1. Abusive Parents/Guardians Stephanie McGinn & Jillian Schulze

2. Child Maltreatment as Defined by Federal Law “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” -U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

3. Child Maltreatment as Defined by Federal Law continued …. HOWEVER, measuring child maltreatment is very problematic because there is little agreement among those who gather data as to exactly what constitutes child maltreatment and it occurs behind closed doors so it is often hidden, unnoticed or ignored.

4. Types of Neglect and Abuse Perpetrated by Parents ● Physical abuse ● Neglect ● Sexual abuse ● Abandonment ● Emotional abuse ● Substance abuse

5. Common Myths About Child Maltreatment Myth 1: The greatest risk to children is outside the home Myth 2: Child maltreatment is an increasingly serious problem Myth 3: Risk factors always lead to child maltreatment Myth 4: Sometimes child maltreatment just happens and we should not make too much of it Myth 5: Minor acts of child maltreatment are always trivial and inconsequential

6. Recognizing Signs of Abuse In Parents: ● Parents are the perpetrators 80% of the time ● Mothers are the most likely perpetrators in physical abuse and neglect cases ● Fathers are the most likely perpetrators in sexual abuse cases ● Younger parents are more likely than older parents to maltreat their children

7. Recognizing Signs of Abuse In Parents: ● Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: self-expressed anger; depression; low frustration tolerance; low self-esteem; rigidity; anger control problems; deficits in empathy; anxiety; perceived life stress and personal distress; substance abuse/dependence; deficits in problem-solving skills; intellectual impairment ● Family and Interpersonal Difficulties: spousal disagreement, tension, abuse; parental history of abuse in childhood; maternal history of foster care placement; deficits in positive interactions with children and other family members; verbal and physical conflict among family members, including domestic violence; deficits in family cohesion and expressiveness; isolation from friends and the community

8. Recognizing Signs of Abuse In Parents: ● Parenting Difficulties: unrealistic expectations of children; disregard for children’s needs/abilities; deficits in child management skills; view of parenting role as stressful; negative bias/perceptions regarding children; poor problem-solving ability with regard to child rearing; intrusive/inconsistent parenting; low levels of communication, stimulation, and interaction with children; high rates of verbal and physical aggression toward children ● Biological Factors: reports of physical health problems and disabilities; psychological overactivity; neuropsychological deficits (e.g., problem solving, conceptual ability)

9. Recognizing Signs of Abuse In Children: ● Younger children are more likely to be physically abused and neglected ● Children are most vulnerable in their first year of life ● In homes where parents are involved with domestic violence, adolescents are at high risk of physical abuse ● Youth are at risk of sexual abuse especially after puberty

10. Recognizing Signs of Abuse In Children: ● Victims of child maltreatment are more likely to have… ○ Psychological problems (depression, anxiety, low levels of self-esteem); disturbances in the attachment process; difficulties in adjusting to the school environment; poor academic performance; higher levels of risk- taking behaviors; be poor; be a criminal; have drug and alcohol problems; abuse own children and spouses; be revictimized later in life

11. Parenting Styles ● Maccoby & Martin refined the model in order to include abusive and uninvolved parents ● Abusive parents or violent parents are usually associated with a high level of control, with no realistic expectations, no communication, and no nurturing.

12. Attachment Theory and Abusive Parents ● Disorganized Attachment ● Distressed and disorganized infants exhibit contradictory behavioral patterns such as: ○ Undirected, misdirected, incomplete, and interrupted movements or expressions ○ Odd movements and postures ○ Asymmetrical movements ○ Freezing, stilling, and slowed movements and expressions ○ Clear signs of fear of the parent ○ Clear signs of disorganization and disorientation

13. Possible Outcomes of Disorganized Attachment ● Problems with affect regulation and dissociation ● Lack of impulse control and attentional problems ● Controlling stance used in peer and caregiving relationships ● Cognitive impairments ● High risk for psychopathology, particularly for aggression in middle childhood and low self esteem and dissociation in adolescence ● Tend to become unresolved/disoriented adults who are frightening to their children and repeat cycle

14. Prevention Programs ● Parenting education classes ● Parenting support groups ● Social workers ● Home visitation specialists ● Online forums

15. 8 Ways Parents Can Prevent Child Abuse 1. Be a nurturing parent 2. Help out friends, neighbors, relatives 3. Help yourself de-stress when necessary 4. Be patient 5. Utilize parenting resources 6. Promote community and school programs focused on parenting 7. Volunteer 8. REPORT ANY SIGNS OF SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT

16. References Heath, P. (2013). Families as Risk and Families Coping with the death of a family member. Parent-child relations: context, research, and application (3rd ed., pp. 344-372). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill/Pearson. This sources is a scholarly publication. It is considered as such because the textbook contains information from articles that have been peer reviewed. The focus chapter offers informations on families at risk for abuse and neglect. It is specifically written with the intent to provide students with information on parent child relationships. Perrin, C. L., & Perrin, R. D. (2007). Child maltreatment: an introduction (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. This source is a scholarly publication. It is considered as such because it contains information from articles that have been peer reviewed. It offers information on trends, prevention programs, and other expertise on the issue of child maltreatment. It is also specifically used to teach prospective social workers and other fields that work with children on how to identify child maltreatment. Macmillan, H.L., Wathen, C.D., Barlow, J., Fergusson, D.M., Leventhal, J.M. & Taussig, H.N. (2009, January 17). Interventions to prevent child maltreatment and associated impairment. Child Maltreatment Vol. 373. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61708-0 This source is a scholarly publication. It is considered as such mainly because it has been peer reviewed and offers expertise on the issue of child maltreatment and prevention. It was taken out of a peer reviewed journal that publishes informational journals monthly. This source used technical and professional vocabulary and had a lengthy bibliography. What is child abuse and neglect?. (2013, July). Child Welfare Information Gateway. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets This source is a trade publication, also known as a professional publication. It is considered as such because it is written using language that is common in the child welfare professional field. This article is a lengthier article about current issues and trends in the child welfare and social work fields.