under the age of fourage of four

• The leading cause of The leading cause of maltreatment death is maltreatment death is neglectneglect

• In 73% of children who In 73% of children who were sexually abused, were sexually abused, the abuse lasted more the abuse lasted more than 5 yearsthan 5 years

Types of AbuseTypes of Abuse

•NeglectNeglect•PhysicalPhysical•Sexual Sexual

•EmotionalEmotional

Possible Signs of Possible Signs of NeglectNeglect

Physical NeglectPhysical NeglectNot Providing:Not Providing: Adequate food & Adequate food &

clothingclothing Appropriate medicalAppropriate medical carecare SupervisionSupervision Proper weatherProper weather protectionprotection (heat & coats)(heat & coats)

Can include:Can include: AbandonmentAbandonment

BehaviorBehavior Stealing foodStealing food Constant Constant

fatiguefatigue Inappropriate Inappropriate

seekingseeking

of attentionof attention

. . . more Possible Signs . . . more Possible Signs of Neglectof Neglect

EducationalEducational Failure to provideFailure to provide

appropriateappropriate

schoolingschooling Failure to provideFailure to provide

special educationspecial education

needsneeds Allowing excessiveAllowing excessive

truanciestruancies

PsychologicalPsychological Lack of anyLack of any

emotional support emotional support and loveand love

Never attending toNever attending to

the childthe child Spousal abuseSpousal abuse Drug & alcohol Drug & alcohol

abuse including abuse including allowingallowing

child to participatechild to participate

in drug and alcoholin drug and alcohol

use.use.

Home AloneHome AloneDFCS policy states:DFCS policy states:

Children Children 8 or younger8 or younger should should NEVERNEVER be left be left alone.alone.

Children Children 9 -129 -12 may be left may be left alonealone for for up to up to two hours at a time. two hours at a time. (Based on maturity level)(Based on maturity level)

Children Children 13 & older13 & older who are who are sufficiently maturesufficiently mature may be left may be left alonealone and may act as a baby-sitter and may act as a baby-sitter as authorized by parents or as authorized by parents or caretakers for up to caretakers for up to twelve hours.twelve hours.

DFCS policy states:DFCS policy states: Children Children 8 or younger8 or younger should should

NEVERNEVER be left be left alone.alone. Children Children 9 -129 -12 may be left may be left alonealone for for

up to up to two hours at a time. two hours at a time. (Based on maturity level)(Based on maturity level)

Children Children 13 & older13 & older who are who are sufficiently maturesufficiently mature may be left may be left alonealone and may act as a baby-sitter and may act as a baby-sitter as authorized by parents or as authorized by parents or caretakers for up to caretakers for up to twelve hours.twelve hours.

Possible Indicators Possible Indicators of Physical Abuseof Physical Abuse

Physical SignsPhysical Signs• Unexplained Unexplained

bruises & weltsbruises & welts• Unexplained Unexplained

burnsburns• Unexplained Unexplained

fractures/dislocatifractures/dislocationsons

• Bald patches on Bald patches on scalpscalp

Behavioral SignsBehavioral Signs• Wary of adult Wary of adult

contactcontact• Aggressiveness Aggressiveness

or withdrawalor withdrawal• Afraid to go Afraid to go

homehome• Manipulative Manipulative

behaviorbehavior• Poor self-conceptPoor self-concept

Possible IndicatorsPossible Indicatorsof Sexual Abuseof Sexual Abuse

Physical IndicatorsPhysical Indicators Difficulty in Difficulty in

walking or sittingwalking or sitting Pain when urinatingPain when urinating Excessive Excessive

masturbationmasturbation

Behavioral IndicatorsBehavioral Indicators Sophisticated sexualSophisticated sexual

knowledgeknowledge Aggressive acting outAggressive acting out Poor peer relationshipPoor peer relationship Reports sexual abuseReports sexual abuse Sexually acting out on Sexually acting out on

younger childrenyounger children

Possible Signs of Possible Signs of Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse

Possible Signs of Possible Signs of Emotional AbuseEmotional AbusePhysicalPhysical

Speech disordersSpeech disordersBehind in physicalBehind in physical

developmentdevelopmentFailure to thriveFailure to thriveHyperactive/Hyperactive/

disruptivedisruptive

behaviorbehavior

BehavioralBehavioralBad HabitsBad HabitsConduct/learningConduct/learning

disordersdisordersBehavior extremesBehavior extremesSuicide attemptsSuicide attemptsBehavior Behavior

development lagsdevelopment lags

Georgia LawGeorgia LawGeorgia LawGeorgia LawSchool employees are School employees are

mandated reporters mandated reporters (follow protocol of reporting)(follow protocol of reporting)

Immunity from liabilityImmunity from liabilityConfidentialConfidentialFailure to report – Failure to report –

GUILTY GUILTY

of misdemeanorof misdemeanor

Responses to AvoidResponses to Avoid Are you sure this is Are you sure this is

happening?happening? Are you telling me the truth?Are you telling me the truth? Why are you telling me?Why are you telling me? Let me know if this happens Let me know if this happens

again.again. Why didn’t you stop it? Why didn’t you stop it? What did you do to make What did you do to make

this happen?this happen?

Good Responses to a Good Responses to a ChildChild

I believe you.I believe you. I’m glad you told me.I’m glad you told me. It is not your fault this It is not your fault this

happened.happened. (Sexual) abuse is wrong.(Sexual) abuse is wrong. I will do whatever I can to I will do whatever I can to

help you.help you.

Reporting AbuseReporting AbuseReporting AbuseReporting Abuse Immediately tell the CounselorImmediately tell the Counselor If a Counselor is not available, talk If a Counselor is not available, talk

with an Administrator.with an Administrator. No Counselor, No Administrator, No Counselor, No Administrator, (Have (Have

secretary or ASP Dir. contact Admin. by cell phone)secretary or ASP Dir. contact Admin. by cell phone)

Call Susan Goethe or Brian Otott Call Susan Goethe or Brian Otott (BOE)(BOE)

(if Administrator cannot be contacted)(if Administrator cannot be contacted)

Information needed: Child’s name, Information needed: Child’s name, Parents name, address, phone Parents name, address, phone number.number.

Just think . . .Just think . . .You might just save You might just save

a child’s life!a child’s life!

Just think . . .Just think . . .You might just save You might just save

a child’s life!a child’s life!