1. Child Abuse and Neglect EDU 261

2. What is Child Abuse?  Child Abuse is any mistreatment or neglect of a child that results in non- accidental harm or injury and which cannot be reasonably explained. Child abuse can include: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

3. What is child abuse? § 7B ‑ 101. Definitions  As used in this Subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words have the listed meanings:  (1) Abused juveniles. – Any juvenile less than 18 years of age whose parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker:  a. Inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the juvenile a serious physical injury by other than accidental means;  b. Creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of serious physical injury to the juvenile by other than accidental means;  c. Uses or allows to be used upon the juvenile cruel or grossly inappropriate procedures or cruel or grossly inappropriate devices to modify behavior;  d. Commits, permits, or encourages the commission of a violation of the following laws by, with, or upon the juvenile: first ‑ degree rape, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 27.2; second degree rape as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 27.3; first ‑ degree sexual offense, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 27.4; second degree sexual offense, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 27.5; sexual act by a custodian, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 27.7; crime against nature, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 177; incest, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 178 and G.S. 14 ‑ 179; preparation of obscene photographs, slides, or motion pictures of the juvenile, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.5; employing or permitting the juvenile to assist in a violation of the obscenity laws as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.6; dissemination of obscene material to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.7 and G.S. 14 ‑ 190.8; displaying or disseminating material harmful to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.14 and G.S. 14 ‑ 190.15; first and second degree sexual exploitation of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.16 and G.S. 14 ‑ 190.17; promoting the prostitution of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 190.18; and taking indecent liberties with the juvenile, as provided in G.S. 14 ‑ 202.1, regardless of the age of the parties;  e. Creates or allows to be created serious emotional damage to the juvenile; serious emotional damage is evidenced by a juvenile's severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or aggressive behavior toward himself or others; or  f. Encourages, directs, or approves of delinquent acts involving moral turpitude committed by the juvenile. NC General Statutes Chapter 7B. Juvenile Code. SUBCHAPTER I. ABUSE, NEGLECT, DEPENDENCY

4. What is Child Neglect?  15) Neglected juvenile. – A juvenile who does not receive proper care, supervision, or discipline from the juvenile's parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker; or who has been abandoned; or who is not provided necessary medical care; or who is not provided necessary remedial care; or who lives in an environment injurious to the juvenile's welfare; or who has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law. In determining whether a juvenile is a neglected juvenile, it is relevant whether that juvenile lives in a home where another juvenile has died as a result of suspected abuse or neglect or lives in a home where another juvenile has been subjected to abuse or neglect by an adult who regularly lives in the home. NC General Statutes Chapter 7B. Juvenile Code. SUBCHAPTER I. ABUSE, NEGLECT, DEPENDENCY

5. Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect § 7B ‑ 301. Duty to report abuse, neglect, dependency, or death due to maltreatment.  Any person or institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, as defined by G.S. 7B ‑ 101, or has died as the result of maltreatment, shall report the case of that juvenile to the director of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found. The report may be made orally, by telephone, or in writing. The report shall include information as is known to the person making it including the name and address of the juvenile; the name and address of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or caretaker; the age of the juvenile; the names and ages of other juveniles in the home; the present whereabouts of the juvenile if not at the home address; the nature and extent of any injury or condition resulting from abuse, neglect, or dependency; and any other information which the person making the report believes might be helpful in establishing the need for protective services or court intervention. If the report is made orally or by telephone, the person making the report shall give the person's name, address, and telephone number. Refusal of the person making the report to give a name shall not preclude the department's investigation of the alleged abuse, neglect, dependency, or death as a result of maltreatment.

6. Types of Abuse  Physical Abuse  Emotional Abuse  Sexual Abuse  Neglect

7. What is physical abuse?  Physical abuse, which is 19% of all substantiated cases of child abuse, is the most visible form of abuse and may be defined as any act which results in a non-accidental trauma or physical injury. Inflicted physical injury most often represents unreasonable, severe corporal punishment or unjustifiable punishment. This usually happens when a frustrated or angry parent strikes, shakes or throws a child.  Physical abuse injuries result from punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning or otherwise harming a child. While any of these injuries can occur accidentally when a child is at play, physical abuse should be suspected if the explanations do not fit the injury or if a pattern of frequency is apparent. The longer the abuse continues, the more serious the injuries to the child and the more difficult it is to eliminate the abusive behavior.

8. What is emotional abuse?  Emotional abuse, which is 8% of all substantiated cases of child abuse, is commonly defined as the systematic tearing down of another human being.  It is considered a pattern of behavior that can seriously interfere with a child's positive development. Emotional abuse is probably the least understood of all child abuse, yet it is the most prevalent, and can be the cruelest and most destructive of all types of abuse.  Because emotional abuse attacks the child's psyche and self-concept, the victim comes to see him or herself as unworthy of love and affection. Children who are constantly shamed, humiliated, terrorized or rejected suffer at least as much, if not more, than if they had been physically assaulted.

9. What is sexual abuse?  Sexual abuse, which is 10% of all substantiated cases of child abuse, is defined as the involvement of dependent, developmentally immature children in sexual activities that they do not fully comprehend and therefore to which they are unable to give informed consent and/or which violates the taboos of society

10. What is sexual abuse?  At the extreme end of the spectrum, sexual abuse includes sexual intercourse and/or its deviations. These behaviors may be the final acts in a worsening pattern of sexual abuse. For this reason and because of their devastating effects, exhibitionism, fondling and any other sexual contact with children are also considered sexually abusive.

11. What is child neglect?  Child neglect, which is 63% of all substantiated cases of child abuse, is the most common form of child maltreatment reported to child protective services.  It is defined as a "type of maltreatment that refers to the failure to provide needed age-appropriate care," such as shelter, food, clothing, education, supervision, medical care and other basic necessities needed for development of physical, intellectual and emotional capacities.  Unlike physical and sexual abuse, neglect is usually typified by an ongoing pattern of inadequate care and is readily observed by individuals in close contact with the child. Physicians, nurses, day care personnel, relatives and neighbors are frequently the ones to suspect and report neglected infants, toddlers and preschool children.

12. Types of neglect  Medical neglect -- is the failure to provide appropriate health care for a child although financially able to do so. In some cases, a parent or caretaker will withhold traditional medical care during the practice of religious beliefs.  These cases generally do not fall under the definition of medical neglect, however, some states will obtain a court order forcing medical treatment of a child in order to save a child's life or prevent life-threatening injury resulting from the lack of treatment.  Medical neglect can result in poor overall health and compounded medical problems.

13. Types of neglect  Physical neglect -- accounts for the majority of cases of maltreatment.  The definition includes the refusal of or extreme delay in seeking necessary health care, child abandonment, inadequate supervision, rejection of a child leading to expulsion from the home, and failing to adequately provide for the child's safety and physical and emotional needs.  Physical neglect can severely impact a child's development by causing failure to thrive, malnutrition; serious illnesses; physical harm in the form of cuts, bruises and burns due to lack of supervision and a lifetime of low self-esteem.

14. Types of neglect  Educational neglect -- occurs when a child is allowed to engage in chronic truancy, is of mandatory school age but not enrolled in school or receiving needed special educational training.  Educational neglect can lead to underachievement in acquiring necessary basic skills, dropping out of school and/or continually disruptive behavior.

15. Types of neglect  Emotional neglect -- includes such actions as chronic or extreme spousal abuse in the child's presence, allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, refusal or failure to provide needed psychological care, constant belittling and withholding of affection. This pattern of behavior can lead to poor self-image, alcohol or drug abuse, destructive behavior and even suicide. Severe neglect of infants can result in the infant failing to grow and thrive and may even lead to infant death.