Thursday April 21st at Healthy start, Alla Jones counselor and in home therapist for the FSST Counseling Center attended the meet to let the group in an overhead presentation on CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.
I know we all don’t like to talk about these horrible subjects, but the only way to prevent child abuse is to have the knowledge on how to be able to identify signs (physical, or emotional) and knowing what to do if you witness any abuse or neglect.
Child abuse usually falls into one of more of the four general areas which are:
EMOTIONAL ABUSE-Constant emotional or verbal assaults that make a child feel sad, worthless and unwanted. CHILD PHYSICAL INDICATORS- Speech disorders, Lags in physical development, Failure to thrive. CHILD BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS-Habit disorders (biting and rocking), Conduct disorders (anti-social and destructive) Behavioral extremes (compliant, passive, shy, aggressive and demanding) learning problems, attempted suicide.
SEXUAL ABUSE- Forced of tricked sexual contact between an adult and child. Children rarely lie about sexual abuse. CHILD PHYSICAL INDICATORS-Difficulty walking or sitting, torn stained bloody underclothing, pain or itching in genital area, bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vagina or anal areas.
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CHILD BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS-Unwilling to change for gym, withdrawal, fantasy or infantile behavior, bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge, wary of physical contact, especially with an adult, poor peer relationships, onset of bedwetting, nightmares or thumb sucking.
PHYSICAL ABUSE- Battering and beating physically harming or injuring a child under 18, by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare. Abuse is never a child’s fault.
CHILD PHYSICAL INDICATORS-unexplained bruises, burns, & fractures, head injury, human bite marks, frequent “accidental” injuries. CHILD BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS- wary of adults, consistent anger, aggression, and hyperactivity; apprehensive when other children cry, behavioral extremes, frightened of parents or unnaturally dependent, frequently truant of late for school, afraid to go home, terrified to make a mess, reports injury by parents ,and wears long-sleeved clothing to hide injuries.
NEGLECT-Failure to provide for a child’s physical and emotional needs, like food, shelter, clothing and supervision. CHILD PHYSICAL INDICATORS- Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress, chronically unclean. Consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities, unattended physical problems or medical or dental needs, and abandonment. CHILD BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS- Begging or stealing food, extended stays in school (early arrival and late departure), attendance at school infrequent, Constant fatigue, falling asleep in class alcohol or drug abuse.
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