NCJ Number
188415
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The thesis of this booklet is that anyone who suspects that a child (anyone under age 18) is being abused or neglected has the right and responsibility to report it; this booklet provides the information necessary for a potential reporter of child abuse and neglect to recognize the various types of child abuse and neglect and respond effectively.
Abstract
The booklet first defines the various forms of child abuse, namely, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect; it advises that some children suffer from more than one kind of abuse. For each type of abuse, the booklet outlines the physical and behavioral signs. Some tell-tale signs of abuser behavior are to leave the child home alone often; attempt to hide the child's injuries or give unlikely explanations for them; punish the child harshly in public; overreact to small misbehaviors; blame the child's older sister or brother; show little or no concern for the child; keep the child away from others; be aggressive or defensive when asked about the child; and have an alcohol or other drug problem. A person who is sexually abusing a child may give the child gifts, seem overly friendly toward the child, or try to spend large amounts of time alone with the child. When child abuse is suspected, advice for responding includes watching for signs; being approachable to talk with the child; evaluating the situation; and reporting it. Suggestions for relating to the abused child include being a good listener, being supportive, not overreacting, writing down conversations with the child, and reporting the abuse. The booklet concludes with guidelines for making a report, including the agency to contact and what to include in the report. Questions and answers, along with suggestions for preventing child abuse, are also included in the booklet.