Facts & Info
What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
In order to be able to recognize and identify the signs of abuse and neglect, it helps to know the basic types and definitions. The following information is furnished by the Child Welfare Information Gateway* — a service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, please contact us.
*Child Welfare Information Gateway. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Definition of Child Abuse and Neglect
Although each state provides its own definitions of child abuse and neglect, Federal legislation provides a foundation by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, 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.
What Are the Major Types of Child Abuse and Neglect?
Most States recognize four major types of maltreatment: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Although any of the forms of child maltreatment may be found separately, they often occur in combination.
Neglect is failure to provide for a child's basic needs. Neglect may be:
- Physical (e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate supervision)
- Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment)
- Educational (e.g., failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs)
- Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child's emotional needs, failure to provide psychological care, or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs)
Physical abuse is physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.
Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent or caretaker such as fondling a child's genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
Sexual abuse is defined by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as "the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or the rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children."
Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove and, therefore, CPS may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm to the child. Emotional abuse is almost always present when other forms are identified.
Some states also include Parental Substance Abuse and Abandonment within their definitions of child abuse.
Parental Substance Abuse
Some circumstances that are considered abuse or neglect are:
- Prenatal exposure of a child to harm due to the mother's use of an illegal drug or other substance
- Manufacture of a controlled substance in the presence of a child or on the premises occupied by a child
- Allowing a child to be present where the chemicals or equipment for the manufacture of controlled substances are used or stored
- Selling, distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child
- Use of a controlled substance by a caregiver that impairs the caregiver's ability to adequately care for the child
Abandonment
According to Child Welfare, many States and territories now provide definitions for child abandonment in their reporting laws. Approximately 18 States and the District of Columbia include abandonment in their definition of abuse or neglect. Approximately 13 States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands provide separate definitions for establishing abandonment. In general, it is considered abandonment of the child when the parent's identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left by the parent in circumstances in which the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or to provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.
For more information on child abuse and neglect, please contact us or visit www.childwelfare.gov.
Founding Sponsor
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to our Founding Sponsor and the Official Sponsor of our two annual fundraisers, Longboat Key Club & Resort. Their financial, emotional and volunteer support since the Foundation's inception has been amazing. They are truly making a difference in the lives of many children!
