1. CHILD ABUSE By: Candice Goodwin

2. What is Child Abuse? • Child abuse is any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and which is often represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature.

3. Types of Child Abuse • Physical Abuse • Emotional Abuse • Sexual Abuse • Neglect

4. Physical Abuse • Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. • Physical Abuse may be the result of an attempt to hurt the child, or a severe discipline. • Warning Signs: • Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts • Is always watchful and “on alert” as if waiting for something bad to happen • Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or even a belt • Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home • Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts on hot days

5. Emotional Abuse • Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? • Emotional Abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving lifelong psychological scars • Warning Signs: • Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong • Shows extremes in behavior (extremely demanding or extremely aggressive) • Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver • Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children)

6. Sexual Abuse • Sexual abuse is any sexual act between an adult and a child. • Warning Signs: • Trouble walking or sitting • Knowledge in sexual acts that are inappropriate to his or her age • Doesn’t want to change clothes In front of others or participate in physical activities • An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14 • Runs away from home

7. Neglect • Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s physical needs. • Warning signs: • Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather • Hygiene is consistently bad • Untreated illnesses and physical injuries • Frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations and environmens • Frequently late or missing from school

8. Statistics

9. In Conclusion DON’T close our eyes BE there for our children. Don’t be AFRAID to get involved TO help protect them HELP stop the abuse cycle