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FACTS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
in the United States
- 3 million cases/year involving 5 million children are investigated.
- Of these 3 million reports 879,000 were found to have been abused.
- On average 4 children die per day due to abuse
- In Butte County for 2005, 4967 cases were investigated and 1,052 cases were substantiated.
- On average every month Butte County has 650 children in out-of-home placement.
Who abuses children?
Child abusers can be parents, caretakers, friends and neighbors. Any family, regardless of socio-economic status, religion, education, or ethnic background can be child abusers. We must all be aware to help stop the cycle of abuse.
What is Child Abuse?
4 major types: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse
- Neglect is failure to provide for a child's basic needs.
- Physical abuse is physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, stabbing, choking or otherwise harming a child.
- Sexual abuse includes fondling a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
- Emotional abuse includes constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance.
Why Does Child abuse occur?
- Lack of preparation or knowledge of critical issues surrounding parenting, financial, or other environmental stressors, difficulty in relationships, depression or other mental health problems
- Lack of understanding a child's developmental stages; unreasonable expectations
- Unaware of alternatives to corporal punishment
- Lack of knowledge of health, hygiene, and nutritional needs
Several of these risk factors combined with the normal challenges of raising children, can result in otherwise well-intentioned parents causing their children harm or neglecting their needs.
Signs & Symptoms of Abuse
- Behaviors: Aggressive, disruptive, destructive, shy fearful, withdrawn, doesn't smile, poor peer relationships, lack of bowel or bladder control.
- Physical Appearance: Inadequately dressed for the weather or overdressed, unwashed, torn unwashed or tattered clothing, undernourished, tired, listless, welts, burns, inadequately explained injuries bruises, difficulty walking.
- Family Symptoms: Socially isolated family, very controlling authority figures, rigid expectations of child, low self-esteem, overuse of alcohol or drugs.
Prevention Efforts
- Build on family strengths: parent education, home visitation, and parent support groups.
- Reach out for help if you need it.
- Reach out to someone else. Just be a friend and listen, help out with household chores, take care of the children awhile, help a parent find help, be a friend to the children in a family under stress.
Reporting Abuse
Contact your local CPS or law enforcement:
Information you will need: child's name, suspected perpetrator's name, a description of what you have seen or heard, names of other people with like knowledge, your name and phone #.
Reporting can stop the abuse and get help for the child and the family.
Consequences of Abuse
Brain damage, developmental delays, learning disorders, problems forming relationships, aggressive behavior, and depression.
About Child Abuse |
Mandated Reporting
Training, Education & Volunteer Opportunities
Local Resources |
National Crisis Hotlines |
Home
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Butte County
P.O. Box 569 • Chico, CA 95927
Phone: (530) 342-3100
Fax: (530) 342-3995
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