NCJ Number
116994
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
As many as one million children per year in the United States are victims of child abuse or neglect.
Abstract
One means of intervening with this problem is through the early identification of signs and symptoms. Working with children on a day-to-day basis, educators are in a particularly good position to observe physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and neglect. Indicators of nonaccidental physical abuse include evidence of repeated injury; frequent complaints of abdominal pain; and evidence of bruises, welts, cuts, or burns. Abused children also may manifest changes in behavior including unusual aggression, withdrawal, passivity, and apprehension or frequent and severe mood changes. Characteristic behavior of sexually abused children includes withdrawal, regression, poor interpersonal relationships with peers, delinquency, and running away. The majority of sexually abused children are girls, and the perpetrator is most often the father. Under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974, school professionals are required to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect. Such reports should include the names and addresses of the children and the parents, the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, the identity of the perpetrator, and any other helpful information. 10 references.