The term "child abuse" is a legal classification for the maltreatment of children. Some variations exist in the specific definitions of child abuse in individual state laws. Generally, child abuse refers to non- accidental harm or potential harm to a child caused by a parent or other person responsible for the child's health and welfare. Most child abuse involves parents or other family members. Child abuse may be emotional, physical, or sexual.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior attacking a child's self-worth. It includes belittling, terrorizing, isolating, rejecting, ignoring, and corrupting the child. When continued over a period of time, these activities affect the child's emotional development.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Physical abuse is the non-accidental injury of a child caused by the acts of a parent or other caregiver. Abuse-related injuries may include cuts, lacerations, abrasions, bruises, fractures, and burns. The shape of the injuries and their locations on the child's body often provide clues that they were not caused through the normal wear and tear of childhood.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Sexual abuse is sexual contact or interaction for gratification of the adult or older child who is a parent or caregiver and responsible for the child's care. Sexual abuse is reportable to child protective services. If the perpetrator is not a caregiver, such actions are defined as sexual assault and reportable to law enforcement agency. Sexual abuse is the form of abuse about which nonprofits are usually most concerned. There are several reasons for this concern: the topic is emotionally charged, the act of molestation represents a clear violation of societal norms, and sexual molestation is responsible for most abuse related legal claims. Beyond these reasons, no other form of abuse serves as a motivation for individuals to seek employment or volunteer for the purpose of gaining access to a potential victim. Access to children for possible sexual purposes is often the primary reason a potential molester seeks to become involved with a youth- serving nonprofit.

CHILD NEGLECT

Like child abuse, the term "child neglect" is a legal designation defined in state laws. In general, it denotes the failure of caregivers to provide life's necessities - food, clothing, shelter, health care, supervision - when they have the resources and the legal obligation to do so. Poverty alone is not a legal basis for child neglect. Rather it is a failure to provide what is in the power of the parent to supply, such as affection, attention and protection, that is the basis for reportable neglect. Child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment. Drug and alcohol abuse by caregivers is a common contributing factor to child neglect.

How do I report suspected child abuse?

When child abuse is suspected, safety is always the first priority.

If the child in question is in immediate danger, that should be your first concern. Call the police at 9-1-1 (in the US) immediately! If the child is not in immediate danger, you must still act quickly and decisively to help minimize the devastating effects of abuse. Find the nearest Abuse Crisis Center or Women's Crisis Center. They are often the same agency. The phone number may be listed in the front of your local phone book, or you can call Information and get the crisis phone number. If you can't find one locally, call one of the toll-free national and world-wide phone numbers. Find an expert in child abuse investigations, share your suspicions or discoveries, and get advice.

Child Abuse Links

We've Found the Best 4 Sites About Child Abuse

Child.Abuse.Laws.Best4Sites.net

California Child Abuse Resources For Protecting Children From Violence. Learn How To Help!

www.SafeFromTheStart.org

Accused of child abuse? Experienced, aggressive criminal defense Nationwide. (800) 841-1881 www.crimeattorneys.com

If you have solid information about child abuse, call 9-1-1 and report to the police. Share your suspicions or discoveries, and get advice. Do not speculate, and tell the truth. Honesty and complete revelations of all information are very important.

Advocates at Abuse Crisis Centers are specialists, whereas police have to be generalists. If there is time to do it safely, call for a specialist first. Arrange to have a child abuse expert present when you make your police report. There are ways to handle the situation that will minimize the trauma of the investigation for the child, and the expert knows how to do that. The police should also be grateful for the assistance.

If you only have general suspicions about abuse, do not call the police yet, but do call the Abuse Crisis center. Their advice will be vital to properly helping the child. These centers often have experts who can conduct Play Therapy, which is a gentle and non-invasive way to find out if the child is a victim of abuse or neglect. There may be a possibility that a file already exists on this child or family, and your call may be the final piece needed to take action and save the child.

RESOURCES

This list of hotlines from around the world will help you find assistance whether you are in a domestic abuse situation, have been raped, are a victim of incest or hate crime, or sexually assaulted, or need to protect a child.

United States Domestic Violence Hotline:

1-800-799-7233 Spanish Language: 1-800-942-6908

TDD: 1-800-787-3224

United States Sexual Assault Hotline:

1-800-656-4673

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

1-800-843-5678 TDD: 1-800-826-7653

United States Suicide Hotline:

1-800-784-2433

Hotline For Parents Considering Abducting Their Children:

1-800-A WAY OUT

United States Missing Children Hotline:

1-800-235-3535

Youth Crisis Hotline:

1-800-448-4663

United States Elder Abuse Hotline:

1-866-363-4276

United States Child Abuse Hotline:

1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)

Find a Therapist:

1-800-865-0686