1. Child Abuse
By: Melinda Thayer

2. Need To Know Four types of Child Abuse Emotional Child Abuse
Child Neglect
Physical Child Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse

3. Emotional Abuse-Need to Know
Damage a child’s mental health, Social Development.
Leaves Psychological Scars
Examples: Name Calling, Humiliation, telling a child that he or she is worthless or a mistake, frequent yelling and bullying, and exposing a child to abuse of other family members and even pets.

4. Child Neglect-Need to Know
Not always noticeable.
Child’s basic needs are being met by the parent or guardian.
Child may end up acting as the adult when they become older.
Examples: Parents having a drug or alcohol abuse. Child going to school in dirty clothes.

5. Physical Abuse-Need to Know
Involves harm or injury to a child.
May be a result from extreme discipline.
Child fearful of one or both parents.
Child does not want to go home.
Is visible to people that pay attention to children.
Example: Black eyes, children flinching when being touched, unexplained bruises.

6. Sexual Abuse-Need to Know
Is caused from the act of sex or from being exposed to sexual situations.
Most often close family relatives.
Both boys and girls suffer, but sexual abuse of boys may be underreported.
Children are tormented with shame or guilt, also believe that others will not believe them.
Examples: Child has trouble walking or sitting.

7. More Information-What to Do to Help
Any child that is suffering from abuse will be afraid to talk about it, therefore Avoid Denial and Remain Calm.
Do not be the one asking the questions, a child needs to be able to express themselves in his or hers own words.

8. More Information Continued
Reassure the child, it took a lot of guts for that child to tell you about their abuse, explain to them they did nothing wrong.
The child needs to feel safe even after telling you, so if you are afraid for the safety of the child or your own safety then let the professionals handle it.

9. IF YOU SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE
Every School has a protocol for suspected child abuse. As faculty of a School District we are the first people to suspect child abuse and we must report it.

10. GA STAT’S
Georgia received 101,563 reports of child abuse last year (PSDS CY04)
30,951 of those were substantiated as victims of child abuse (PSDS CY04)
About 85% of those children were victims of severe neglect
About 11% were physically abused
About 5% were sexually abused - that is about 2411 children sexually abused in CY04

12. Information in the US
More than five children die every day as a result of Child abuse
Approximately 80% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4
30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children

13. Martina McBride Concrete Angel-song about child abuse.

14. Resources