● Unbelievable or inconsistent explanations of injuries. ● Injuries inconsistent with a child’s age/developmental level. ● Unable to recall how injuries occurred or account of injuries is inconsistent with the nature of the injuries. ● Multiple bruises in various stages of healing. Neglect Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver to provide for the basic needs of the child that endangers a child's life or health; threatens a child's well- being; causes bodily injury; or impairs a child's health, development, or functioning (Child Welfare, 2021; The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, n.d.). Neglect may be emotional (inattention to a child’s emotional needs, allowing a child to use alcohol or drugs, failure to provide psychological care); physical (failure to provide necessary food or shelter or lack of appropriate supervision); educational (failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs); or medical (failure to provide or withhold necessary medical treatment; Child Welfare, 2021). According to the Child Maltreatment 2021 report, 74.9% of child abuse victims were neglected, making it the most common type of child maltreatment (Child Welfare, 2021). In Pennsylvania, there were 692 cases of serious physical neglect in 2021, making up 9.4% of total allegations of child abuse (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report, 2021). Emotional abuse Psychological or emotional maltreatment is defined as “a pattern of intentional verbal or behavioral actions or lack of actions that convey to a child the message that he or she is worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, endangered, or only of value to meet someone else's needs” (Gluck, 2019). Emotional abuse frequently occurs as “verbal abuse or excessive demands on a child’s performance” (HHS, 2021). It includes constant criticism; rejection; threats; and withholding love, support, or guidance (HHS, 2021). Following are some types of emotionally abusive behaviors by caregivers (Gluck, 2019): Scorn ● Demeaning the child, ridiculing or humiliating them, causing them to be ashamed, criticizing or insulting them. Isolation ● Restricting social interactions in the community. ● Confining within their environment by physically or socially isolating the child. Terrorism ● Placing in chaotic or dangerous circumstances. ● Having unreasonable or rigid expectations accompanied by threats if not met. ● Threatening or destroying the child’s possessions. ● Perpetrating or threatening violence against the child or the child’s loved ones or objects. Exploitation and corruption ● Permitting, tolerating, or encouraging antisocial or deviant and inappropriate behavior. ● Encouraging the child or coercing them to participate in sexual activities. ● Treating the child as a slave. Absence of an emotional response ● Being inattentive or indifferent toward the child. ● Ignoring the child’s emotional needs; avoiding visual contact, kisses, or verbal communication.
● Bruises located on face, ears, neck, buttocks, back, chest, thighs, back of legs, and genitalia. ● Bruises that resemble objects such as a hand, fist, belt buckle, or rope. ● Burns.
Signs of neglect The following are possible signs and symptoms of neglect that may be seen in a medical context, at school, or at a day care (Child Welfare, 2021): ● The child begs or steals food or money. ● The child lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses. ● The child is frequently absent from school. ● The child lacks sufficient clothing for the weather. ● The child abuses alcohol or other drugs. ● The child is consistently dirty and has severe body odor. ● The child states that there is no one at home to provide care. ● Parent/caregiver seems apathetic or depressed. ● Parent/caregiver appears to be indifferent to the child. ● Parent/caregiver abuses alcohol or other drugs. ● Parent/caregiver behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner. Rejection ● Rejecting the child, pushing them away, making them feel as though they are useless or worthless. ● Undermining the value of their ideas and/or feelings. ● Refusing to help the child. Exposure to domestic violence ● Exposing the child to violent words and acts between the parents. According to the Child Maltreatment 2019 report, 1.4% of child abuse victims were emotionally (or psychologically) abused (Child Maltreatment, 2021). According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Annual Child Abuse Report (2021), there were 59 allegations of serious mental injury, making up 1.1% of total allegations of child abuse. Signs of emotional abuse The following are signs and symptoms of emotional abuse that may be seen in a medical context, at school, or at a day care (American Society for the Positive Care of Children [SPCC], 2018b): ● The child is withdrawn, depressed, or apathetic. ● The child is clingy and forms indiscriminate attachments. ● The child is inappropriately infantile, for example, frequently rocking or head-banging. ● The child “acts out” and displays behavioral problems, for example, bullying others or using profanity. ● The child suffers from bed-wetting or fecal soiling. ● The child makes comments such as, “Mommy always tells me I’m bad.” ● The child pays extreme attention to details or exhibits little or no verbal or physical communication with others. ● The child is overly rigid in following rules from teachers, healthcare providers, or other adults. ● The parent/caregiver constantly belittles, blames, or berates the child.
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
Book Code: FPA0625
Page 10
Powered by FlippingBook