Mandated Reporter Training - Unit 3

Types of Child Abuse and Neglect

Definition of Child Abuse and Neglect- Abuse and neglect means a threat to a child's health or welfare by:

• Physical, mental or emotional injury or impairment.
• Sexual abuse or exploitation.
• Deprivation of essential needs.
• Lack of protection from these, by a person responsible for the child.
• Failure to ensure compliance with school attendance requirements.

Let's take a closer look at each type of abuse mentioned in this definition.

Physical Abuse

Definition of Physical Abuse - Abusive treatment to a child by a parent or caregiver that caused or is likely to cause physical injury. This includes the threat of physical abuse.

Indicators

Physical Indicators: Unexplained injuries such as: Bruises, welts, and burns that reflect a pattern or shape from the article that was used to strike the child (such as a hand, belt, stick, or burns from a cigarette). Immersion burns would show a sock-like, glove-like, or doughnut shape. Fractures or dislocations that do not seem likely to have happened on accident.

Behavioral Indicators:

Poor self-concept and feels deserving of punishment Wary of adult contact (flinching) Behavioral extremes such as aggressiveness or withdrawal, which the child had not previously displayed. Frightened of parents Afraid to go home Reports injury by parents Vacant or frozen stare

Here is an example of "inflicted trauma." Note particularly the dime-sized bruises and the hand print bruise on the upper abdomen.

 

Here is an example of "grab marks." Note the bruises on the arm and how they are bilateral and symmetrical (grab marks), are a particularly classic finding in inflicted trauma.

 

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