A Child’s Cry: Abuse and Neglect of Children

Each year, Child Protective Services (CPS) receives over two million reports that concern the welfare of over four million children. Two-thirds of these cases prompt investigations; these investigations find that almost one million children are victims of abuse or neglect. Three abused or neglected children will die today from injuries caused by their caregivers. Three more child abuse deaths will remain unreported. Finished with this paragraph? CPS now knows of two more cases of abuse.

No group of children is unaffected. Children of all races and ethnicities suffer at the hands of abusive parents or caretakers. Boys and girls are equally likely to experience abuse, and although young children are most vulnerable to the effects of abuse and neglect, abuse affects children of all ages.

The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum, “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.” Put simply, child physical abuse is non-accidental physical injury. Neglect is a pattern of failure to provide for a child’s basic needs that endangers the child’s physical or psychological well-being. Both are common. Both are serious.

Neglect is the most widespread form of abuse; more than half of the children reported to CPS have experienced neglect. Signs that a child is being neglected include:

• Ill-fitting, dirty clothes and shoes.
• Consistent, weather-inappropriate dress.
• Consistent poor hygiene.
• Untreated illnesses or physical injuries.

Neglected children exhibit behavioral extremes – in school, they may be troublesome and disruptive, or they may be withdrawn and passive. These children are frequently unsupervised and often tardy.

Neglectful caregivers exhibit reckless disregard for children’s safety. They may leave children or infants unsupervised or unattended, or refuse or delay adequate health care.  Neglect may or may not be deliberate: Those who neglect their children may have a physical disability, mental illness, or substance abuse problem that prevents them from giving their child adequate physical and emotional support.

Physical abuse is less common than neglect, but still a prevalent problem: Over 20% of the children reported to CPS have experienced physical abuse. Those who are physically abusive may punch, beat, kick, bite, shake, throw, stab, choke, hit, or burn children. The injuries inflicted through physical abuse can range from minor bruises to severe fractures or death. Signs that a child is being physically abused include:

• Unexplained bruises or welts on the face, throat, upper arms, buttocks, thighs, or lower back.
• Bruises or welts in unusual patterns or shapes (such as the mark of a belt on a child’s back).
• Human bite marks.
• Unexplained burns on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, abdomen, or buttocks; especially if inflicted by cigarette, cigar, or household instrument (such as an iron).
• Age-inappropriate injuries.
• Fractures or spiral fractures of long bones.
• Multiple fractures, bruises, burns, or abrasions in various stages of healing, especially seen after weekends or absences.

Children who have been physically abused exhibit a range of emotional and behavioral indicators that include agitation, anger, anxiety, depression, shyness, fear of their home environment, poor self-image, difficulty sleeping, and suicidal ideation. They may loiter at school or friends houses, lie about their injuries, exhibit age-inappropriate thumb-sucking or rocking, have nightmares, be self-abusive or self-destructive, startle easily, be apprehensive when other children cry, have flashbacks or act as though they are in shock, run away from home, or even report injuries inflicted by their parents.

Those who abuse children may display anger management issues or an excessive need for control. They may seem unconcerned about their child, misperceive their child as ‘evil’ or ‘bad,’ conceal their child’s injury or protect the identity of the person responsible for injuries, lie in explanation for their child’s injuries, or give no explanation for injuries.

Child abuse and neglect are serious concerns. If you suspect that a child is in immediate danger, contact a law enforcement agency as soon as possible. Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD to report abuse to the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline.