ABOUT ABUSE AND NEGLECT

What are abuse and neglect?

Abuse is hurting a child physically or emotionally or by sexual molestation.

Neglect is failing to provide proper care or depriving a child of support and affection.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is any deliberate use of physical force or action that results or could result in an injury to the child. It can include but is not limited to:

• Punching

• Slapping

• Beating

• Shaking

• Burning

• Biting

• Throwing

• Hitting with belts, sticks or other objects

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse damages a child's emotional development and sense of self-worth. It can include but is not limited to patterns of:

• Placing unreasonable demands on a child

• Excessive criticizing

• Excessive teasing

• Insulting

• Rejecting

• Ignoring

• Isolating

• Withholding love, emotional support and guidance

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is when an adult or older child uses a child sexually, whether or not the child is said to have consented. It is sexual abuse if an adult or older child:

• Touches a child in a sexual way

• Exposes his or her genitals to a child

• Tells the child to touch him or herself for the sexual pleasure of the adult or older child

• Encourages or forces a child to touch another person in a sexual way

• Encourages or forces a child to participate in sexual activity. This could include intercourse, indecent phone calls, performing in or looking at pornographic photos or videos, or prostitution.

• Allows a child to be alone with a known sexual offender

Neglect

Neglect is the failure to meet a child's basic needs for:

• Food

• Clothing

• Shelter

• Sleep

• Medical care

• Education

• Protection from harm

Neglect can also include:

• Leaving children alone in a car, even for a few minutes

• Leaving children at home alone or with an inadequate babysitter

To learn more about abuse and neglect, including signs that a child might be abused or neglected, click here.