Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

Maltreatment can occur outside the home, sometimes in places we like to think of as "safe," and can include peer groups (bullying, date rape, hazing, etc.). Maltreatment can also begin with a stranger who befriends kids and leads them into human trafficking with promises of glamour, money, material goods ... and love. But abuse can – and most often does – happen in the home or within the family. Knowing what constitutes maltreatment is the first step toward stopping it. Maltreatment of a child includes:

• Sexual abuse – inappropriate touching, indecent exposure, and exploitation, including human trafficking
• Physical abuse – punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, or threatening with any type of weapon
• Neglect – malnourishment, dirty clothing and living quarters, child left alone for long periods of time, frequent absences and tardiness at school
• Emotional abuse – extreme punishment such as being locked in a room or closet or denied food or water, name calling, belittling, blaming, withholding love
• Drug exposure – prenatal exposure to drug abuse and children exposed to drugs and alcohol abuse by parents, including illegal drug activity in the home which may put a child in harm's way.
• Medical child abuse – often referred to as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy – a caregiver may cause a child to become ill just to gain attention. The result is needless medical intervention and treatment and risky actions by the caregiver which can cause great harm and risk to the child's health and life.

• Educate them about their bodies. Teach them about which parts are private. Help them to understand the difference between touches that are okay and those that aren't. Let them know that it's okay to tell if someone tries to touch or hurt them, that it's okay not to keep a secret that makes them feel bad or scared.
• Teach them when to say, "no." We want our children to be respectful of others, and we want them to respect themselves. Help them understand that it's okay to say no to someone who is trying to get them to do something uncomfortable.
• Create safety rules then discuss and practice them often.

For more in-depth information on child maltreatment, how to recognize it, and what you can do help bring an end to this needless childhood malady, visit www.helpandhope.org.

Child maltreatment is more common than most people imagine. Victims of sexual and physical abuse may be girls or boys of any age. Abuse occurs in all types of families. Recent statistics indicate that one in three girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Abuse can be devastating for young victims, but they often show no obvious physical signs of the abuse. Some behavioral and emotional responses are common among the victims of sexual and physical abuse. Parents should remember that not all children who demonstrate these behaviors have been abused.

Common symptoms of sexual abuse include*:

• Depression – withdrawal, poor motivation, increase in crying, talking about death/dying, suicidal thoughts and/or attempts
• Poor self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness
• Anxiety
• Changes in sleep patterns, nightmares, bedwetting
• Regression – loss of bowel and bladder control, thumb sucking, renewed need for a security blanket, clingy behavior
• Unusual fears of people and places
• Acting out sexually
• Eating disorders or feeding difficulties
• Changes in school performance, loss of concentration, distraction
• Substance abuse
• Frequent medical complaints, such as nausea, headaches
• Excessive masturbation

*List adapted from material by Suzanne Sgroi, M.D., a leading researcher in the area of child sexual abuse.

Common symptoms of physical abuse include**:

• Fearing parents/caretakers
• Reporting injury by parents/caretakers
• Fearing home
• Avoiding eye contact
• Showing wariness of physical contact
• Seeking affection from anyone
• Behaving aggressively
• Settling in quickly in new surroundings
• Showing nervousness or fear when other children cry
• Expecting no comfort or assurance from parents
• Becoming highly aware or overly sensitive to his/her surroundings
• Having difficulty learning.
• Wearing clothes that hide injuries
• Avoiding gym class
• Arriving early to school and leaving late
• Recording poor school attendance

** List adapted from material by Robert Reece, M.D., a national expert in child maltreatment.

What do I do if I suspect a child is the victim of maltreatment?

If you suspect that a child is the victim of maltreatment, contact your local police department. You can also call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400, or file a report at www.TxAbuseHotline.org. If it is an emergency, please dial 911 for assistance.

Getting help

• Child Advocacy Resources and Evaluation (CARE) Team
• CARE Team handbook for parents of children alleged to be physically or sexually abused
• Texas abuse hotline
• Guidelines and help for teens

Get involved

Promoting healthy parenting practices and the prevention of child maltreatment is an issue that we can't tackle alone. Here are some of the groups that would love to hear from you:

• Hood County for Healthy Children
• Wise Coalition for Healthy Children
• The Center for Children's Health
• The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment
• Stewards of Children
• Nurturing Parenting

Do you know of someone you'd like to share this information with? Please feel free to use our messaging below or create your own.

To use our messaging, all you have to do is copy the messages we've provided below and insert the appropriate photo into whichever social media site you use. We ask that you include #stopchildabuse in the message to join the nationwide conversation about child abuse prevention.

Abuse isn't always this obvious. Know the signs and report abuse if you suspect it. Social media text to include with image: Victims of child abuse often show no physical symptoms. Be on the lookout for behavioral or emotional changes in a child that include depression, aggressive behavior, wearing clothes to hide injuries, withdrawal from friends or usual activities and more. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: Common signs of sexual abuse include depression, anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, acting out sexually and eating disorders. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

Don't ask yourself “what if I'm wrong”, ask yourself “What if I'm right?” If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: There is no excuse for child abuse. Speak up for the children who may not have a voice. Call the Texas Abuse Hotline 800-252-5400 to report suspected abuse. #stopchildabuse

Wear blue on April 8 to support child abuse awareness and prevention. If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: Most abuse happens in the home or within the family. But it can also occur in other places we like to think of as “safe.” Help your child understand that it's okay to say no to someone who is trying to get them to do something uncomfortable – even if they know them. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

90% of victims know their abuser. If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: Most abuse happens in the home or within the family. But it can also occur in other places we like to think of as “safe.” Help your child understand that it's okay to say no to someone who is trying to get them to do something uncomfortable – even if they know them. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

Be the voice they don't have. If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: There are many reasons why a child may not report child abuse … fear, confusion, depression or they may even think it's their fault. Call the Texas Abuse Hotline 800-252-5400 to report suspected abuse. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

Each year Tarrant County has some of the highest rates of child abuse or maltreatment in Texas. If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: There were 5,630 confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in 2017. That's 5,630 too many. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

Did you know that the most common form of child abuse is neglect? If you suspect abuse, report it. Social media text to include with image: Signs of neglect include malnourishment, frequent sickness, poor hygiene and dirty clothing and frequent absences and tardiness at school. For more information, visit www.saynotoabuse.org. #stopchildabuse

Resources for parents and caregivers

• What is abuse?
• What is the Period of Purple Crying
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Safe infant sleep

Community stakeholder and policy maker resources

• CCHAPS abuse data
• Promising and evidence based practices on abuse
• Texas Abuse Hotline