Investigating Child Abuse

The Importance -

"A person is a person, no matter how small."

A feeling may be all it takes, to make a realization that could change a child's life. Notice, and investigation may be all it takes the save a child from the mental, physical and life changing effects of child abuse.

Prevention of child abuse may be as easy as asking a question. When we take the first step, we could save a child from the detrimental effects abuse can have.

"She walks to school with the lunch she packed,
Nobody knows what she's holding back,
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday,
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace.

The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask,
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask,
Bearing the burden of a secret storm,
Sometimes she wishes she was never born.

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone,
In a world that she can't rise above,
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place where she's loved,
Concrete Angel."

Martina McBride (Concrete Angel)



A child is innocent, and dependent and wants love and acceptance from their parents. Causing a child harm with words or violence is morally wrong, and illegal. Child abuse can be present through the markings left on a child which include bruises or abrasions, or even the temperament that the child presents. Withdrawn and quiet behavior can be a cause for concern.

 

Neglect- The act of not providing the basic needs for a child. Including, but not limited to personal hygiene, or adequate nutrition. Neglectful habits also include not paying attention to your children.

Physical Abuse- Hitting, slapping, biting, pushing are physical abuse that can often leave traceable signs on a child's body. Bruising or abrasions can be left behind as evidence.

Sexual Abuse- The act of touching, coercion and forcing a child to perform or be a part of sexual acts.

Psychological Maltreatment- Also known as emotional abuse is the act of bringing a child down emotionally. Name calling, maltreatment, and bereavement are involved. Causing a child to believe they are nothing is the result.

Medical Neglect- The neglect in response to injuries. Children that are not given proper medical treatment can also be considered a form of neglect.

Children are People Too!

Children are just that, a child and a person learning how to become their own individual. When issues such as abuse become part of their lives, they cannot focus on how to become an adult, as they become helpless and scared.

Children should never be scared of their families. Children in families simply desire to be looked at as a person, and to be given love, and acceptance.

Abuse, in any form causes that trust to disappear.

Entrapment- A child in an abusive family is trapped, and depends on other adults outside the situation to help provide aid and see them. All children deserve to be seen.

Legal Action

Depending on the state, the police often hold the first step in saving a child.  During the 1970's, there was complicating factors in deciding who should hold investigations of alleged child abuse. Child welfare agencies and the police had issues designating responsibilities.

Heads of police departments believed that child abuse was in fact an issue with the law, and therefore often hold the first responsibility and then the children are given to the custody of child welfare agencies.

If abuse is found within a home, a child is given to the custody of other family members, or to foster homes where the child can be placed in a safe environment.

FAST FACT- Child interviews in alleged abuse cases can be some of the most condemning evidence. Children interviews show more credibility to the case. A child's mannerism can be displayed in an interview.

Child Abuse vs. Discipline - Where to Draw the Line

 

Children Learn by Example

As always, children learn by watching their family members in many instances. When abuse is present and children are witnesses, they will often carry those ideas when they have their own families. Ending the cycle can begin with one child.

Children are the Future.

Children are people too.



Domestic Violence - Being Aware

Domestic Violence - How Families are Affected

"Hands are not for hitting - they are for... writing letters and holding your puppy. - Valery"
A child's view on violence is innocent and the simple truth.

Violence is everywhere. In our daily lives we state that we do not condone violence, but then we allow it in other forms, whether movies or video games.

We don't ever believe that a member of our family would cause us harm, or mean to but it is a fact that violence within families is common. Abuse can range from physical to emotional, and sexual. Violence often does occur between individuals that know one another, and even more so within families.



Domestic Violence accounts for approximately sixteen percent of all reported crimes in the United States. Of the reported, forty-six percent of all women have reported a domestic violence dispute within their families, and twenty-six percent of all males reported at least one incident. (Domestic Violence Stats, 2009)

FAST FACT- One domestic violence incident is reported to the police every minute.

"Be the change you want to see in the World." -Gandhi

I feel that these words should shape our reality. Changing what we feel is wrong can be the first step in ending the violence present within our society. Our children are our future, and ending violence can be the first step in peace.

"I try to see through tears
And ask myself why,
Why do I feel alone?
Why do I cry?
Why do some people
Say that they care,
And when I need them most,
Are never there?
Why does it keep raining
When I long to see the sun?
Why can't I smile?
Why can't I have fun?
Why am I confused?
Why can't I fit in?
Why is it so hard
To keep up my chin?
Why don't I believe
Things will soon go my way?
Why do I have to lie
When I say I'm okay?
I softly dry my tears
And ask myself why,
Why do I feel alone?
Why do I cry?"

-Unknown 

Children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews... are people. No matter the age, the race, the ethnicity, everyone is a person.

When we learn to treat each other as individual people, and with dignity and respect, we can learn that violence is not needed to solve conflicts.

Pictures, Facts & Add Ins

) http://propresobama.org/2010/10/13/national%C2%A0domestic%C2%A0violence%C2%A0awareness%C2%A0month/ (Violence Spectrum Image) Retrieved from Google Search

http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/human-rights-bigger-csr/ (Human Rights Image) Retrieved from Google Search

http://peterdaou.com/tag/sexual-violence/ (End Violence Image) Retrieved from Google Search

http://everychildhealthy.com/blog/healthy-lifestyle-for-children (Children Image) Retrieved from Google Search


 http://www.domesticpeace.com/ed_cycle.html (Stop the Violence Image) Retrieved from Google Search

Domestic Violence Statistics (2009) Retrieved from Google


http://www.fanpop.com/spots/stop-child-abuse/images/28011048/title/child-abuse-photo (Child Abuse Photo) Retrieved from Google Search

"Concrete Angel" Lyrics. Martina McBride (2001) Retrieved from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6146

http://redboatstory.wordpress.com/tag/child-abuse/ (Child Abuse Type Image) Retrieved from Google Search

http://www.safehaventc.org/index.php/2009/10/kids-express-what-dv-awareness-month-means-to-them/ (Domestic Violence Image) Retrieved from Google Search

History of Violence in the Family

The Spectrum of Abuse Within Families

There are many different forms of abuse, and it can affect families of different races, ethnicity's and forms.  While domestic violence can be learned through families, there are not specific warning signs.  The spectrum for abuse can include sexual, physical, mental and isolation. Below is an image for manifestations of violence that can stem underlying issues within the family.

In many cultures around the world, and in the past, violence toward the women within a family was deemed "acceptable" because women were not seen as people.  It was not until the first written laws against violence were distinguished in Athens, Greece around 621 B.C.  Draco, a Greek lawgiver made the decision that if laws were disregarded, the penalty would be death. It was not until this time that laws regarding families, and children were created.



FAST FACT- It was not until Draco created the laws that were given with severe penalties, thus created the idea of "Draconian law" which are now considered to be medieval and harsh

The chapter focusing on the history of how violence was created, and how it was regarded within different countries, and their societies shows the spectrum from ancient Greece, to ancient Rome to the introduction of the Christian era and the laws that followed through the years, up until present time.  We have come a long way from the past views of our egotistical law makers of the past.



We are all given our rights, within our Constitution that protect us from harm and unlawful judgement.  Even though we have made justified changes to our laws, we must realize that violence still occurs and more often it goes unnoticed. Even though it seems as though we are on top of things in our present day and age, it has not always been that way.

Venturing back to the idea that domestic violence and child abuse were considered "private affairs" that should not be discussed outside the home, is literally shocking.  It was not until a family member was killed or seriously maimed that intervention would occur. It was not until the 1970's that individuals attempted to make reformations in order to end domestic violence. Violence of any kind should not be accepted, and ignoring, or not stepping in to the situation can cause the violence to escalate and get worse.

"Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because, as has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others." Winston Churchill

 

FAST FACT: The Minneapolis Experiment of 1980 was the first controlled experiment to confirm that arrests in domestic violence cases was the only way to protect the victims of crime. If police step in to the situation, it is found that it is the most effective form of ceasing the violence between families.

Violence tends to be everywhere around us. How can we adequately preach that violence is wrong, if it is on daily lives. Violence is displayed in video games, movies and games in today's modern society.  We stand and state that we believe violence is morally corrupt, but we seem to demand it in other forms. How does that shape our society?

Family violence tends to span within today's society in the forms of child abuse, intimate partner violence, and abuse of older adults.  Abuse, in any form is wrong.

IPA, Child Abuse & Elder Abuse

 

Intimate Partner Abuse is in reference to an adult relationship that is consumed by violence, regardless of gender involved. The abuse can include sexual abuse, physical abuse or emotional abuse, or a combination of all. Within intimate partner relationships, battering is one of the most common form of abuse within intimate relationships. Battering includes hitting and causing harm. Social isolation is a major issue within partner abuse, cutting of relations with family and friends and making the individual feel alone. Threats, hitting, coercion, intimidation or degradation can accompany many of the issues within intimate partner abuse.

Child Abuse, another form of family violence is the harm to a child by a family member. Children depend on family members for basic needs and if those needs are not met, it is a form of neglect. Often if there is a sign of abuse or neglect, it is, or will not be the only sign or occurrence. When children are not shown love or support, they will carry those problems to adulthood, and might convey them to their own children. Abuse is often learned, if one individuals was treated a certain way, it is possible that they believe it is acceptable behavior. Child abuse can include the span of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well.

Elder abuse is often a combination of neglect, abandonment, physical, sexual and mental abuse. If anyone, whether a child or an elder individual are not aided in meeting their basic needs, it can be considered abuse. Often, neglectful actions are the most common form of elder abuse. When individuals are unable to provide basic needs for themselves, they often rely on others. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse are common as well.

Forms of Violence

Any form of unwanted touching, or hurting another individual can be classified as abuse.

Forms of abuse can include beating, pulling, shoving, hitting, kicking, biting, threatening, sexual abuse, stalking, and the list continues. Anything that is unwanted by one individual is abusing, whether admitted or not.

Abuse, if leave untreated, ignored or not admitted, can lead to life changing instances or even death.

Past to Present...

For centuries, violence has been a part of our lives for many different reasons. Often, we feel that to solve conflicts, we must use violence because we were either taught, or we feel it is easier. The realization that violence makes a situation worse is the largest hurdle that we should convey more openly. When our family is considered, and when we are parents we are to take care of our children and make sure they are safe. Violating that is not only morally wrong, it is illegal.


Our society is still continuing to make advancements in order to teach our future generations that violence is wrong and will not be accepted.