Abuse and Neglect Children and teens need care. They need food, clothing, and a place to call home. They also need protection from danger. Both neglect and abuse are illegal. Child neglect involves endangerment of or harm to a child caused by an adult’s failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Children and teens need care. They need food, clothing, and a place to call home. They also need protection from danger. Both neglect and abuse are illegal. Child neglect involves endangerment of or harm to a child caused by an adult’s failure to provide for the child’s basic needs.

Types of Abuse CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR PHYSICAL ABUSE EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE criticism, threats, or rejection SEXUAL ABUSE Inappropriate touching, sexual acts, and exposure to pornography. CHILD ENDANGERMENT Placing a child in a potentially dangerous or harmful situation CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR Any action by an adult encouraging illegal behavior by someone under the age of 18, or that places children in situations where they are exposed to illegal activities Child abuse involves threatening or inflicting harm on a child. Types of abuse: Emotional abuse: Includes constant criticism, threats, or rejection that harms a child’s sense of self-worth and emotional development.​ Sexual abuse: Includes inappropriate behavior toward or with a child including touching, sexual acts, and exposure to pornography.​ Child endangerment: Placing a child in a potentially dangerous or harmful situation. Examples include driving intoxicated with a child in the car or leaving a young child unsupervised. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor: Any action by an adult encouraging illegal behavior by someone under the age of 18, or that places children in situations where they are exposed to illegal activities. For example, providing alcohol to someone underage.

Types of Abuse Child abuse involves threatening or inflicting harm on a child. Types of abuse: Emotional abuse: Includes constant criticism, threats, or rejection that harms a child’s sense of self-worth and emotional development.​ Sexual abuse: Includes inappropriate behavior toward or with a child including touching, sexual acts, and exposure to pornography.​ Child endangerment: Placing a child in a potentially dangerous or harmful situation. Examples include driving intoxicated with a child in the car or leaving a young child unsupervised.

Types of Abuse Contributing to the delinquency of a minor: Any action by an adult encouraging illegal behavior by someone under the age of 18, or that places children in situations where they are exposed to illegal activities. For example, providing alcohol to someone underage.

Types of Neglect PHYSICAL MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL EMOTIONAL SELF-NEGLECT Failure to provide food, clothing, shelter MEDICAL Failure to provide treatment for injuries or illnesses EDUCATIONAL Failure to conform to state’s legal requirements EMOTIONAL Failure to meet child’s emotional needs SELF-NEGLECT Behaviors committed which endangers health, safety, and overall well-being ABANDONMENT When a parent, guardian, or person with assumed responsibility abandons a child without any regard for the child’s health or safety MATERIAL EXPLOITATION Misuse of their financial resources, property, or possessions PHYSICAL- refers to a failure to provide such basic needs as food, clothing, shelter, or appropriate supervision. MEDICAL-involves a failure to provide necessary treatment for injuries, illnesses, or other health conditions. EDUCATIONAL- failure to conform to a state's legal requirement to provide for a child's education or special education needs. EMOTIONAL-involves a failure to meet a child's emotional needs or to provide psychological care, or to allow a child to use alcohol or drugs. SELF-NEGLECT-involves behaviors that endanger health, safety, and overall well-being. ABANDONMENT- when a parent, guardian, or person in charge abandons a child without any regard for the child’s health or safety. MATERIAL EXPLOITATION-misuse of their financial resources, property, or possessions.  ​

Causes There is no one single cause of child abuse and neglect. Possible causes: Generation to generation Exposure to violence in society Neglect and abuse can occur across all socio- economic, cultural, and ethnic groups. There is no one single cause of child abuse and neglect. They may vary, but still produce the same hurtful results.​ Sometimes it is passed from generation to generation. When a child is a victim of abuse, he or she might think this is normal behavior. When the child grows up, he or she may repeat he abusive behavior for lack of another known way Exposure to violence in society is also a possible cause. Neglect and abuse can occur across all socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic groups .

Causes Sometimes it is passed from generation to generation. When a child is a victim of abuse, he or she might think this is normal behavior. When the child grows up, he or she may repeat he abusive behavior for lack of another known way Exposure to violence in society is also a possible cause. Neglect and abuse can occur across all socio- economic, cultural, and ethnic groups .

Risk Factors Grouped into four types Parent or caregiver Family Child Environmental factors Many of these risk factors relate to stressors. Economic distress brought on by unemployment, inadequate pay, or illness in the family are often associated with abuse. Parental personality Need to control Low self-esteem Anger issues Social isolation There are certain risk-factors that researchers commonly associate with neglect and abuse.​ These risk factors are grouped into four types, which include parent or caregiver, family, child, and environmental factors.​ Many of these risk factors relate to stressors.​ Economic distress brought on by unemployment, inadequate pay, or illness in the family are often associated with abuse. Lacking parental skills plays a part.​ Parental personality issues such as need to control, low self-esteem, anger issues, social isolation, or difficulty coping with stress are often factors as well, depression and other mental health problems, alcohol and substance abuse.  

Five Protective Factors Parental Resilience Social Connection Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development Concrete Support in Times of Need Nurturing Children’s Social and Emotional Competence Increasing the Protective Factors, decreases risk factors. Increasing the Protective Factors, decreases risk factors.

Factors that Reduce Risk of Child Maltreatment

What does the research indicate?

What we know: Families thrive when protective factors are robust in their lives and communities.

The Importance of Relationships An environment of relationships shapes intellectual, social, emotional, physical, behavioral, and moral development Caregivers are the active sculptors of their children’s growing brains The caregiver’s emotional availability and empathetic responsiveness is an important part of that environment

Elder Abuse Elder abuse involves any act that threatens or harms the health or well-being of an older adult. As older adults develop physical or mental problems, they often become quite frail and vulnerable. ​ Unfortunately, as older adults become more frail and vulnerable, they may become victims of elder abuse. ​ Elder abuse involves any act that threatens or harms the health or well-being of an older adult.

Elder Abuse As older adults develop physical or mental problems, they often become quite frail and vulnerable. ​ Unfortunately, as older adults become more frail and vulnerable, they may become victims of elder abuse.  ​ Elder abuse involves any act that threatens or harms the health or well-being of an older adult.

Types of Abuse and Neglect Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional or Psychological Abuse Left Bedridden or Not Receiving Medications Self-neglect Intentional or Unintentional Victim of Abandonment Material Exploitation Stealing Money or Possessions The types of elder abuse are similar to the types of child abuse.​ Elder abuse may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological abuse.​ Older adults may be mistreated in other ways too. Through neglect, older adults may be left bedridden. They may not receive their needed medications.​ Self-neglect involves behaviors committed by the older adult that endangers his or her health.​ Self-neglect may be intentional or unintentional.​ Older adults may become a victim of abandonment when a person who has assumed responsibility for the care of an older adult deserts, or leaves, the older adult. Material exploitation is the misuse of an older adult’s financial resources, property, or possessions.  ​ Stealing money or possessions from an older adult, forging an older adult’s signature, or targeting an older adult as part of a financial scam are all examples of material exploitation. When risk factors are present, families can be connected to appropriate social programs.​ Local government sources, doctors, religious organizations, schools, hospitals, health centers, and law enforcement agencies can provide referrals to support systems within the community.

Types of Abuse and Neglect The types of elder abuse are similar to the types of child abuse.​ Elder abuse may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological abuse.​ Older adults may be mistreated in other ways too. Through neglect, older adults may be left bedridden. They may not receive their needed medications.​ Self-neglect involves behaviors committed by the older adult that endangers his or her health.​

Types of Abuse and Neglect Self-neglect may be intentional or unintentional.​ Older adults may become a victim of abandonment when a person who has assumed responsibility for the care of an older adult deserts, or leaves, the older adult. Material exploitation is the misuse of an older adult’s financial resources, property, or possessions.  ​ Stealing money or possessions from an older adult, forging an older adult’s signature, or targeting an older adult as part of a financial scam are all examples of material exploitation.

Types of Abuse and Neglect When risk factors are present, families can be connected to appropriate social programs.​ Local government sources, doctors, religious organizations, schools, hospitals, health centers, and law enforcement agencies can provide referrals to support systems within the community.

Stop the Abuse and Neglect When risk factors are present, families can be connected to appropriate social programs for referrals to support systems Local government sources doctors religious organizations schools Hospitals and health centers law enforcement agencies